The air defense systems of the Tor family are the best way to combat UAVs

Unmanned aerial vehicles have now become one of the main air threats. This has significantly increased the relevance of air defense systems capable of countering this threat. Perhaps the best of these are the anti-aircraft missile systems of the Tor family. The main manufacturer and developer of these systems is Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol (a member of Almaz - Antey Air and Space Defence Corporation), one of the largest enterprises in Russia's defense industry. IEMP Kupol is constantly improving its main products and has significantly enhanced their combat capabilities. This includes countering UAVs.

The range of UAVs used in modern combat is extremely wide. Mini-UAVs, both reconnaissance and strike vehicles, are the most common ‘guests’ on the front line. Due to their small size and low-power engines, these UAVs are inconspicuous in the visible, infrared and radar ranges, making them difficult targets for most air defense systems. But not for the air defense systems of Tor family. These combat vehicles are equipped with powerful reconnaissance capabilities. The target acquisition radar is a coherent-pulse radar station with frequency-controlled scanning of the antenna's directional pattern. It operates in the C-band centimeter range and have an output power of 17-60 kW.

The radar has the best airspace survey speed in its class – 1 turn of the antenna per second, which allows it to respond adequately to a rapidly changing combat situation. According to the technical passport, the Tor-M2 air defense system is capable of detecting and destroying targets with an RCS (radar cross section) of 0.1 m². In practice, this value has been exceeded. The system reliably detects and engages targets such as the Mavic quadcopter, which has a median RCS value of about 0.03 m² in the X-band, and even the RQ-11 Raven mini-UAV with an RCS of 0.01 m².

Among other advantages of the Tor-M2 air defense system, which allow it to successfully combat unmanned and manned aerial vehicles, are its record-breaking low speed of deployment from marching to combat (3 minutes), its ability to conduct both reconnaissance of the combat situation and firing on the move, and its impressive ammunition (16 SAMs). The combat vehicle is capable of simultaneously detecting up to 48 targets at a range of up to 32 km, ranking them by degree of danger and track 10 of the most dangerous ones. It can also fire at up to 4 aerial vehicles simultaneously. The affected area is from 1 to 16 km in range, from 10 m to 12 km in altitude, and ±9.5 km in course parameter.

The outstanding tactical and technical characteristics of the air defense missile systems of the Tor family allow them to provide reliable cover for troops and strategic facilities, including during marches and maneuver warfare, and to repel massive enemy air attacks, including high-speed, low-observable, and flying at ultra-low altitudes. Importantly, all the technical characteristics of the combat vehicles have been fully confirmed in real combat, including against modern Western-made air attack weapons. By now, dozens of Tor family SAM systems have shot down hundreds or more targets.

The combat experience of the air defense systems of the Tor family is the foundation for further improvement of these combat vehicles. During the special military operation, dozens of changes were made to the design of the air defense system, significantly improving its combat and operational characteristics. One of the most significant upgrades was equipping the combat vehicle with electronic warfare capabilities. Now, the Tor-M2 is capable of providing self-cover and cover for troops and facilities from UAVs without expending anti-aircraft guided missiles. When targets are detected, they are ranked into those that need to be shot down with firepower and those that can be suppressed with electronic warfare means. This significantly increases the cost-effectiveness of the use of combat vehicles.

The EW systems integrated into the Tor-M2 missile system successfully ‘land’ UAVs controlled via radio channel on any frequencies. Due to their high effectiveness in real combat, a decision to integrate EW systems with other air defense systems manufactured by Almaz - Antey Air and Space Defence Corporation enterprises has been made.

The improvement of the air defense missile systems of the Tor family continues permanently. It is carried out by IEMP Kupol, which is not only the main manufacturer but also the main developer of these combat vehicles.

Along with advanced air defense systems, the IEMP Kupol has created the Adjutant universal target-training complex (UMTC), which allows anti-aircraft gunners to familiarize themselves with a wide range of air attack weapons in conditions that are as close to combat as possible. This includes unmanned aerial vehicles, which are precisely used as targets in the complex. Currently, five types of aerial drones have been developed and are in use.

A number of innovative solutions have been implemented in the Adjutant UMTC. Targets can be used multiple times until their technical resource is exhausted (when the air defense missile system is operating in the ‘fly-by’ mode, with the detection and conditional destruction of the target), which significantly reduces training costs. A wide range of targets allows anti-aircraft gunners to ‘get acquainted’ with various modern air attack weapons. All targets have a low RCS and low infrared signature, and are capable of performing various maneuvers during flight, i.e. they simulate the most complex targets, which increases the level of training of air defense crews. The system's ability to launch six targets simultaneously allows air defense personnel to practice their skills in repelling a massive attack. The catapult launch method (without the use of explosives or compressed air) ensures the safety and ease of use of the products. One of the important features of the Adjutant UMTC is its open architecture, which allows new air targets to be added to its composition. Work is currently underway to increase the number of target types.

Working at the forefront of scientific thought and receiving timely and comprehensive information about the results of using its products, IEMP Kupol continuously improves them. This allows the company's products to fully meet the requirements for air defense systems, both today and in the future.

Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, JSC is one of the leading enterprises of Russia's military-industrial complex and the main developer and manufacturer of anti-aircraft missile systems of the Tor family. Along with the production of its basic products, the company is actively diversifying its production by developing and manufacturing a wide range of defense, civil and dual-use products.

All products of IEMP Kupol are manufactured using modern, high-precision, high-performance equipment, and the quality control system fully complies with the strict requirements of the defense standard GOST RV 0015-002.

The high quality of products and reliable partnerships, modern knowledge-intensive technologies and highly qualified specialists, as well as an effective management and competent marketing, allow IEMP Kupol JSC to hold a leading position in its chosen areas of production.