Threat of the Week
The 2S6M Tunguska-M (SA-19 Grison) Russian 30mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft System was designed as a replacement for the ZSU-23-4 'Shilka' for use against low-flying aircraft, helicopters and air-to-surface missiles.
It is believed that the system also has a secondary capability against armored fighting vehicles and similar ground targets.
2S6M1 Tunguska-M1 is a improved variant of the SA-19 with a improved fire control system. It is based on a GM-5975 special tracked chassis and uses new 9M311-M1 missiles.
These have a range of 10 km. These missiles have improved optical tracking and accuracy. Laser proximity fuse was replaced by a radio proximity fuse. The new missiles can engage small targets,
such as cruise missiles. The Tunguska-M1 is much more effective than the previous Tunguska-M. All previous Tunguskas (SA-19) can be upgraded to this standard. The 2S6M1 entered service with the Russian Army in 2003.
A total of 21 Tunguska-M1 systems were delivered in 2012-2017. This is a modernized variant of the basic 2K22 Tunguska system that was introduced in 2003. It features a digital interface for
the Ranzhir automatic command-and-control system, which enables remote, automated target designation for any Tunguska launch vehicle from higher echelons; modernization of the fire-control radar;
improved fire-control software, which increases engagement capability against fast-moving targets in the electro-optical mode; new 9M311M or 9M311-1M missiles; and upgraded target angular speed-measuring devices,
which increases accuracy for both the missiles and guns. Other improvements included automatic external target designation, reception and transmission, and processing equipment by radio with the battery
command post. This allows the command post to automatically distribute targets among the battery; the gunner's assistance system, which performs automatic high-speed, two-coordinate optical tracking;
upgraded missile coordination calculation equipment that improves jamming resistance; and modified heading and roll/pitch control system that reduces disturbances to gyros while the system is moving,
reducing line of sight stabilization errors and enhancing the stability of the 30-mm cannons. The HOT SHOT radar system, which consists of a surveillance radar with a maximum range of 18 km, and a
tracking radar with a maximum range of 13 km is on this vehicle.
An improved version of Tunguska was exhibited in 1993, known in Russia as the Pantsir-S1, with a larger missile (designated 9M335 or
57E6) and a range increased to 12 km. The NATO designator for this system is SA-22 'Greyhound'.
