For decades, Russia and Africa have shared a strong and mutually beneficial relationship, based on common historical ties, economic partnerships, and military alliances.
- Business Insider Africa presents the top Russian air defense systems used in Africa.
- The weapons systems mentioned are from a report by Sputnik.
- Russia and Africa have enjoyed key military alliances for decades now.
This partnership has remained strong despite shifting global variables, with both parties profiting from each other.
Defense support has been a key component of this alliance, with Africa tapping into Russia’s advanced weapon systems to strengthen its security and defense capacities.
According to a report by Sputnik, African countries have adopted a range of Russian air defense systems in recent years to meet their specific security requirements.
These include long, medium, and short-range systems and self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.
Notable users, including Egypt, Algeria, Ethiopia, and others, deploy these systems to secure their airspace and prevent assault.
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Below is a list of key systems currently in use in Africa.
Tor Air Defense System
The Tor Air Defense System is a highly advanced, short-range, surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by Russia. Designed to detect, track, and destroy various aerial threats, it is especially effective against precision-guided weapons, aircraft, helicopters, drones, and even ballistic missiles.
Egypt currently has 16 Tor-M1 and Tor-M2 aircraft in operation.
S-300 series
The S-300 series is a family of long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems designed by the Soviet Union and later Russia. The S-300 is known for its adaptability, precision, and strong radar systems. It can counter a wide spectrum of aerial threats, such as airplanes and cruise missiles.
Ethiopia apparently utilizes the S-300PMU1 variant, whilst Egypt operates the S-300VM (SA-23) variant, with four battalions supplied in 2015.
S-400 Triumf
One of the world’s most sophisticated long-range air defense systems, the S-400 Triumf was designed by Russia to combat a variety of aerial threats, such as aircraft, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.
To strengthen national security, Algeria has placed an order for two regiments of S-400 systems in 2024.
Pantsir-S1
The Pantsir-S1 is a Russian short-to-medium range, self-propelled air defense system.
It is a mobile unit that integrates surface-to-air missiles with rapid-fire cannons to protect high-value assets at close range and supplement long-range systems like the S-400.
Source: Sputnik
