At Least 9 Pantsir S1 Destroyed In Turkish Drone Strikes Within A Week: Reports

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In recent weeks, and even months, Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkish-affiliated media have reported that several Russian-made Pantsir S1s have been destroyed while being operated by Haftar’s Libyan National Army.

However, the most notable incident is the one that was captured when the GNA took control of al-Watiya Airbase from the LNA.

#Libya– another photo of the Pantsir S-1/SA-22 Greyhound (and the manual in Arabic) that was inside the al-Watiyah Airbase when it was captured by the #GNA from the #LNA pic.twitter.com/XaUtLYcX6E

— Oded Berkowitz (@Oded121351) May 18, 2020

The same system was reportedly neutralized by a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone just days earlier, but it turned out that the report was false, since the Pantsir S1 is clearly intact. It appears to have been slightly damaged in the strike, that purportedly hit a jeep next to it.

And footage from a Turkish TB2 UCAV with the data unblurred showing an air strike that happened today on a target in an aircraft hangar at the al-Watiyah Airbase. 34/https://t.co/Qs0IkIHlKy

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 17, 2020

However, photographs were released, purportedly showing a Pantsir S1 destroyed in the debris in al-Watiya, and it would appear that one was captured and one was destroyed there.

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There’s been several Pantsir S1 systems that have reportedly arrived in Libya over the last two years, and most likely from the United Arab Emirates, according to an UNSC report.

The first was seen in June 2018 and they have been visible in photos shared on LNA-associated social media accounts. Critically these are the model supplied to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is mounted on the German built Man-SX 45 eight-wheeled truck. This vehicle is unique to the UAE supplied systems.

Since May 17^th, the Pantsir S1s have been in the spotlight, being struck and destroyed left and right.

On the same day the one was captured, another one was reportedly destroyed in Sirte, which is east of Tripoli. There’s a video accompanying the report.

The #GNA forces had conducted a successful aerial attack to South #Sirte and destroyed a Russian made #Pantsir air defence system. pic.twitter.com/ruLbGHiDl3

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 18, 2020

Furthermore, the GNA said that three more Pantsirs were destroyed in Tarhuna.

“Our forces managed to destroy four Pantsir-type air defense systems on Wednesday, including three in Tarhuna,” Mohamed Qanunu, a spokesman for the government-led Operation Volcano of Rage, said in a statement.

As such, the tally sits at 6 (and one captured).

On May 20^th, another two systems were reportedly destroyed – one in Tarhuna and one in al-Waska. And according to reports one of the systems was even active at the time.

The #GNA Air Force has destroyed 2 Russian made Pantsir S-1 (SA-22) air defence system supplied by the UAE in Tarhuna and al-Waska. During the operation one of the systems was active. pic.twitter.com/yrE6s6C2Ww

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 20, 2020

This brings the total to 8 destroyed, and one captured, Pantsir S1 systems.

Most recently, another video was released, which supposedly hadn’t been shown before and it purportedly provided evidence that 2 more systems were destroyed in an airstrike. At the start of the video they’re sitting idly with their radars on, but then they start moving and get struck by a drone.

Pretty sure the footage of these 2 Pantsir-S1 hasn’t been shown before. 68/ pic.twitter.com/LGfKRtmflD

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 20, 2020

Finally, one was destroyed in Suk el-Ahad.

The GNA forces had destroyed a Russian made Pantsir S-1 (SA-22) supplied by the UAE to Haftar in Suk el-Ahad. pic.twitter.com/E7lSDvCRY1

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 20, 2020

In total, if the video that hadn’t been shown before provides evidence of additional systems that were destroyed the tally sits at 11. If not, then the total of systems reportedly destroyed by Turkish drone strikes is 9, and 1 system was captured.

However, Clash Report, which provides a very pro-Turkish and pro-GNA view of things published an overview video.

Russian #Pantsir Air Defence Systems, purchased by the #UAE and supplied to #Libyan Rebel Khalifa #Haftar, succumb to the might of Turkish #Bayraktar #TB2 Armed Drones. pic.twitter.com/AO61XeD8rb

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 20, 2020

According to it, since April 2019, when Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s forces began their operation to cleanse the country from terrorists, the GNA has destroyed 15 Pantsir S1.

Meaning that, if the count is accurate – 10 were destroyed within a week, and then for a little over a year, 5 were destroyed in total.