Air Defense
Tor-M2
The Tor-M2 is the latest version of Russia’s Tor (SA-15 Gauntlet) short-range air defence system, built by the Izhevsk Kupol plant of Almaz-Antey. Each vehicle carries its own radars and 16 vertically launched missiles, letting it protect troops on the move against aircraft, cruise missiles and drones.
Russia|Almaz-Antey (Izhevsk Kupol)Overview
The Tor-M2 combines search radar, tracking radar and launcher on one vehicle, so it can operate alone or alongside Buk and S-400 batteries. The compact 9M338K missile allows 16 rounds per vehicle in two eight-round modules, twice the load of the older 9M331, which the Tor-M2 can still fire. Commonly cited figures give a range of about 16 km, an altitude band of 10 m to 10 km and a speed of about Mach 3. Each vehicle can engage four targets at once and fire on the move.
Variants include the Tor-M2U (from about 2012), the 16-missile Tor-M2 adopted around 2016, the modular Tor-M2KM and the Arctic Tor-M2DT on an articulated carrier. Russia, Belarus and Armenia operate Tor-M2 versions, and Egypt is reported to use the Tor-M2E. In Ukraine, Russia uses Tor widely against drones and missiles, while open-source trackers have visually confirmed dozens of Tor losses. In 2020 an Iranian Tor-M1 shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752.
Key Specifications
Variants
Modernised version delivered to Russian forces from about 2012, preceding the 16-missile Tor-M2 standard.
Modular version shown in 2016 that can be mounted on trucks or ships; Armenia displayed its Tor-M2KM in 2019.
Arctic version on the articulated DT-30PM all-terrain carrier, delivered to Russian forces from about 2018–2019.
Operators
Russia
Belarus
ArmeniaFrequently Asked Questions
What is the range of the Tor-M2?
The Tor-M2 has a range of about 15–16 km and can engage targets from about 10 m to 10 km altitude, according to commonly cited figures. Its search radar detects targets at about 25–32 km.
How much does a Tor-M2 cost?
Russia does not publish an official price for the Tor-M2, and reliable export contract figures are scarce. Costs vary with chassis, missile load and support package, so any single figure found online should be treated with caution.
Tor vs Pantsir: what is the difference?
Tor is a missile-only system with vertically launched missiles, while Pantsir combines 30 mm guns with missiles. Both are short-range systems that Russia uses to protect troops and key sites from aircraft, cruise missiles and drones.
Which countries have the Tor-M2?
Russia, Belarus and Armenia operate Tor-M2 versions, and Egypt is reported to use the Tor-M2E. Older Tor-M1 systems serve in countries including China, Iran and Venezuela.
How many missiles does a Tor-M2 carry?
A Tor-M2 carries 16 missiles when armed with the compact 9M338K, held in two eight-round modules. With the older 9M331 missile, the load is eight per vehicle.
Is the Tor-M2 effective against drones?
The Tor-M2 is one of Russia’s main short-range weapons against drones, and Russian sources credit it with many interceptions in Syria and Ukraine. These claims are not independently verified, and Ukraine has documented dozens of Tor systems destroyed, often by drones.