Tor: miss will not be

On the back of active antagonism of airborne threats and air defense equipment it has long become apparent a tendency of transfer of confrontation domain to very low altitudes. It significantly complicates mission of Air Defense since it not only impairs accuracy of weapon guidance towards a target but abruptly reduces the range of attack means detection decreasing thereby the time required to process and hit targets by AD facilities.  

Short-range air defense systems of the Tor family - Tor-M2E, Tor-M2K, Tor-M2KM - were developed for fighting against various up-to-date air attack facilities: high precision weapons (anti-radar missiles, guided and gliding air bombs), different maneuverable, high-speed manned and unmanned aerial vehicles functioning at extremely low, low and medium altitudes, during day and night, flying at a speed of up to 700 m/s, including maneuvering targets or the targets using active and passive intended interferences. The systems initially were designed as a main combat facility to fight against massive strikes of high precision weapons above a battle area or defended locations, in other words actually as “the system of final position”. They ensure effective air defense of military units on the move and in cantonment areas, during all mobile types of modern combat action, as well as defense of key state and military installations. Capability of simultaneous hit of four air targets by four guided missiles launched from one combat vehicle at the distance of up to 15 km was implemented in the SAM systems for the first time; the highest level of automation of combat operation process was achieved and immunity to any interference was considerably improved.

Combat vehicles (CV) of the Tor-M2E and Tor-M2K systems and the self-contained combat module (SCCM) of the Tor-M2KM system are capable of carrying out the assigned battle mission independently, within a group of two CVs (SCCM) in the Squad mode as well as within a SAM battery consisting of four CVs (SCCM) controlled by a battery command post (BCP).

It is important to dwell on the work features of two combat vehicles in the Squad mode. In that mode two combat vehicles perform automatic exchange of data on air situation through telecode communication means. Two combat vehicles have common pattern of an air raid and each of the vehicles is capable of firing any of the air targets detected by both vehicles. Such operation enhances considerably the CV’s battle performances, improves efficiency of rebuff of flight attack and strengthens the CV firing life. In that case if target acquisition radar of one of the vehicles is damaged, another one is capable of transmitting the data on air situation to the first vehicle and it can be used further as a launcher.

In comparison with other similar SAM systems in the systems of the Tor family the rate of such a fighting quality as the crossing point of a hit air target reaches 8 km. That has been confirmed in practice. That means one combat vehicle can hit an air target laterally within 16 km line, hence in case of appropriate tactical arrangement of combat vehicles of a SAM battery a wall-to-wall defense is created throughout the whole fighting line. The overwhelming majority of modern short-range systems are capable of firing and hitting such only the targets which are moving at zero or close-to-zero parameters so they can defend themselves only, but not the territories and the installations covered by them.     

It is important also to note that a surface-to-air missile (SAM) 9M331 used in the system is kept in surface-to-air missile module (SAMM) 9M334 and needs neither maintenance nor any checks during 10 years. SAM 9M331 is launched vertically and it doesn’t have a boost phase in missile booster as with two-stages missiles of some other systems which are rather dangerous such as after separation at a very close distance they having high-speed characteristics are capable of inflicting great damages to the covered facilities, equipment and military personnel. At the same time in a case of missed interception to be destroyed a SAM 9M331 is guided upward where its warhead is safely exploded. In some SHORAD systems using low-intelligence missiles the warhead detonation in case of missed interception is resulted from hitting the ground. At extremely minor ranges it can result to strike friend lines.   

State-of-the-art software for combat vehicle of the Tor SAM system enables introducing automation into combat operation and minimizing influence of human element. Several methods of SAM guidance are implemented in operation algorithms of combat vehicle. After processing of various target parameters computer system selects the best guidance method. This is especially important during handling of complicated maneuvering and low-flying targets. Besides, it makes impossible effect of underlying surface reflection.  The best demonstration of leading positions of the Tor family SAM systems in the world-wide arms market is the result of firing tests carried out whether on territory of foreign states and Russian firing ranges.  Thus, on May of 2013 the comparison firing trials were held on the firing range in Astrakhan region. The crews of combat vehicles of the Tor SAM system proved again complete compliance of the system with all claimed performance characteristics carrying out with honor four battle missions with minimum consumption of SAMs. Single and paired, diving and crossing targets were destroyed; once again four air targets were hit simultaneously as well as a high-speed maneuvering UAV was hit on the far range of killing zone. No other SAM system currently is capable of performing such combat missions, this is an evidence of the fact that against combination of all combat and engineering performances and effective operational use there are no any short-range surface-to-air missile systems equal to the Tor system neither in Russian Federation no all over the world.  

Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern, JSC

121471, Moscow, Vereyskaia st., 41

Ph. +7 (495) 276-29-65, fax +7 (495) 276-29-69

E-mail: antey@almaz-antey.ru, http:// www.almaz-antey.ru

 

Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, JSC

Russia, Udmurt Republic, Izhevsk, Pesochnaia st., 3

Ph. +7 (3412) 72-51-25, fax +7 (3412) 72-68-19

E-mail: iemz@kupol.ru, http:// www.kupol.ru

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