Training for Combat Crews of Air Defense Artillery-Missile Systems
Monday, 17.8.2026 | Training
Personnel from a battalion of the 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade, equipped with the “Pantsir-S1” hybrid artillery-missile system, are undergoing intensive training to carry out assigned tasks within Serbian Armed Forces operations.
The training is conducted continuously to perfect the skills required for the effective and timely execution of tactical actions—specifically, combat operations by the crews and the efficient engagement of aerial and ground targets.
The training encompasses exercises involving the gun emplacement while on the move, transitioning the system to combat readiness and executing combat operations, as well as replenishing the combat load with missiles and artillery ammunition.
According to the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Predrag Mišić, unit members are practicing rapid and safe preparation for relocation—specifically, transitioning from marching to combat formation and urgently occupying firing positions—as well as surveillance, target detection, and engaging aerial targets.
“A large number of complex tasks and activities—along with the requirement for all system components to operate in perfect coordination during situations where rapid response and precision are critical—demands maximum proficiency, concentration, and a high overall level of skills from the personnel of the 'Pantsir-S1' air defense missile-artillery battery. In short, the members of the combat crew rely on one another. Each has a specific role, yet only teamwork and mutual trust guarantee success, which is crucial for the unit's effectiveness and efficiency,” emphasizes Lieutenant Colonel Mišić.
Lieutenant Milan Lazić, commander of an artillery-missile section, explains that replenishing the combat load of combat vehicles is a crucial activity, especially during high-tempo combat operations. During training, this task is practiced by reloading and arming combat vehicles with missiles and artillery ammunition within established time standards.
“This activity is systematically practiced during peacetime through regular training, adhering to prescribed procedures and strict safety measures. The goal is to ensure unit personnel are capable of timely and safe replenishment, even under complex operational conditions. While the method and pace of replenishing combat vehicles are adapted to the specific situation, the essential objective is to have the assets ready for air defense operations as quickly as possible,” explains Lieutenant Lazić.
The “Pantsir-S1” air defense artillery-missile system is designed to provide air defense for small-scale military installations—such as command posts, airfields, Serbian Armed Forces unit assembly areas, depots, and repair facilities—as well as to protect administrative-political and economic facilities, areas, and routes against aerial reconnaissance and attacks. It engages a wide range of targets flying at speeds of up to 1,000 meters per second, at altitudes up to 15 kilometers and ranges up to 20 kilometers, including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, precision-guided munitions, and guided aerial bombs. In a secondary role, it can also engage targets on land or water.
