Modernized PASARS Significantly Strengthens Air Defense

Ground-based air defense (PVO) plays a crucial role in protecting military units and critical infrastructure from airborne threats, and increasing attention is being devoted to it, as well as to the modernization of anti-aircraft systems, including PASARS.

The PASARS-16 self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery-rocket system, based on the 40mm Bofors gun, has undergone several modernization phases since its first public presentation.

The primary purpose of the PASARS system is the protection of Serbian Armed Forces ground units, primarily armored-mechanized and artillery-rocket units during combat operations, as well as the defense of important facilities and installations from aerial threats. This system is effective against unmanned aerial vehicles, combat helicopters, cruise missiles, low-flying aircraft, as well as for engaging ground and water targets.

The modernization process has resulted in the 40mm L/70 Bofors anti-aircraft gun being mounted on a vehicle platform instead of the towed variant, with an armored cabin for the driver and crew, significantly improving crew protection, mobility, and fire readiness speed. The fire control system has been upgraded with a more modern central computer, global positioning and orientation subsystem, tactical computer for the gun commander, radio-telecommunications device, target data receiver, and power generator.

The automatic stabilization and leveling system, consisting of hydraulic legs and control software, enables the time required for deployment to be extremely short — less than one minute — while the rate of fire is five rounds per second. The gun is fed from a 44-round magazine.

PASARS-16 is also characterized by a high degree of ballistic protection, as well as the capability to operate with the modernized Giraffe observation-acquisition radar and independently with an optical target indicator or without it.

PASARS-16 is yet another complex combat system that is a product of domestic industry. The Military Technical Institute is responsible for its development, with Prva Petoletka Trstenik – Namenska (as integrator-producer), Zastava TERVO, and FAP Priboj as major subcontractors participating in the project.

The PASARS M-16 anti-aircraft system with 40mm gun (first variant) has been introduced into the armament of the Serbian Armed Forces, and the development of subsequent modernization phases is underway with newly integrated subsystems and surface-to-air missiles (3 types).

The modernization of the PASARS system has already proven to significantly contribute to increased operational capabilities, which is why the development of this weapon continues — it is intended to be the backbone of ground force defense against the new generation of weapons such as drones and UAVs.

In accordance with the spiral development principles of the PASARS system, final testing of the second development phase is currently underway, with new subsystems to be installed on all PASARS units. The second phase upgrades include a new diesel-electric generator and power subsystem, a new driver visualization subsystem for driving with front and rear cameras day and night, a new thermal imaging sight, and a new subsystem for electronic timing of pre-fragmented ammunition.

The third modernization phase of PASARS involves the integration of a missile system. One such system is the Igla missile system. The Serbian Armed Forces possess a large number of older, portable anti-aircraft missile systems such as Igla and Strela. These virtually written-off weapons are regaining importance because, with necessary modifications, they become an effective and very inexpensive means of destroying new types of targets that will appear on future battlefields, including various types of UAVs. This is one of the reasons they are being integrated into the PASARS system, which will significantly increase its effectiveness against aerial targets thanks to being equipped with self-guided anti-aircraft missiles.

The integration of the Igla missile system on the upgraded anti-aircraft gun is also significant because it will serve for the integration of IR self-guided Mistral 3 missiles, which are among the best in the world in their class.

Mistral 3 represents the latest generation of short-range portable missile systems and stands out with a range of advanced characteristics: high maneuverability of the missile, a long range enabling engagement of aircraft at distances up to 7.5 km, a highly destructive warhead for reliable target destruction, high resistance to passive and active electronic jamming using matrix infrared detector technology, and capability to operate in complex weather conditions, day and night, using a high-sensitivity infrared camera in the sighting system. The integration of Mistral 3 into the PASARS-16 system will create a lethal weapon capable of providing effective air defense protection to armored and mechanized units directly from the combat formation, as well as achieving highly effective fire against ground targets.