A video released by Russia’s Ministry of Defense is shows Russian Tor-M2 Anti-Aircraft Missile System in action during Russian anti-aircraft live fire. Tor M2 is a fully-automated surface-to-air missile (SAM) system manufactured by Almaz-Antey’s Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, to deliver effective air defence in jamming environments. The short-range air defence missile system can counter a wide range of targets including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), guided missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, helicopters and high-precision weapons flying at very low to medium altitudes. Originally developed by the Soviet Union under the GRAU designation 9K330, the system is commonly known by its NATO reporting name, SA-15 “Gauntlet”. A navalized variant was developed under the name 3K95 “Kinzhal”, also known as the SA-N-9 “Gauntlet”. Tor was also the first air defence system in the world designed from the start to shoot down precision guided weapons like the AGM-86 ALCM day and night, in bad weather and jamming situation. Tor can detect targets while on the move. The vehicle must stop intermittently when firing, although trials are being conducted to eliminate this restriction.
The Tor-M2 is an upgraded version of the Tor-M1 short-range air defense missile system and was designed by the defense company Almaz-Antey.
The TOR-M2 (NATO reporting name SA-15 Gauntlet) was presented for the first time to the public during the Moscow Air Show, MAKS in 2007 and was placed on active duty with the Russian armed forces in March 2017. The Tor-M2 is a low- to medium-altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed for intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic targets.
It utilizes a new interceptor missile, which has improved performance, increased ammunition capacity and enables firing-on-the move capability. Military experts describe the Tor-M2 as a unique air defense system in its class with an astounding precision and range.
The Tor-M2 is fully automated and is able to engage four targets simultaneously (Tor-M1 can engage two), and has improved electronic countermeasure resistance.
Ammunition of the Tor-M2 includes 8 missiles 9M331 or 16 missiles 9M338 with increased altitude and range. Tor-M2 missiles have a range of 16 km, maximum altitude of 10 km and maximum speed of 1000 m/s. The system is capable of short-stop firing, which takes 2–3 seconds for the system to go from motion to stationary and firing of the missile. The Tor-M2E is offered in either wheeled or tracked chassis and is equipped with a new digital computer system and all weather optical tracking system. It is currently produced at OJSC Izhevsk Electromechanical plant «Kupol».
The first firing exercise of the Tor-M2 air defense system was held at the Kapustin Yar range.
