• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

9K331 Tor SA-15 GAUNTLET - Variants

"The combat vehicle of the Tor complex is an outstanding embodiment of engineering. Features of design solutions made it possible to achieve high ergonomics, as well as to place weapons themselves inside the combat vehicle. Thus, it is more difficult for reconnaissance means of a potential enemy to identify Tor as an air defense vehicle.

"Thor" is produced on a wide range of chassis. Initially, the combat vehicle was created on a caterpillar track, but a wheeled version, the Tor-M2K, is also being produced. In the summer of 2020, the head of the military air defense of the RF Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Alexander Leonov, in an interview with the National Defense magazine, said that Russia was developing a modification of the Tor-M2 air defense system on a wheeled chassis with the ability to overcome water obstacles by swimming.

• Tor M an improved version of the system;
• Tor M1 is a further improved version. It is based on a slightly different GM 5955 chassis. It uses improved missiles. The Tor M1 is much more effective comparing with the original Tor. It has a kill probability of 45-80% with a single missile against aircraft. Its development was completed in 1989 and it entered service in 1991. The Tor M1 has been exported to China (35 units) where it is known as HQ-17. Russia refused to co-produce these systems in China and it seems that China is developing a copy of this missile system;
• Tor M1TA version, on a wheeled chassis, consists of Ural-5323 or other military truck with control cabin and trailer with radar and missile launcher. The Tor M1TB is a similar system, but its control cabin is also based on a trailer. Tor M1TC is a non mobile version;
• Tor M2 further improved version of the Tor. It is claimed that it can deflect massive enemy air raids when enemy extensively uses electronic countermeasures. It entered service in 2008;
• Tor-M2DT Arctic version is based on the DT-30PM Vityaz two-link tracked all-terrain vehicle, which, due to its low specific ground pressure, is capable of moving in completely off-road conditions and in the conditions of the Far North. This was confirmed during the run along the route Tiksi - Kotelny through the ice hummocks of the Arctic Ocean.
• Tor M2E is an export version of the Tor M2. It seems that this version is based on a tracked chassis. This air defense missile system is in service with Azerbaijan and Belarus;
• Tor M2K is an export version, based on Belarusian MZKT-6922 6x6 high mobility wheeled chassis. Belarus ordered 5 of these air defense systems for delivery in 2016;
• "Tor-M2KM" is an autonomous combat module that can be placed on any object or carrier: on a chassis of suitable carrying capacity, on the roof of a building, on a railway platform, and even on the deck of a ship. In particular, in 2016, the Tor-M2KM autonomous combat module was tested on the high seas. The module, installed on the helipad of the frigate "Admiral Grigorovich", which was moving at a speed of 10 knots, successfully hit aerial targets - high-speed, as well as simulating an anti-ship cruise missile. According to experts, the appearance of the naval "Tor" will significantly improve the air defense system in the Russian ship grouping.
• Tor M2EK (also referred as Tor M2KM) is a modular air defense systems, that can accommodate various chassis. It was revealed in 2013. The TELAR vehicle was based on a Tata LPTA 3138 8x8 wheeled chassis;
• Tor M2U is a recent improved version based on a tracked chassis. It can launch missiles while the TEL is on the move. The Tor M2U was adopted by the Russian Army in 2012.
• Tor-M2KM is the latest development with enhanced target engagement zone in the modular version, independent and on the mobile chassis.

The Kinzhal [Dagger] (SA-N-9 Gauntlet) shipborne air defense system was developed alongside the Tor and has a number of interchangeable components. It entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1989, installed on some Soviet ship classes, notably the Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier, Kirov class cruisers, Udaloy class destroyers and Neustrashymij class frigates. The system was also retrofited to some older ships.