Work on the creation of the combat module of the Tor-M2KM air defense system for the needs of the Russian Navy has been completed.
In the summer of 2025, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced that during one of the stages of the July Storm exercises, the patrol ship of the Baltic Fleet Viktor Veliky carried out successful anti-aircraft missile firing using the Tor-M2KM sea-based air defense system. Dmitry Zakhar, Assistant to the General Director of IEMZ Kupol for advanced projects, spoke about the new naval air defense system.
– Dmitry Valerievich, in July, it was reported about successful tests of the Tor-M2 sea-based air defense system. What kind of product was it about?
– As you should know, IEMZ Kupol conducts two works "by sea". However, both are conducted using technical solutions of the Tor-M2 air defense system. The Tor-MF air defense system will have a spaced layout, classic for any ship. Radars are located in superstructures, launch containers under the deck, and a control center in the interior of the ship, provided by the project location. The second work is "Tor-M2KM". In it, all the facilities of the complex are integrated into a single module located on the deck or quarterdeck. In 2024-2025, the standard tests of this module were completed, and the final part of them was live firing as part of the July Storm exercises.
– How was the work on creating a marine version of Thor going?
– Work on the "warming up" of the Thor family of air defense systems began back in 2015, when the first firing of the complex took place over the sea surface – from the coastline. A representative of the family first went to the open sea in 2016 – an autonomous combat module
The Tor-M2KM, created on the basis of the Tor-M2U air defense system, conducted live firing from the deck of the Admiral Grigorovich frigate. The tests confirmed the possibility of using our complex in the interests of the Navy. At the same time, it was recommended to carry out a number of improvements for use in marine conditions. During tests in May 2019 on the shore of the Votkinsk reservoir, the modified combat vehicle proved its effectiveness when working on targets at extremely low altitude above water. In 2021, ABM Tor-M2KM conducted repeated firings at sea, which generally confirmed its readiness for service in the Navy. But since there were no orders at that time, serial production did not begin.
Thor's experience at sea proved to be in demand in the spring of 2022. Then the Navy command asked our company to transfer the mentioned ABM Tor-M2KM to one of the ships. Of course, our CEO met the fleet's wishes. But we honestly warned – the complex is already old, it was actively used by the plant for its own needs – it participated in exhibitions and test firing. However, despite some wear and tear, the module performed just fine in combat. For more than three years now, he has been carrying out a strenuous service, effectively solving all the tasks set.
The successful combat operation of the Tor-M2KM ABM was one of the factors that influenced the decision to upgrade the Tor-M2 air defense system to a modular version for the Navy. Thus, if the first module was developed on the basis of the Tor-M2U air defense system with 8 9M331 missiles, then this ABM was created on the basis of the latest version of the Tor-M2 air defense system with 16 9M338K missiles. The tactical and technical requirements for the project were approved in October 2023. The leadership of the Navy confirmed its readiness to purchase a batch of products for the needs of the fleet in case of successful completion of the tests. IEMZ Kupol carried out the necessary work. And in the summer of this year, the latest ABM Tor-M2KM for the needs of the Navy successfully completed tests.
It is worth making a digression here and noting the efficiency in the work of the specialists and the management of the fleet – the order for the production of the first batch of products was issued before receiving the letter O1 and even before the completion of the tests. This is, of course, an atypical situation. Representatives of the fleet took a well-known risk, which was fully justified: the tests were completed successfully, the procedure for assigning the letter O1 is currently underway, and thanks to the early start of mass production, we plan to transfer the products to the customer this year.
– Tell us more about the Tor-M2KM combat module.
– This is a completely unique set of constructive solutions. At the time of the creation of the first ABM Tor-M2KM, there were no analogues either in our country or in the world. Imitations have only recently begun to appear. Which, by the way, additionally indicates the prospects of this form factor. The essence of the concept is reflected in the name – it is a module capable of conducting combat work autonomously, without rigid attachment to a carrier base. It can be used permanently as part of an air defense facility. And it is being applied – previously released products (created on the basis of Tor-M2U) are now serving to protect particularly important facilities and the civilian population in the Air Force units. The ABM can also be integrated with any chassis of suitable payload capacity and in this form becomes a means of military air defense. This is important in light of the current trend in the global IVT market – foreign customers often require products to be placed on the carrier base of their production. The module is ideally suited for this, and this further increases its export potential. By the way, the first batch of the Tor-M2KM air defense system was released in the interests of a foreign customer.
And finally, the option that we are discussing today is serving on ships and auxiliary vessels of the fleet. The same product was guarding the capital yesterday, was transferred to the troops today, and was transferred to a ship tomorrow. This ensures a quick maneuver of available air defense systems from the land to the sea and back. It is an interspecific complex in the full sense of the word. And we expect that the new ABM, although designed for the needs of the fleet, will find wide application on land.
– What is the difficulty of working on the sea surface? What events were held to "rejuvenate" the "Thor"?
– The problem of working above the water surface is the presence of strong natural interference, making it difficult to intercept low–flying targets. In order to eliminate a possible error, a special "marine filter" was created. For the first time in serial products, it was introduced into the Tor-M2DT air defense system, which also serve in the Navy – in the coastal units of the Northern Fleet. However, today the "marine filter" is being introduced into mass-produced land products in case they have to work over water. If necessary, it is enough for the operator to switch from one algorithm to another. A special pitching system has also been added to the marine module.
Another important task that has been solved is to provide power from the ship's network. This saves the life of the turbo generator. Power from an external source can be arranged through a transformer and on shore. This solution can also be used in object-based air defense.
During the integration of the Tor-M2KM ABM, it is possible to obtain navigation data and target designation – bearing, distance, latitude, longitude, speed – from shipboard systems. A loudspeaker connection to the main command post is provided. It has been worked out to receive information from the coastal air defense headquarters. By the way, not all ships have this option. The information display is translated into nautical units of measurement – knots, miles, and so on.
Also, taking into account the increased aggressiveness of the marine environment, insulation and anti-corrosion coating have been improved.
– On which ships can the Tor-M2KM ABM be installed?
– For almost any displacement starting from 500 tons. On small ships, there is one module at the bow or at the stern. On medium–displacement ships - two, on the quarterdeck on both sides. The module can also be installed on auxiliary vessels called up to the fleet for mobilization deployment, such as icebreakers and others.
It is important to note that the Tor-M2KM ABM is not only easy to install, but can also be removed without problems. This allows you to quickly retrofit the ship for a specific task. Roughly speaking, when setting the task of providing air defense, the module is installed, for example, on a helipad. When the task is changed to support the ABM, the ABM is removed, and the helicopter returns to its normal location. This is fully consistent with the idea of replaceable modular weapons, which are the future.
– And how are the work on the Tor-MF air defense system progressing?
– Unlike the module that was created by the IEMZ Kupol on its own initiative (although the initiative was supported by the navy), the Tor-MF air defense system is being created with the "sovereign's money" – the development of the complex is included in the GOZ program. This is a different order of financing, different requirements for the timing of work and a different format for the dissemination of information. Let's wait for the official releases of the Ministry of Defense. It won't take long to wait for them – as always, the work on the factory line is carried out on time.
Andrey Soldatkin
