Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant "Kupol" is working on the modernization and improvement of all the main characteristics of the short-range anti-aircraft missile system "Tor". 

Thor has been improving continuously since its inception.

Since 2013, work on the modernization of the Tor family air defense system has been carried out directly by the Kupol by the plant design bureaus in close cooperation with leading specialized research institutes.

Work is underway to radically improve all the main characteristics of the product - both combat and operational, ”TASS quotes the general director of the enterprise Fanil Ziyatdinov.

At the Army-2021 forum held at the end of August, the Kupol plant (part of the Almaz-Antey concern) presented such modifications of this air defense system as Tor-E2, Tor-A and Tor-M2KM ...

In addition, a promising air defense complex "Adjutant" was presented to the visitors of the forum.

Complex development

The creation of the Tor short-range anti-aircraft missile system began in 1975.

The head developer of the "Tor" combat vehicle is the Research Electromechanical Institute (Moscow).

MKB "Fakel" (Khimki) created the 9M330 guided missile, and the Minsk Tractor Plant - tracked chassis.

Development work took less than ten years; the complex was adopted by the USSR Armed Forces in 1986.

It was created to protect military and infrastructure facilities at a tactical level.

Work on the modernization of the complex began almost immediately.

In 1991, an updated version of the Tor-M1 with 9M331 missiles of increased efficiency and an increased engagement zone for low-flying targets was adopted for service.

In addition, more effective protection against interference was added, and the crew of the complex was reduced to three people.

In the future, the modification of the complex continued: in 2012, the troops received the version "Tor-M1-2U".

The next stage in the development of the SAM family was the Tor-M2, a new generation vehicle, which has been supplied to the Russian troops since 2016.

Experts note that Tor-M2 is a representative of a new generation of short-range air defense systems.

It is designed to destroy aircraft, helicopters, aerodynamic unmanned aerial vehicles, guided missiles and other elements of precision weapons flying at medium, low and extremely low altitudes in a difficult air and jamming environment.

The complex is equipped with 16 vertical-launch anti-aircraft missiles with a range of up to 12 km and an altitude range of up to 10 km. 

In 2019, the chief designer of Vympel, Viktor Yeletsky, in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper pointed out the high efficiency of the Tora-M2 when using the 9M338K rocket.

“The range of its flight allows the Tor-M2 complex to cover the troops along the front 20 km.

In this sector, we shoot down everything that moves.

Including small, maneuvering, high-speed targets.

Where previously it was necessary to keep two combat vehicles, now it is enough to put one, ”Yeletsky said.

The designer explained that the improved characteristics of the 9M338K were achieved due to the original aerodynamic design, which made it possible to significantly lighten the rocket.

“We were able to do all this thanks to one fundamental decision.

We have abandoned large bearing planes - wings, ribs, etc. Because all this is additional weight.

At the same time, we created for our missile the ability to reach angles of attack that are larger than on previous versions.

And, in addition to reducing the size of the product, we got the opportunity to hit more maneuverable targets, ”stressed Viktor Yeletskiy.

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In addition, instead of a catapult launch in the Tor-M2, the rocket is removed from the launcher using lightweight gas generators.

These technical solutions made it possible to make the rocket more maneuverable and double the ammunition capacity of the vehicle.

At the same time, "Tor-M2" is the only air defense system in the world capable of firing on the march, said the chief designer of "Vympel".

This unique complex is also produced in the Arctic version "Tor-M2DT" - on the chassis of a two-link tracked all-terrain vehicle DT-30PM.

The modification is intended for combat duty in difficult swampy terrain and extremely low temperatures.

In 2019, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Kupol plant signed two long-term contracts for the supply of Tor-M2 and Tor-M2DT.

The cost of both agreements in total amounts to almost 100 billion rubles. 

Prospects for use

In 2020, the Kupol plant began mass production of export versions of the Tor-M2E (K) complex on a wheeled chassis and Tor-M2U on a tracked one.

Experts note that the air defense system will become widespread not only in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, but also abroad due to its impressive characteristics, as well as successful experience of use in modern conflicts.

In 2020, the chief of the air defense forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Alexander Leonov, said that the Thor complexes shot down more than 45 drones in Syria, which were used by militants of terrorist organizations.

"In general, during the hostilities in Syria, this complex demonstrated its effectiveness, because it stood at the Khmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval base and has already accounted for more than several dozen shot down drones," military expert Alexei Leonkov emphasized in an interview with RT.

"Tor-M2E" in the export version has already proved its effectiveness in solving the assigned tasks, the specialist added.

"Thor" is produced on a wheeled and tracked chassis, and can also be presented as a separate combat module, which can be used anywhere, including performing the role of object air defense, "Leonkov explained.

In turn, the director of the Museum of Air Defense Forces in Balashikha, Yuri Knutov, stressed that the "Tor" can destroy not only UAVs, but also missiles of multiple launch rocket systems.

According to the expert, further modernization of the complex will be aimed at integration into modern digital command and control systems.

  • Anti-aircraft missile systems "Tor-M2" during a military parade to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 on Red Square in Moscow

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"At this stage, digital modernization is required, which will allow the complex to interface with all new systems, for example, Buk-M3, S-300V4 air defense systems, and due to this it will be possible to create echeloned air defense," said the interlocutor of RT.

After modernization, the complex will be able to fight not only with existing, but also with promising air and ballistic targets, added Yuri Knutov.

“The West is now also creating such complexes, but the advantage of the Tor complex is that it has been tested in combat areas, where it has shown high efficiency.

I am sure that the modernized version will be in demand, just like the previous one, ”the expert concluded.