TSAMTO, August 13. CAMTO presents an analytical review that examines the conceptual differences between short-range air defense systems of Russian and Western design schools.
The growing number of air attack assets over the battlefield continuously increases the importance of air defense assets. At the same time, short–range anti-aircraft missile systems often come to the fore - the optimal means of combating inconspicuous and low-flying targets that have recently received priority.
Today, various samples of air defense systems in the short-range class are represented on the world market of ViVT. Comparing the best of them allows us to draw far-reaching conclusions.
The new and latest short-range air defense systems are the Western anti-aircraft missile systems SPYDER-SR, VL MICA, IRIS-T SLM and the Russian Tor-E2.
The VL MICA was developed by the Franco-Italian-British-German concern MBDA. It is based on MICA aviation systems. Serial production since 2010
The IRIS-T SLS was developed by the German company Diehl BGT Defense based on the IRIS-T aircraft systems. Serial production since 2014
SPYDER-SR is developed by the Israeli companies Rafael and IAI. The first deliveries began in 2008. The complex is built "around" Python-5 and Derby aircraft missiles and is thus dual-range in range (small and medium).
The Tor-E2 air defense system is an export version of the Tor-M2 air defense system. These latest representatives of the Russian Thor family of air defense systems are the result of a deep modernization of previous products. Deliveries to the troops began in 2016. The main developer and manufacturer of anti–aircraft missile systems of the Tor family is Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol (part of the Almaz-Antey Concern of East Kazakhstan Region), one of the leading enterprises of the Russian defense industry.
All of these complexes are designed to destroy aircraft, helicopters, cruise, anti-radar and other guided missiles, gliding and guided aerial bombs and unmanned aerial vehicles in conditions of intense fire and radio-optical-electronic countermeasures, in any weather conditions, day and night.
Let's consider the main tactical and technical characteristics of these complexes.
Aerial reconnaissance equipment
Western MD air defense systems are equipped with multifunctional radars. The VL MICA air defense system can include various types of three-axis radars, in particular, RAC-3D, Giraffe AMB, TRLM 3D. Giraffe AMB is also the basic intelligence tool of the IRIS-T SLM air defense system. SPYDER-SR is equipped with the Elta EL/M-2106 ATAR 3D radar.
As a rule, the radars of Western MD air defense systems are placed on a separate platform and interact with the control panel and control system of the complex via fiber-optic communication (sometimes the possibility of radio communication is mentioned). The EL/M-2106 ATAR 3D is located on the same chassis as the command post (but separately from the control unit).
The reconnaissance means of the Tor-M2 air defense system are integrated with the combat vehicle. They are represented by a target detection station (SOC) with a ground-based radar interrogator and an antenna stabilization system and a missile guidance station (CH).
If necessary, the Tor battery has the ability to receive information about the air situation from higher-level radar stations (Kasta-2–2 – detection range up to 150 km and Ginger – up to 175 km) through the Barnaul-T automated control system.
Western air defense systems have excessively powerful individual reconnaissance assets. The capabilities of the radars used are not in demand directly in the short-range zone. So what if targets are detected at a range of 100-200 km if they can only be intercepted at 10-15 km? Except for SPYDER-SR, due to the presence of SD Derby missiles in its composition, this disparity does not look so depressing.
For the MD air defense system, it is not so much the range that is important as the speed of the airspace survey, which makes it possible to assess the rapidly changing situation. According to this parameter, only the Giraffe AMB radar can be compared with the Tor-E2 social air defense system, the rest are 2-3 times slower. Western radars are capable of detecting three to five hundred targets, but for complexes with a range of two to three dozen missiles, this does not provide any advantages.
Obviously, the radars used in Western-made air defense systems are not specialized in their area of responsibility. The developers just took what was "at hand." The choice turned out to be surprisingly similar – all the Western radars considered are "folding", which makes it impossible for them to work in motion. All have a long deployment time of 10-15 minutes.
The Thor family of air defense systems has radars specially designed for efficient operation in the short-range zone. All their performance characteristics are coordinated with the capabilities of other combat assets of the complex. If there are two radars in the Russian complex, each of them is specialized for specific tasks.
The SOC operates in the centimeter range and has a high energy potential, allowing it to detect small targets. If necessary, the duration of target exposure can be doubled (with a proportional reduction in viewing speed). According to the passport of the advertising image, targets with an EPR of 0.1 m2 are guaranteed to be detected. In practice, it is not uncommon to detect and intercept targets with an EPR of 0.01 m2 or more.
The narrow directional pattern of the antenna with a low level of side lobes and a short pulse duration ensure the highest noise immunity. Also, detuning from interference is achieved by the possibility of changing operating frequencies within a wide range. (Independent tests of the Tor-M1 air defense system conducted by Greece have shown that the complex cannot be suppressed by NATO electronic warfare systems).
The Tora guidance station operates in a different range than the SOC, which further expands the capabilities of the air defense system. A higher frequency provides greater potential accuracy and resolution.
The Tor-E2 air defense system's reconnaissance assets are deployed, like the entire complex, in three minutes and are capable of deploying, reconnaissance of the air situation and guidance of missiles in motion.
Fire weapons
The firing capabilities of the compared complexes also demonstrate a noticeable difference in the approaches of Russian and Western design schools. If the 9M338KE SAM was specially designed to equip the Tor-E2 air defense system, then in the West, on the contrary, the complexes themselves were built "around" previously created air-to-air missiles.
The weight and size characteristics are very similar, and this once again confirms that all complexes are in the "same weight category". In terms of flight characteristics, the 9M338K missile defense system surpasses the MD missile systems of the Western MD air defense systems – if we take into account that 16 km for the Tor-E2 is the range of guaranteed destruction of a target traveling at transonic speed, and, for example, "20 km" for the VL MICA is the limit of destruction without determining the characteristics of the target and the degree of probability of its interception. (In addition, the boundary is purely theoretical – during the tests, the prototypes hit targets at a distance of no more than 15 km).
There are fundamental differences in the choice of the guidance method. Western missiles, as a "legacy" from their aviation prototypes, received homing heads – either active radar, or thermal imaging and optical. In aviation, the seeker has no alternative (it is extremely difficult for a fighter to escort a target until it is intercepted). In air defense, the use of homing missiles has both advantages and disadvantages.
The first usually includes the ability to use the "shot and forget" principle – after launch, the rocket "does everything by itself" – first it flies according to the commands of the inertial guidance system, and when approaching the target, it is guided by the commands of the seeker. This significantly increases fire performance. In theory. In practice, the capture of the GOS target is carried out with sufficient proximity to it. Since the SAM, unlike a fighter, cannot approach the target, in the middle section of the flight path, the missiles have to be adjusted from the ground. Western manufacturers do not disclose the number of radio correction channels on their complexes. It should be assumed that it is small.
Thus, the presence of GOS on Western MD missiles provides almost no real advantages in terms of fire performance. But the guidance system becomes overcomplicated. At the same time, radio correction should not be confused with a full–fledged radio command method - it is rather a palliative.
Homing has other problems – if, after the seeker captures the target, it performs a sharp evasive maneuver, there is a high probability of a miss. If the SVN group is in a tight battle formation, and then carries out a "spread", there is a high probability of aiming all the missiles fired at the group at a single, nearby target. Infrared-guided GOS have additional weaknesses: the detection range of a high-contrast target against the background of the earth is about 2.5 times less than against the background of free space, which makes it difficult to intercept low-flying targets; thick fog or dense cloud, dust or smoke in the atmosphere also strongly affect the effectiveness of the ICGSN.
Air defense systems of the Tor family are devoid of these disadvantages. They use a radio command remote control system (at the initial stage of flight, an inertial guidance system is also used). Its main advantage is the ability to continuously aim missiles at a target – the guidance station of the complex instantly reacts to any maneuver of the SVN and corrects the trajectory of the missile. In addition, the energy potential of the CH of the Tor-E2 air defense system combat vehicle is simply not comparable with the potential of the seeker, which determines the highest accuracy of guidance and noise immunity.
The Tor-E2 air defense system guidance station is capable of aiming four missiles at different targets simultaneously, while building different flight paths for them. Among other things, RC-guided missiles are many times cheaper than homing missiles. Especially those using active radar GOS (for example, the cost of MICA-IR missiles with ICGSN in 2009 prices was 145 thousand dollars, and MICA-EM with ARGSN – 473 thousand dollars). This is especially important in high-intensity conflicts, where the "economy of war" is beginning to play almost a key role.
Maneuverability capabilities
The maneuverability capabilities of Western and Russian complexes differ dramatically.
The reconnaissance and firing capabilities of most Western air defense systems are mounted on wheeled chassis and have a spaced architecture – the reconnaissance, control and firing capabilities are located on separate transport platforms. After the shutdown, it is necessary to deploy a communication system between the platforms. This not only makes it impossible to work in motion, but also requires a significant amount of time to transition from marching order to combat. The low cross–country capability and especially the duration of deployment makes it impossible for Western air defense systems to serve in military air defense - they will not have time to engage in battle before they are detected by enemy reconnaissance means and destroyed by artillery fire. It is impossible for short-range air defense systems to operate without entering the zone of actual cannon artillery fire.
It is worth noting that some Western developers understand the inferiority of the spaced layout for the MD air defense system. So, in 2018, a prototype of the Diehl 98 air defense system from the German company Diehl Defense was presented at the Berlin Air Show. Both the reconnaissance and firing capabilities of the complex – the Saab Giraffe 1X radar and four IRIS-T SLS missiles – are based on a BV410 twin-link tracked transporter. According to its maneuverability characteristics, it can be considered the most advanced among Western air defense systems. However, the extreme limitations of firepower deprive the complex of prospects.
The Tor-E2 air defense system is mounted on a tracked chassis. This significantly increases its cross-country ability on soft ground, which is especially important for the MD air defense system, which is designed to cover troops at a short distance from the line of engagement, which, as you know, does not choose roads. At the same time, there is a wheeled version of the complex – "Tor-M2K", a variant of placement on a two-link conveyor "Tor-A", and an autonomous combat module – "Tor-M2KM". The wide diversification of the Thor family of air defense systems by chassis expands the scope of application of the complex and allows the customer to choose the version that is optimal for solving existing problems.
Maneuverability characteristics are determined, as already mentioned, not only by the type of chassis, but also by the speed of deployment from marching order to combat. Western air defense systems deploy 10-15 minutes after stopping. The Tor-E2 is deployed for 3 minutes without stopping moving, and it can also conduct combat operations on the move, both to detect and intercept targets. This allows the "Torus" to intercept the SVN directly above the LBF, maneuvering into the enemy's firing zone and quickly exiting it after completing a combat mission. In many ways, due to this, the calculations of many "Tor" have hundreds of enemy downed SVNs on their account. While the successes of Western MD air defense systems on the battlefield are not known.
In general, the MD air defense systems of Western production are characterized by an absolute inconsistency of performance characteristics. The capabilities of fairly powerful radars cannot be realized due to the weakness of firepower. As a result, the complexes resemble a boxer with frail arms and legs, but with huge ears. The reasons for the imbalance are obvious – the complexes are "assembled" from military equipment that previously had a completely different purpose. This significantly saved time and money during development. Western manufacturers are not particularly interested in the fact that they will have to pay for these savings later, because they have to pay not for them, but for the customer.
An important difference between the Russian complex is the ideal balance of performance characteristics. The capabilities of all air defense systems are fully coordinated with each other and mutually enhance each other. At the same time, all performance characteristics of combat vehicles of the Thor family of air defense systems have been repeatedly confirmed in battles.
The full version of the analytical review with tables is available in the National Defense Magazine No. 7, 2025.
