Brazil to Buy Russian Pantsir Air Defense Systems in First Half of 2016

Brazil will upgrade its armed forces with Pantsir air defense systems, the country's ambassador to Russia said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Brazil is apt to purchase Russian Pantsir air defense systems as early as in the first half of 2016, Brazilian Ambassador to Russia Jose Vallim Guerreiro said.

“A general decision on the purchase has been made…As far as I know, the deal is expected in the first half of 2016,” Guerreiro told RIA Novosti.

In a January interview with RIA Novosti the ambassador had suggested that the contract on the delivery of Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to the Latin American country could be signed in the beginning of 2015.

Guerreiro explained that this delay was mainly because “the 2015 budget did not provide enough financial resources to pay for armaments.”

He added that the work is currently underway to include a corresponding provision in the 2016 budget.

The two countries launched negotiations on Pantsir deliveries in 2012.

The Pantsir-S1 (NATO reporting name SA-22 Greyhound), is a short-to-medium range gun-missile system combining a wheeled vehicle mounting a fire-control radar and electro-optical sensor, two 30-mm cannons and up to 12 57E6 radio-command guided short-range missiles. The system is designed to acquire a variety of targets flying at altitudes from five meters to 10 kilometers and at the range from 200 meters to 20 kilometers.

Pantsir-S1 launching missile during drills

© Sputnik / Mikhail Fomichev

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