Almaz-Antey of Russia unveils a new advanced version of TOR-M2 air defense missile system 1611134

Posted On
a

Defence & Security News - Russia
 
 
Saturday, November 16, 2013 07:11 PM
 
Almaz-Antey of Russia unveils a new advanced version of TOR-M2 air defense missile system.
Russia’s Almaz-Antey defense corporation said Thursday, November 14, 2013, that it had developed an advanced version of the Tor-M2 air defense system, featuring an extended firing range, improved precision and greater ammunition-carrying capacity.
     
     
Tests of a new missile for the advanced version of the Russian air defense system Tor-M2 proved it is capable of shooting down challenging targets with amazing precision, hitting moving missiles head-on, Russian arms manufacturer Almaz-Antey said.

Tested with the latest Tor-M2 missile system, the new weapon displayed remarkable precision. It destroyed three of its moving targets head-on.

The Tor system 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.

Tor-M1 and Tor-M2U variants, armed with 9M331 missiles, are currently in service with the Russian army.

The new system, equipped with new 9M338 missiles, was successfully tested at the end of October.

“We carried out five launches targeting highly maneuverable drones. Three of the targets were hit head-on, while the other two were destroyed by shrapnel from exploding warheads. It is an excellent result, astounding precision,” Druzin said.

In addition, the smaller size of the 9M338 compared with its predecessor has allowed the carrying capacity of the launcher to be doubled, from eight to 16 missiles.

The official said the improved Tor-M2 systems and 9M338 missiles have been approved by a state commission for mass production.

“We can now start producing these missiles in quantities that would meet the demand of the Russian army,” Druzin said.

According to Druzin, the next step in the improvement of the system would be for launching missiles at acquired targets while on the move.