Russia: successful Arctic fire trials of Tor-M2DT antiaircraft missiles.

“Fire trials of Tor-M2DT prototype on the chassis of two-section prime mover for operations in the Arctic and the Extreme North have been successfully completed at Kapustin Yar range, in the Astrakhan region”, the Defense Ministry said. “The fire in bursts was held to assess aiming precision at two targets. Live fire was held from one combat vehicle in a complicated aiming situation and jamming of two targets imitating cruise missiles," it said.

Tor-M2DT, a Russian antiaircraft system designed for extreme conditions (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Tor-M2DT was revealed during the rehearsal for the Russian Victory Day Parade, in April 2017. It is a Russian-made short-range air defense missile system using the Tor-M2 missile launcher station. The system is especially designed to be used for 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.

After the recent Arctic fire trials, the weapon will now undergo climatic tests and check the airlifting capability. "Upon completion of the government trials and acceptance into service the first squadron set will be delivered to a Northern fleet formation," the ministry said

The servicemen of the missile squadron will be retrained for combat cohesion and hold a familiarization exercise. "After a successful completion of the events the squadron will be ready to operate in complicated conditions of the Arctic and the Extreme North," it added.

The system is especially designed to be used in 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 the 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 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.