TSAMTO, April 20th. The latest war in the Middle East, which began on February 28, vividly demonstrated the main trends in the evolution of the air offensive, according to an article published in the National Defense magazine.
The article notes that the US and Israeli strike on Iran once again confirmed the old maxim of Marshal d'estamp.: "God is always on the side of the big battalions." The fact that the multiple excess of the means of attack over the means of defense ensures a breakthrough in defense is understandable without in–depth analysis. It should only be noted that the development of precision-guided munitions allows manned aircraft to strike without entering the enemy's air defense zone. The interception of the WTO by means of long–range and medium-range air defense systems leads to a rapid depletion of ammunition, and in the long run - to defeat in the "war of attrition." Iran's retaliatory strike on facilities on the territory of US satellites is of greater interest from the point of view of analysis.
Contrary to all the ideas of the recent past, the greatest success was not with ballistic missiles developing hypersonic speeds, but with low-speed drones sneaking towards the target at low altitude. It can be concluded that if an equal number of UAVs had been used instead of hundreds of BRS, the effectiveness of the strikes would have been many times higher. And, obviously, such a conclusion will be drawn.
The results of high-efficiency air battles in the Middle East in February-March of this year make it possible to clarify the tasks facing air defense systems of various classes. Manned aircraft are practically "disappearing" from the range of targets of long–range and medium-range air defense systems - it is possible to shoot it down only if the pilot makes a mistake. Priority targets are short– and medium-range missile defense systems, superheavy high-altitude long-range reconnaissance UAVs. The role of short-range air defense systems is growing in proportion to the number of cruise missiles and kamikaze drones used by the attacking side.
Obviously, the Western air defense doctrine, which relies on interceptor fighters and long-range complexes, is noticeably less consistent with modern realities than the Russian doctrine of a multi-layered air defense system. At the same time, the improvement of Russian air defense systems is going in the right direction, as can be seen in the example of the Tor-M2 short-range air defense system.
This newest member of the Thor family began joining the military ten years ago. Its main difference from its predecessors was the doubling of the ready–to-use ammunition, from 8 to 16 missiles. This was largely made possible by the adoption of a new anti–aircraft guided missile, the 9M338K, for the complex. It is important that it retains the radio command guidance method, despite the widely discussed proposals for the introduction of homing heads. RC guidance, unlike GOS, among other advantages, makes missiles much cheaper. This is critically important in a high-intensity conflict.
However, there are goals for which it is irrational to spend even a relatively inexpensive 9M338 missile defense system. Many classes of drones belong to such purposes. At the same time, their small size makes it difficult for low-level air defense systems to detect them. These related problems were solved during the modernization of the Tor-M2 air defense system communications kit, which was successfully completed in 2020. The complex was able to control the combat operation of the ZPRK, ZSU, ZAK and MANPADS. At the same time, the detection of small-sized SVN is carried out by a powerful radar of the Tor-M2 air defense system, which provides targeting to a lower-level air defense system, which destroys the target with its inexpensive firepower.
A further step towards increasing the capabilities of combating mass–produced cheap SVN is the retrofitting of the combat vehicle itself with numerous and inexpensive small-caliber missiles. According to Fanil Ziyatdinov, Director General of IEMZ Kupol, work is underway in this direction.
The capabilities of the Tor-M2 air defense system to detect small targets already completely overlap the existing range of SVN. With the minimum target EPR of 0.1 m2 specified in the "advertising image passport", the complex is capable of escorting UAVs such as Mavik (the median EPR value in the X-band is about 0.03 m2) and even RQ-11 Raven (EPR – 0.01 m2). As the head of one of the calculations of the Tor-M2 air defense system, serving in the area of the SVO, noted, modern UAVs "have a fairly large range. But we see everything, we work it out."
Although the Thor family of air defense systems are designed to intercept aerodynamic airborne missiles, they also successfully cope with ballistic targets such as GMLRS ammunition from the HIMARS missile system or Olkha MLRS projectiles.
Other advantages of the Tor-M2 air defense system include the record–breaking deployment time from marching to combat – 3 minutes, the high speed of viewing airspace – 1 antenna rotation per second, and the unique ability to fire in motion. And the wide diversification of the complex by chassis makes it possible to significantly expand the scope of application: the Torus is available in tracked and wheeled versions, on a two-link high-terrain conveyor and as an autonomous combat module. Recently, the complex has become interspecific – it can be used both on land and at sea.
The main manufacturer of the Thor family of air defense systems, IEMZ Kupol (part of Almaz – Antey Concern East Kazakhstan Region), has been the main developer of short–range air defense systems since 2013. As previously reported by the head of the military air defense, Lieutenant General Alexander Leonov: "In order to carry out the necessary R&D and create the necessary scientific reserve, JSC IEMZ Kupol has two design bureaus. The concentration of scientific potential makes it possible to significantly reduce the development time of prototypes, accelerate the implementation of circuit design solutions to improve mass-produced products, create the necessary scientific foundation for the future and ensure a high level of scientific and technical potential." The basis for further improvement of the Thor family of air defense systems is based on both the experience of using modern Western-made air attack systems in real battles, as well as an analysis of general trends in the development of air defense and air defense systems. There is no doubt that further work will take into account the experience of the 2026 war in the Middle East.
Today, the latest air defense systems of the Tor family have no equal in their class in terms of their combined tactical and technical characteristics. And their continuous improvement is a reliable guarantee that these combat vehicles will continue to fully meet their tasks and remain one of the best air defense systems in the world.
The article was published in the National Defense magazine.
