At the Defense Development 2025 exhibition, North Korea unveiled a new air defense system that bears a clear resemblance to Russia’s Pantsir. The platform’s configuration — with missile canisters and gun mounts similar to the Russian design — highlights the influence of Moscow’s technology on Pyongyang’s defense development efforts.
However, in a notable design departure, the North Korean version is mounted on a tracked chassis rather than wheels. This design choice likely enhances off-road performance and allows the system to move alongside tanks and mechanized units across diverse terrain.
Experts suggest the tracked system demonstrates North Korea’s focus on creating mobile, survivable air defense assets capable of protecting advancing ground forces from aerial attacks. Its introduction underscores Pyongyang’s intent to field indigenous yet derivative solutions for short-range air defense in response to evolving regional threats.
