TOR-M2DT

Arctic short-range air defense missile system - Russia

The TOR-M2DT is a Russian-made short-range air defense missile system using the TOR-M2 missile launcher station. The system is specially designed to be used in the Arctic region based on the chassis of the DT-30PM tracked all-terrain vehicle which consists of two tracked vehicle units linked by a steering mechanism. The second vehicle is used to carry the TOR-M2 missile launcher station. The TOR-M2DT is developed by Russia`s JSC Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol (a subsidiary of the Almaz-Antey Concern). In February 2017, it was announced that Russian defense contractor Tekhnodinamika is finalizing the development of a prototype transporter-loader for the Arctic derivative of the Tor (NATO reporting name: SA-15 Gauntlet) air defense missile system. According to the Company Tekhnodinamika, the Arctic version of the TOR short-range air defense missile system can be used for defending the polar military bases being set up in the Russian Arctic from Frantz Josef Land to Chukotka. The TOR-M2DT was revealed during the rehearsal for the Russian Victory Day Parade, in April 2017. On December 13, 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a video showing the first operational deployment of the TOR-M2DT in Ukraine. On February 1, 2023, a video was released on Twitter showing the destruction of one Russian TOR-M2DT by Ukrainian soldiers using American-made M982 Excalibur GPS-guided artillery ammunition. 

TOR-M2DT variants:

- Tor: with the 9M330 missile, minimum range of 2 km (1.2 mi), introduced in 1986
- Tor-M1: NATO code SA-15 Gauntlet is the first version in the TOR air defense missile system family, 9M331 missile, a minimum range 1.5 km (0.9 mi)
- TOR-M2: with the 9M331 missile and new surveillance radar, a minimum range of 1 km (0.6 mi)
- TOR-M2E: Export version of the TOR-M2
- TOR-M2U: an upgraded version of the TOR-M2, and the latest variant in service with the Russian armed forces. The TOR-M2U is equipped with a new battlefield missile system with better algorithms to recognize, classify and prioritize targets and is able to engage four threats simultaneously.
- Tor-M2KM: anti-aircraft missile system with a fighting vehicle using wheeled chassis. The Tor-M2KM weapon station can be mounted on truck chassis developed by the Belarusian enterprise «MZKT» or the Indian 2036C 6x6 TATA chassis.

Armament

The TOR-M2DT is fitted with a TOR-M2 missile launcher station mounted on the roof of the second vehicle of a DT-30PM-T1 all-terrain amphibious vehicle. The missile system is equipped with two 9M334 modules, each containing four 9M331 and 9M332 surface-to-air guided missiles in four transporting-launching containers which are used to store, transport, and launch the missiles. The turret of the TOR-M2 also includes a 25 km 360° search radar mounted at the rear and a 15 km 60° tracking radar at the front.

The TOR-M2DT is fitted with a TOR-M2 missile launcher station mounted on the roof of the second vehicle of a DT-30PM-T1 all-terrain amphibious vehicle

Design and protection

The TOR-M2DT can fire the missiles 9M331 and 9M332. The design of the missile round is similar conceptually to the much earlier 9K33 / SA-8 Gecko, but with some important differences, both employing a simple tubular airframe design with a solid rocket powerplant. The airframe uses cruciform canard controls for pitch/yaw control, and a revolving sleeve mounts the cruciform tail surfaces. The missile is not roll-stabilized. The controls are powered by compressed air. The most significant difference in the control system is the use of nose-mounted thrust vectoring jets, used to pivot the missile to the desired azimuth and pitch angle after its vertical launch. Unlike its predecessor, this missile uses the vertical cold launch technique, with a charge ejecting the round vertically from the transport and launch canister. The proximity fuse transmits antenna is in the missile nose, which also contains the transmitter. The fuse receiver, command link receiver and autopilot are all clustered in the center section of the missile. The warhead is situated between the guidance section and the motor. A pair of command link and beacon antennas are mounted on the tail.

Close view of the front vehicle of the TOR-M2DT

Mobility

The TOR-M2DT is based on the chassis of the DT-30PM-T1 tracked articulated tractor (DT stands for ‘articulated tractor’ in Russian), an all-terrain vehicle that consists of two tracked vehicle units linked by a steering mechanism. The DT-30PM is specially designed to be used in the harsh climatic conditions of the Arctic region. The first vehicle of the DT-30PM is a tracked platform with water-displacing sealed all-welded body housing a crew cabin for 4 - 7 people equipped with autonomous heating and air ventilation systems, a power plant, transmission, and a cargo compartment located at the rear of the crew cab. The missile launcher station is mounted on the roof of the second tracked chassis vehicle. The DT-30PM has a curb weight of 31,500 kg, a payload of 30,000 kg and a length of 16.08 m, a width of 3.10 m, and a height of 3.33 m.

Combat Use

The TOR-M2 missile launcher station is able to engage up to 48 processed targets and ten tracked targets. The missile can destroy air targets as aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, guided aerial missiles and bombs, unmanned air vehicles (UAV) flying at medium, low and extremely low altitudes in the heavy air and electronic countermeasures environment at a maximum range of 12 km at altitudes from 10 m to 1,000 m.