Moscow Builds Anti-Drone Towers, Drawing Comparisons to WWII German Defenses
MOSCOW – In a move reminiscent of World War II Germany’s defensesagainst Allied bombers, Russia is building anti-drone towers around Moscow to protect the capital from Ukrainian drone attacks. The towers, constructed from concrete and steel, housePantsir-S1 short-range air defense systems, according to reports from the US-based website Defense Blog.
The decision to buildthese towers comes after a series of drone attacks on Moscow, most notably the incident in May 2023 where drones reached the Kremlin. While the Kremlin attack caused minimal damage and no casualties, it highlighted the vulnerability of the Russian capitalto Ukrainian drone strikes.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has publicly defended the effectiveness of the anti-drone towers, claiming they have already successfully intercepted over ten Ukrainian drones targeting the city. The most recent incident occurred on August 21st, when over ten drones were reported to have attacked Moscow, although no casualties were reported.
The towers, however, have drawn comparisons to the Flakturm (anti-aircraft towers) built by Nazi Germany during World War II. While the German towers were designed to withstand heavy bombing raids and served asmassive shelters for civilians, the Russian towers appear to be more temporary structures designed specifically for countering drones.
The Russian towers, according to images released by Russian state television, are relatively simple in construction, with a focus on housing the Pantsir-S1 system. They lack the robust construction and multi-layered design of the German Flakturm, which were capable of housing multiple types of anti-aircraft guns and could withstand heavy bombardment.
The Pantsir-S1 system, while effective against drones, is relatively expensive and its 30mm cannon has limited accuracy. The towers themselves also appear to bemore vulnerable to attack compared to the German Flakturm, which were designed to withstand heavy artillery fire.
Despite the differences, the decision to build these towers highlights Russia’s growing concern over the threat posed by Ukrainian drones. While the effectiveness of these towers remains to be seen, their construction reflects a shift in Russiandefense strategy towards countering smaller, more agile threats.
The Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow have also raised concerns about the security of the Russian capital. While the Kremlin attack was seen as a symbolic gesture, it demonstrated the potential for Ukrainian forces to strike at the heart of Russia.
The construction of these anti-dronetowers, while drawing comparisons to Nazi Germany’s defenses, represents a pragmatic response to a new type of warfare. Whether these towers will be effective in deterring future drone attacks remains to be seen, but they underscore the evolving nature of modern conflict and the importance of adapting to new threats.
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