Tor M2KM is a Russian missile system for air defense in short ranges. It was developed especially for export purposes by Tor M2E and was revealed in 2013. The air defense system was offered to India but without success. The development and testing of the system were finished in 2015. In the end, the Tor M2KM was ordered by Armenia. At least 2 vehicles were delivered to the country until 2019. However, one was for sure destroyed in 2020 during conflicts against Azerbaijan.
The system was initially designed for military trucks 8x8. Although, it can be used on many different platforms, even in military ships. The unit with the radar and the missiles weigh 15t and include all the necessary gear like autonomous generator and more. The air defense system doesn't require a specific platform for deployment. The TELAR unit is operated by a crew of two and an extra driver. For someone familiar with the system and with the right gear, the weapon can be removed from the platform within 10 minutes. After its removal, the system can be fitted in another vehicle or be operated as stationary.
Tor M2KM uses the 9M331D missiles. These missiles have a range of 15km and can reach 10km in altitude. It is being said that the missile has more than 90% possibility to destroy the target, although the percentage varies based on the target's type. In total, 8 missiles can be carried per unit.
Tor M2KM was designed to protect important military and other units, even ships. The system can strike every type of aerial targets like aircraft, helicopters, drones, and many different missiles or bombs. It can also track and destroy cruise missiles, sea-skimming missiles, and anti-radiation missiles. Essentially, the system destroys targets that long-range systems of the same type cannot. In combat mode, the system needs 5 to 10 seconds in order to launch the missile by the time the target is tracked.
The radar can track targets in the range of 32km and can detect 48 targets at the same time. However, it can only engage 4 of them at once. The system has discrimination capabilities and can select the 10 most important targets. The howitzer can be operated in any weather and time. Tor M2KM can launch missiles remotely, at a distance up to 100 meters. That feature was added for the crew's protection.
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The system needs 3 minutes to enter launch mode.
The version that was offered to India was based on the Indian 8x8 Tata LPTA 3138. It was tested in Russia in 2013 and, for the first time, it was revealed publicly during the same year. The loading vehicles are based on 6x6 Tata trucks.
The Armenian systems have Russian 8x8 trucks as the basic vehicles.
TELAR vehicle is supported by a loading vehicle, that carries the rest of the missiles and reloads TELAR with a special crane. In total, the TELAR is being reloaded in 18 minutes.
Tor M2KM can easily be introduced in the current air defense system with the help of the command vehicle Ranzhir-MK. The interesting part is that the command vehicle can also be added to the NATO air defense system. The Ranzhir vehicle has a 6x6 truck as its main platform.
A standard batter includes 4 TELAR vehicles, 4 loading vehicles, and a command vehicle.
