9K330 Tor (SA-15 Gauntlet) Russian Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile System

9K330 Tor

Low to medium altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile

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9K330 Tor (SA-15 Gauntlet) Russian Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile System — 9K330_Tor_(SA-15_Gauntlet)_(EE).jpgTRADOC ODIN WEG

Basic Information

Name

9K330 Tor (SA-15 Gauntlet) Russian Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile System

Designation

9K330 Tor

Alternate Designation

9K330 Tor; NATO: SA-15 Gauntlet

Equipment Type

Low to medium altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile

Manufacturer

IEMZ Kupol Metrowagonmash (GM chassis designer), MZKT (wheeled chassis designer)

Date of Introduction

1986

Description

9K330 Tor (SA-15 Gauntlet) Russian Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile System is a late Cold War-era self-propelled SAM system of Soviet origin. It was developed from 1975 to 1985 by Antei as a replacement for the older 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko). The Tor is also well known under its NATO reporting name SA-15 Gauntlet. Since its introduction, it is regarded as the most capable short-range self-propelled SAM system and continuous upgrades The Tor is one of the few short-range SAM systems with high effectiveness against cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions. Most Tor systems are based on the GM-355 tracked chassis that allows it to keep up with tanks and other armored vehicles through any terrain. A towed version is available which has the advantage of reduced costs. The latest systems are also available on a large MZKT-6922 6x6 truck chassis that is cheaper, offers more internal space, has even better mobility on roads, and still provides protection to the crew. None of the Tor systems are amphibious. The Tor is based on a tracked chassis that protects the crew from small arms fire. The three crew members are seated in the front, an unmanned turret is installed in the middle and the engine and drivetrain are located at the rear. Two boxes with four missiles are installed vertically in the middle of the turret and extend into the hull of the vehicle. The tracking radar is installed at the front of the turret and the optical system is fitted next to it. The search radar is fitted at the rear and is lowered behind the turret when not in use. The search radar rotates when in use and can be used on the move. The medium-sized missiles use radio command guidance and are fitted with folding fins. Upon launch the vehicle comes to a halt, the missile is propelled upwards by a gas charge, is rotated in the correct direction, and then the rocket ignites. The primary means of engaging targets is by radar guidance. Each Tor system is fitted with a 25 km 360-degree search radar and 15 km 60-degree tracking radar. The Tor has a good ECM resistance but can also engage targets by TV tracking. The TV tracking system has a maximum range of 20 km and is fitted with a laser range finder. The naval version uses a similar two-radar setup but has a more powerful search radar.

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Mobility Type Tracked

Engine Diesel (780 hp)

NBC Protection Yes

Range 25.0 km

Variants

9K330 Tor The project was given strict design specifications to meet; Tor had to provide extended detection and tracking of fast, low radar cross-section targets and be capable of quickly and efficiently dealing with massed air raids while providing a high degree of automation and integration with other air defense assets. In order to meet these demanding specifications, the designers used a variety of new technologies, including advanced Passive electronically scanned array radar for improved detection and tracking performance, enhanced digital information processing, and vertically launched missiles to improve reaction time and increase the number of readily available munitions. After a period of testing and evaluation between December 1983 and December 1984, the land-based system was accepted into service on 19 March 1986.

9K331 Tor-M1 The Tor-M1 is the base variant of the Tor family; it superseded the standard Tor from 1991 and has been widely exported. It is designed to provide point defense and short-range air defense (SHORAD) for ground-based assets from rotary- and fixed-wing assets as well as precision-guided munitions. The combat vehicle itself is designated 9A331.

Tor-M1TA The Tor-M1TA is a paved road-mobile system that mates the launch unit of a Tor-M1 with a truck chassis to provide a more economical version of the Tor-M1 that can be moved with greater ease than the larger tracked systems.

9K331M Tor-M2 The Tor-M2 is a modernized version of the Tor-M1; it is designed to increase the engagement capabilities of the system against complex targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and cruise missiles, especially in a swarm environment.

9K331M2U Tor-M1-2U The Tor-M1-2U is a precursor to the Tor-M2; it is thought to have introduced as an interim before the Tor-M2 with its improved missiles was introduced.

9K331M2K Tor-M2K The Tor-M2K is an export version of the Tor-M2 based on a wheeled chassis.

9K331MDT Tor-M2DT The Tor-M2DT is designed to provide extreme mobility in the most adverse environments such as the Arctic.

9S737M Ranzhir-M The Ranzhir-M is the battery level command and control vehicle for Tor-M1 and M2 systems.

System

Alternative Designation 9K330 Tor; NATO: SA-15 Gauntlet

Type Low to medium altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile

Manufacturer IEMZ Kupol Metrowagonmash (GM chassis designer), MZKT (wheeled chassis designer)

Family 9K330 Series

In Service 1986-Present

Chassis GM-355 special tracked chassis

Crew 3 ea

Operating Unit Structure The 9K330 Tor is a multiplatform ‘system of systems' (referred to as a ‘complex' in Russian), using a range of launchers, sensors, and supporting assets to operate. It should be noted that in the Russian armed forces, air defense systems are typically deployed in a дивизион (transliterated: ‘divizion' (approximately a battalion set)) or a полк (transliterated: ‘polk' (a regiment)) unit size, with the latter sometimes also referred to as a полковой комплект (transliterated: ‘polkovoj komplekt') in Russian. Tor can be operated as either a battalion set or as a regimental set, depending on which type of formation the Tor formation is subordinate to. A brigade would typically be provided with a battalion set, while a division would typically be provided with a regimental set. For the purposes of understanding the quantities of each involved, in the case of Tor, a ‘divizion' (battalion set) is composed of three batteries, while a regimental set consists of four batteries. It should however be noted in the case of the Tor specifically, that this system does not appear to have been commonly operated as a battalion set, but more frequently as a regimental set. This marks a difference between the Tor and later variants of the Tor family (from Tor-M2E/Tor-M2K export variants or Tor-M1-2U domestic variants onwards), which seem to be more frequently operated as either battalion or regimental sets.

Displacement Time Less than 5 min

Emplacement Time Less than 3 min

Fire on the Move No

Reloading Vehicle Reloading vehicle is based on Ural-4320 6x6 heavy truck

Fully Reload Time 18 Minutes

Note This system can engage a variety of modern air targets as well as engage between 2-4 targets simultaneous depending on model (M1 vs. M2). It is used against aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, various missiles and precision guided munitions. It destroys targets that long- and medium-range air defense systems fail to hit.

Dimensions

Length 8.0 m

Width 3.2 m

Height, Combat Configuration 4.0 m

Weight, Combat 32 tons

Ground Pressure INA

Automotive

Engine Name V-46-2S1

Engine Type Diesel

Engine Power 780 hp

Cruising Range 580 km

Speed, Maximum Road 65 km/h

Speed, Average Cross INA

Speed Maximum Swim Not Amphibious

Gradient 60 %

Side Slope 30 %

Vertical Step 1.0 m

Trench 2.0 m

Fording Depth 1.0 m

Hydropneumatic Suspension Yes

Adjustable Ground Clearance Yes

Communications

HF Radio 1 x R-176 Antey

VHF Radio 1 x Azart-P (4km), 1 x Azart-N (12km), and 1 x Azart-BM (40km)

Main Weapon System

Missile Launcher

Name 9A331 Combat Vehicle

Type Vertical Launch

Missile

Name 8x 9M330 Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)

Type Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)

Length 2.89 m

Diameter 0.23 m

Wingspan 650 mm

Weight 165 kg

Engine thruster jets with 2-stage solid-fuel rockets

Warhead Type HE-FRAG

Warhead Weight 14.8 kg

Maximum Range 12.0 km

Minimum Range 1.5 km

Maximum Altitude 6 km

Minimum Altitude 10 m

Guidance System Radio Command Guidance System

Kill Probability against Helicopters 50-88%

Kill Probability against Aircraft 26-75%

Kill Probability against UAVs 85-95%

Maximum Speed Mach 3

Maximum Target Speed 3,060 kph

Load Limit 30 Gs

Fuze Type RF proximity

Detonation Mechanism RF Proximity

Propellant Solid-fuel rocket

Boost time Cold launch ejection for 20 m

Steering system Gas dynamic control system, with four control surfaces

Basic Load 8x 9M330 Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)

Note The higher the target the higher the probability to hit the target.

Fire Control

Note The Tor combat vehicle has radar and missiles based on a single vehicle.

Fire Control System

Name INA

Computerized FCS Yes

Fire Control Radar J/K-band

Fire Control Sensors Yes

IADS Integration INA

Reaction Time (Target Detection to Launch) 8-12 seconds

Target Detection Radar

Name Scrum Half

Type 3D Pulse Doppler

Maximum Detection Range against Aircraft 25-27 km

Maximum Detection Range against Helicopters 12 km

Maximum Detection Range against UAVs 9-15 km

Search for Targets on the Move Yes

Detect and Intercept Anti-Radiation Missiles Yes

Coverage up to 48 targets

Surveillance Band G/H-band

Minimum Detection Altitude 100 m

Protection

Hull Armor All-welded steel

Turret Armor All-welded steel

Applique Armor No

Explosive Reactive Armor No

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing No

Self-Entrenching Blade No

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment INA

Air-Transportable Yes

IFF Yes

Image Sources

Notes https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-weather-missile; https://www.armyrecognition.com/index.php; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:9A331_Tor-M1_-_Engineering_technologies_2012_(1).jpg; https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=1186;

Details

Country of Origin Russia

Category Short-Range Missile Systems (Less than 30 km)

Land > Air Defense > Short-Range Missile Systems (Less than 30 km)

Classification

Domain

Ground

Equipment Status

Active

Dimensions

Length

8 m

Width

3.2 m

Height

—

Weight

32000 kg

Operators (17)

Russia

China

Ukraine

Iran

Belarus

Algeria

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Cyprus

Egypt

Greece

Morocco

Myanmar

Peru

Syria

Turkmenistan

Venezuela

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