SAMS Tor: in search of the limit of perfection

Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant "Kupol" as a member of Almaz-Antey ASD Corporation is extensively enhancing its main products, i.e. surface-to-air missile systems of "Tor" family.

At the beginning of 2024, Fanil Ziyatdinov, Director General of IEMP Kupol, said to National Defense magazine: "Today we are actively working on the next deep upgrading of the Tor air defense system. The promising short-range air defense system will differ from today's samples even more than the Tor-M2 differs from the Tor-M1. The goal is a multiple increase in combat and operational capabilities." Of course, specific targets for the upgrading are not disclosed, however, by following the previous changes in the performance characteristics of the SAMS Tor family, conclusions can be drawn about the tasks of the work being carried out today.

Results of upgrading

While maintaining an extremely successful, revolutionary design, the Tor SAMS regularly undergoes hardware updates, advanced reconnaissance and fire weapons are implemented. Tor family samples went through a number of drastic upgrades - first to the Tor-M1 level, then to Tor-M2U (second upgrading, truncated version) and Tor-M2 (full version of the second upgrading). Starting with the Tor-M1, options for diversifying the chassis were worked out, but they did not go into the series. Therefore, Tor-M2U has been already produced both on a tracked and wheel base, as well as a self-contained combat module. Simultaneously with Tor-M2, its Arctic version based on two-link tracked conveyor is being produced. The main results of the upgrades are presented in the Table.



As a whole, the capabilities of the Tor family SAMS have increased many times since adoption of the first samples. Special attention should be paid to the twofold increase in the number of processed targets and ammunition, a fourfold increase in the number of fired targets and expansion of the sector of simultaneous firing. All this dramatically increases the ability to repel heavy attack. Performance limits of the targets hit increased slightly "inside the paper", in practice - very significantly (see below). The killing zone was doubled in altitude and by a third in range, as a result, the size of the "protective dome" over troops and assets multiply increased.

Other characteristics are significantly improved. Interference immunity and automatic performance of combat work have been increased, communication and interface systems have been upgraded, performance has been enhanced, etc.

The extent to which the upgrading of even individual units and devices contributes to the increase in the combat capabilities of the Tor family SAMS is evidenced by the successful field tests of the new Communications Kit, carried out in May 2020. The updated kit doubled the data relay range from the battery command post. Frequency range is expanded, the possibility of the visual alert of the CV operator about approach of the targets from range to 90 km is provided, quite a number of other tasks is solved. The number of CV under the control of one BCP increased from four to eight. Besides, the CV of the SAMS Tor-M2 has gained experience to supervise the combat operation of subordinate SAMS such as air defense missile/gun system, antiaircraft vehicle, antiaircraft artillery system and MANPADS. A proper way has been found to counter modern air attack means (such as UAVs), i.e. detection and target designation is carried out by a powerful SAMS Tor-M2 radar, and interception is carried out by inexpensive short-range air defense systems or MANPADS. These are the results of updating of only one CV subsystem, that leads to all systems enhancement.

Since 2013 the primary developer of the Tor SAMS has been IEMP Kupol. The head of the tactical air defense, Lieutenant General Alexander Leonov, said in 2020:

"To carry out the necessary R&D and create the necessary scientific reserve, IEMP Kupol JSC has a special design bureau (SDB) of 60 people and a special design department (SDD) of 300 people. Since 2013 the number of specialists in SDB arranged in Moscow has already increased by 4 times and taking into account the scale of the tasks facing IEMP Kupol it is supposed to further grow. Accumulation of scientific potential at two sites and under the same management allows to seriously reduce the time for the development of prototypes, push on the implementation of design solutions for improving batch products, create the necessary scientific reserve for the future and ensure a high level of scientific and technical potential." Over the years the scientific and technical level of IEMP Kupol beyond a doubt has increased still more.

Further growth in combat capabilities

Based on the existing air threats, combat missions facing the SAMS, and the results of the latest upgrades, it is possible to predict with a high likelihood ratio the near future outlook of the Tor family SAMS. Work will obviously continue to improve all performance characteristics of combat vehicle. We should primarily expect further expansion of the sector of simultaneous targets firing, an increase in the number of target and missile channels. It is possible to enlarge the variety of anti-aircraft missiles in order to increase fire performance (introduction of small-sized short-range missiles, equipping missiles 9M338K with target seekers). Response time, deployment speed, firing interval are obviously close to the physical limit, although their further reduction is not excluded. You should also expect an enhancement in interference immunity, an increase in the targets peak performance and an expansion of their variety.

Significant progress has already been made in a number of areas, as evidenced by the results of the Tor family SAMS use during a special military operation. In particular, in the area of special military operation Tor systems successfully cope with targets possessing performance characteristics that go beyond the limit of characteristics specified in the SAMS technical data sheet. So, according to the Department of Information and Mass Communications of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation: "During a special military operation, crews of the Tor surface-to air missile systems (SAMS) of the Western Command provide Russian troops 24-hour with a super-secure shield against an enemy air attack. Within its limits of altitude and range the Tor SAMS can hit all types of targets. The air defense system knows every air enemy, i.e. an aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and even ballistic missiles." Ballistic missiles in this case are obviously understood as GMLRS ammunition of the HIMARS as it has a ballistic trajectory, a speed of 830 m/s, and a small RCS. The target speed goes beyond the Tor rated values." Moreover, ballistic missiles do not go to the variety of SHORAD targets at all for the reason that system is designed to intercept aerodynamic threats. However, in practice, if the Tor-M2 SAMS "faces" GMLRS, it shoots them down as well.

Another rated value of the Tor SAMS is the minimum target size in the radio range (RCS 0.1m2) was also surpassed in practice. According to the Ministry of Defense release: "Now imported drones supplied to Ukraine by their partners have begun to appear. These are RQ-35 Puma, Poseidon and others. They have a fairly large stock list. But we see everything, we work it out.,"- added the crew commander." It should be borne in mind that many UAVs are very small. For example, in quadcopter Phantom3 (a predecessor to the Mavika widely used on both sides of battle line), the median RCS value in the X-band of waves is only 0.03 m2. The mini-UAV RQ-11 Raven (this and similar UAVs are supplied by the United States to the Armed Forces of Ukraine) has 0.01 m2. Although the values go beyond the target limit characteristics the Tor SAMS successfully hits stealth UAVs.

Today, the latest surface-to-air missile systems of the Tor family are unrivalled in its class in terms of performance characteristics. And their continuous development is a certain guarantee that these combat vehicles will continue to fully meet their tasks and remain one of the best air defense systems in the world.

Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, JSC is one of the leading enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Russia, the primary developer and manufacturer of surface-to-air missile systems of the Tor family. Along with the release of basic products, the company is extensively diversified, developing and manufacturing a wide range of defense, civil and dual-use products.

All products of IEMP Kupol are manufactured on up-to-date, high-precision and high-performance equipment, the quality control system fully complies with the strict requirements of the defense standard GOST RV 0015-002, the requirements of the internal standards of the Almaz-Antey Corp.

The high quality of products and reliability of partnerships, modern science-intensive technologies and highly-skilled professionals, effective management and competent marketing allow IEMP Kupol, JSC to occupy dominant positions in selected production areas.