The complex has already successfully completed state tests in 2019
MOSCOW, December 1. /tass/. The Engineering Design Bureau (KBM, part of the Rostec State Corporation's High-Precision Complexes holding) has prepared for serial production the first Russian short-range/ultra-short-range air defense system of the VSHORAD [Very Short-Range Air Defense] "Flexible-S" type. This was reported to TASS by Bekhan Ozdoev, industrial director of the cluster of armaments, ammunition and special chemicals of the Rostec State Corporation.
"The export-oriented modification of the Flexible-S air defense system is fully ready for mass production," he said.
KBM General Designer Valery Kashin told TASS during the EDEX 2021 international arms exhibition that the complex had already successfully completed state tests in 2019.
In turn, Alexander Romanyuk, deputy head of the export-import department of the KBM, told TASS that serial missiles of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) are used as part of the Gibka-S armament: Gibka-S can use Igla-S and Willow MANPADS.
The Gibka-S short-range anti-aircraft missile system is designed to provide air defense and is capable of resisting aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and precision weapons systems flying at low and extremely low altitudes at any time of the day and in conditions of limited visibility. The complex is equipped with four ready-to-launch Igla, Igla-S or Willow missiles and is mounted on the chassis of a Tiger-M armored car developed by a Military-industrial Company. During the tests at the end of 2019 at the Kapustin Yar training ground, in particular, the possibility of firing "Flexible" from the Tiger at air targets on the move at speeds up to 30 km/h was confirmed.
"Gibka-S" is the first domestic self-propelled complex of short/ultra-short range of the VSHORAD type. Previously, machines of this type equipped with MANPADS missiles were not produced in Russia.
