PASARS-16

PASARS-16 (Serbian: ПАСАРС-16) is a Serbian mobile hybrid short range air defence system intended for the protection of infantry, armoured mechanized and artillery-missile units from low flying aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and other projectiles.^[2] Based on the FAP 2026BS/AV six-wheel drive general purpose off-road military chassis, the armoured rotary turret mounted at the rear of the vehicle is armed with a single barrel Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft gun and one or more surface-to-air missiles linked to a modernized M85 Žirafa radar.^[3][4][5][6]

PASARS-16
PASARS-16 armed with 40mm gun and 9K38 Igla and 9K32 Strela 2M missiles
Type	self-propelled air defense system
Place of origin	Serbia
Production history
Designer	Military Technical Institute
Manufacturer	PPT Namenska, FAP, Zastava TERVO
No. built	5 batteries (+2 prototypes)[1]
Specifications
Mass	17 tonnes
Length	8000 ± 100 mm
Width	2500 ± 100 mm
Height	3200 ± 100 mm - 3900 ± 100 mm
Crew	3
Rate of fire	240÷330 rounds/min for gun
Maximum firing range	4 km for gun 12 km depending on the type of missile
Armor	STANAG 4569 Level I
Main armament	40 mm/70-calibre gun and 2 missiles
Secondary armament	Smoke grenades
Engine	Turbo diesel 280-340 hp
Suspension	6×6 off-road wheels
Operational range	800 km (500 mi), at a speed of 80 km/h (50 mph)
Maximum speed	On-road: 100 km/h (62 mph) Macadam country road: 25 km/h (16 mph) Off-road: 15 km/h (9.3 mph).

Development

PASARS-16 is designed by the Military Technical Institute. Serial production started in 2019, with armoured turret being constructed by Zastava TERVO, hydraulics and integration of the armaments being done by FAP and PPT Namenska, and final assembly being carried out by Srboauto.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Gun

PASARS-16 armed with 40mm gun.

The PASARS-16 main armament is the Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft autocannon. Designed in the 1930s by the Swedish arms manufacturer Bofors, during the 1970s Serbian arms manufacturer Zastava Arms acquired a license from Bofors to produce the L/70 version.^[11] Ammunition for the autocannon is produced by Serbian company Sloboda.^[12] In 2020 a new programmable airburst ammunition containing 1100 tungsten pellets was reportedly developed for use by the PASARS-16.^[13] The PASARS has been spotted with a laser rangefinder and day/night sighting system.

Length	6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
Barrel length	2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Width	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Height	L2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Shell	Complete round: 40×365mmR
Standard Shell weight	0.9 kg (2 lb 0 oz)
Caliber	40 mm L/70
Barrels	1
Carriage	about 500 kg
Elevation	−4°/+90°
Rate of fire	240-330 round/min
Muzzle velocity	1,021 metres per second (3,350 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	12,500 m (41,000 ft)

Missiles

Mistral

Total of 18 sets with 50 French Mistral 3 missiles were procured by the Serbian Armed Forces in 2021 and planned to be integrated on PASARS-16.^[14][15][16]

RLN-1C and RLN-1C/170

PASARS-16 armed with 40mm gun and RLN-1C and 9M37M missiles

Multiple PASARS-16 on display

The PASARS-16 uses RLN-1C missiles i.e. modified Vympel K-13 (R-13M) short-range, infrared homing air-to-air missile.^[17][18] Modifications by the Military Technical Institute were made to improve the rocket's propulsion block, in order to effectively launch the missile from the ground along with integration of a more powerful warhead with a modern proximity fuse and a modernized infrared homing system that directs the missile to the target.^[19][20]

Length	(R-13M) 2,830 mm (9 ft 3 in)
Wingspan	(R-13M) 530 mm (21 in)
Diameter	(R-13M) 127 mm (5.0 in)
Launch Weight	(R-13M) 75 kg (165 lb)
Speed	(R-13M) Mach 2.5
Range	(RLN-1C) (RLN-1C/170) 12 km max
Guidance	(R-13M, RLN-1C, RLN-1C/170) Infrared homing
Warhead	(R-13M) SB03 11.3 kg (25 lb) blast-fragmentation
Explosive Content	(R-13M) 5.3 kg of TGAF-5 (40% TNT, 40% RDX, 20% Aluminium powder)
Fuze	(R-13M) Type 428 proximity fuze

9K38 Igla

Operators

• Serbia: 5 batteries in service with the Serbian Army.