Early February marked the 40th anniversary of the USSR Council of Ministers decree on the development of the 9K330 Tor self-propelled autonomous anti-aircraft missile system. Over the years, several modifications of this air defense system have been created, used to protect various objects and troops on the march. In addition, in parallel with the "Thor" system, a partially unified "Dagger" complex was created, intended for arming the ships of the Navy.
9K330 "Thor"
NIEMI of the Ministry of Radio Industry was appointed the lead developer of the promising anti-aircraft complex "Tor". The chief designer of the complex was V. P. Efremov, I. M. was responsible for the development of the 9A330 combat vehicle. Drize. The development of the 9M330 anti-aircraft guided missile was entrusted to MKB "Fakel", the chief designer was P. D. Grushin. In addition, some other defense, radio-electronic, etc. enterprises were involved in the creation of various elements of the anti-aircraft complex. industry.
Changes in the nature of the alleged war affected the requirements for the new air defense system. Complexes for military air defense had to fight not only with enemy aircraft and helicopters. The list of targets of the "Thor" complex was supplemented with cruise missiles, guided bombs and other types of weapons that replenished the arsenals of a potential enemy. To protect troops from such threats, it was required to use new electronic systems. In addition, over time, the requirements for the size of the transported ammunition have changed. As a result, it was decided to build a new anti-aircraft complex based on a tracked chassis. Such basic equipment provided the possibility of combat work in the same order with tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. At the same time, the customer had to abandon the requirements regarding the possibility of crossing water obstacles by swimming.
All the main units of the 9K330 complex were located on the 9A330 combat vehicle. The chassis GM-355 of the Minsk Tractor Plant was used as the basis for this machine. A set of special equipment was placed on the chassis, as well as a rotary antenna launcher (tower) with a set of antennas and a launcher for anti-aircraft missiles. Due to the increased requirements for combat capabilities, the mass of the 9A330 had to be increased to 32 tons. Nevertheless, the 840-horsepower diesel engine provided mobility at the level of existing tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. The maximum speed of the Tor complex on the highway reached 65 km / h. The power reserve is 500 km.
The 9A330 combat vehicle housed a target detection station (SOC), a guidance station (CH), a special computer for processing information about targets and a launcher with eight cells for missiles. In addition, the vehicle was equipped with navigation and topographic reference systems, a gas turbine electric generator, life support equipment, etc.
To detect targets, the "Tor" air defense missile system used a coherent-pulse SOC with a circular view, operating in the centimeter range. A rotating antenna located on the roof of the antenna launcher provided a simultaneous view of a sector with a width of 1.5 ° in azimuth and 4 ° in elevation. The increase in the field of view was achieved by the possibility of using eight positions of the beam in elevation, due to which the sector with a width of 32 ° was overlapped. The order of the review of the sectors was determined by a special program of the onboard computer.
The target detection station could operate in several modes. The main mode was the survey of the surrounding space in 3 s. In this case, the lower part of the viewing area during this time was "examined" twice. If necessary, other modes of operation of the SOC could be used, including with the simultaneous review of several elevation sectors. The automation of the 9K330 complex could track up to 24 targets simultaneously. By processing the coordinates of the detected targets at different times, the computer of the complex could calculate up to 10 traces. Information about the targets was displayed on the appropriate screen of the vehicle commander's workplace.
SOC and associated automation made it possible to detect F-15 aircraft at altitudes of 30-6000 m at ranges up to 25-27 km (the probability of detection is at least 0.8). For guided missiles and bombs, the detection range did not exceed 10-15 km. It was possible to detect helicopters on the ground (at a distance of up to 6-7 km) and in the air (up to 12 km).
In the front honor of the tower of the "Thor" complex there was a phased antenna array of a coherent-pulse guidance radar. The responsibilities of this system included tracking the detected target and guided missile guidance. The CH antenna provided target detection and tracking in a sector with a width of 3 ° in azimuth and 7 ° in elevation. At the same time, the target was tracked in three coordinates and one or two missiles were launched, followed by their guidance to the target. The guidance station antenna included a command transmitter for missiles.
SN could determine the coordinates of the target with an accuracy of 1 m in azimuth and elevation, as well as about 100 m in range. With a transmitter power of 0.6 kW, the station could switch to automatic tracking of a fighter-type target at a distance of up to 23 km (probability 0.5). When the aircraft approached 20 km, the probability of being taken on auto-tracking increased to 0.8. The CH could only work on one target at a time. It was allowed to launch two missiles at one target with an interval of 4 s.
During combat work at the position, the reaction time of the complex was 8, 7 s, when escorting troops and launching a rocket from a short stop, this parameter increased by 2 s. The transfer of the combat vehicle from the traveling position to the combat position and back took about three minutes. It took about 18 minutes to load new missiles into the launcher. The ammunition load was carried out using the 9T231 transport-loading vehicle.
To hit targets SAM "Thor" used the 9M330 missile. This product is made according to the "duck" pattern and is equipped with a cylindrical body with folding rudders and stabilizers. With a length of 2.9 m and a starting weight of 165 kg, such a rocket carried a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 14.8 kg. An interesting feature of the missiles of the 9K330 complex was launching directly from the launcher, without using a transport and launch container. Eight missiles were loaded into the launcher using a transport-loading vehicle.
The 9M330 rocket at a speed of 25 m / s was fired from the launcher with a powder charge. Then the vertically launched rocket made a turn towards the target, launched the main engine and was heading in a given direction. A gas generator with a set of nozzles was used to tilt the rocket to a predetermined angle (the necessary data were entered into the rocket control system just before launch). It is noteworthy that such a gas engine used the same drives as the aerodynamic rudders. One second after launch or at a deviation of 50 ° from the vertical, the rocket launched the main engine. At a distance of 1.5 km from the launcher, the 9M330 product developed a speed of up to 800 m / s.
The vertical launch of the rocket with the engine turned on after exiting the launcher and declination towards the target made it possible to use the capabilities of the solid-fuel engine with greater efficiency. Since the engine is fired when the rocket has already tilted in the desired direction, all of its momentum is used to accelerate the rocket on an almost straight trajectory without significant maneuvering associated with a loss of speed.
By optimizing the operation of the engine, it was possible to bring the maximum target destruction height to 6 km and the maximum range to 12 km. At the same time, it was possible to attack a target flying at altitudes of 10 m. At such altitudes and ranges, the destruction of aerodynamic targets moving at a speed of up to 300 m / s was ensured. Targets with a speed of up to 700 m / s could be attacked at ranges of no more than 5 km and altitudes up to 4 km.
Target detection and warhead detonation was carried out using an active radio fuse. Due to the need for effective work at low altitudes, the radio fuse could determine the target against the background of the underlying surface. The target was hit by numerous fragments of the warhead. The probability of hitting aircraft with one missile reached 0.3-0.77, for helicopters this parameter was 0.5-0.88, for remotely piloted aircraft - 0.85-0.955.
The first prototype of the 9K330 Tor anti-aircraft missile system was built in 1983. In December of the same year, tests of a new combat vehicle began at the Emba training ground. The tests lasted about a year, after which the developers began to refine the systems and fix the identified shortcomings. The resolution of the Council of Ministers on the adoption of a new anti-aircraft complex entered service on March 19, 1986.
Several enterprises were involved in the serial production of new equipment. Tracked chassis were supplied by the Minsk Tractor Plant, guided missiles were produced at the Kirov Machine-Building Plant. Various components were supplied by a lot of other enterprises. The general assembly of 9A330 combat vehicles was carried out by the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant.
Serial complexes "Tor" were reduced to anti-aircraft regiments of divisions. Each regiment had a regimental command post, four anti-aircraft batteries, and service and support units. Each battery included four 9A330 combat vehicles and a battery command post. During the first few years, the service of the "Tor" air defense missile system was used in conjunction with regimental and battery control points PU-12M. In addition, at the regimental level, the MA22 combat control vehicle could be used in conjunction with the MP25 information collection and processing machine. The regiment's command post could use P-19 or 9S18 Kupol radars.
It was assumed that the 9K330 air defense system would work as part of batteries, protecting objects or troops on the march. At the same time, however, the use of the Tor complexes with centralized control from the regimental command post was not ruled out. The structure of control systems was determined in accordance with the intended tasks.
9K331 "Tor-M1"
Immediately after the adoption of the 9K330 Tor complex, the development of its modernized version under the designation 9K331 Tor-M1 began. The purpose of the update was to improve the combat and operational characteristics of the complex by using new systems and components. The organizations involved in the creation of the basic version of the Torah were involved in the development of the updated project.
During the development of the Tor-M1 project, all elements of the complex and, first of all, the combat vehicle underwent major updates. The upgraded version of the combat vehicle was designated 9A331. While maintaining the general design features, new equipment units were introduced and some of the existing ones were replaced. The 9A331 machine received a new dual-processor computing system with higher performance. The new computer had two target channels, protection against false targets, etc.
The modernized SOC had a three-channel digital signal processing system. Such equipment made it possible to improve the characteristics of interference suppression without using additional means of analyzing the interference environment. In general, the radars of the 9K331 complex have a higher noise immunity in comparison with the systems of the basic 9K330.
The guidance station was modernized, which "mastered" a new type of sounding signal. The purpose of this update was to improve the characteristics of the SN in terms of detecting and tracking hovering helicopters. A target tracking machine was added to the television optical sight.
The most important innovation of the Tor-M1 project was the so-called. rocket module 9М334. This unit consists of a 9Ya281 transport and launch container with four cells and guided missiles. The module weighing 936 kg was proposed to be transported by transport vehicles and loaded into the launcher of a combat vehicle. The 9A331 machine took place to install two such modules. The use of 9M334 missile modules greatly simplified the operation of the anti-aircraft complex, namely, facilitated the reloading of the launcher. It takes about 25 minutes to load two rocket modules using the 9T245 transport and loading vehicle.
The 9M331 anti-aircraft guided missile was developed for the Tor-M1 complex. The 9M330 and 9M331 missiles differed only in the characteristics of the warhead. The new missile received a modified warhead with increased damaging characteristics. All other units of the two missiles were unified. Missiles of two types could be used by both the new Tor-M1 air defense systems and the existing Tor. Also, the compatibility of the missiles with the Kinzhal ship complex was ensured.
In batteries with the 9K331 air defense system, it was proposed to use the 9S737 "Rangir" unified battery command posts on a self-propelled chassis. Such vehicles are equipped with a set of special equipment designed to receive information about the air situation, process the received data and issue commands to combat vehicles of anti-aircraft complexes. On the indicator of the operator of point 9S737, information was displayed about 24 targets detected by the radar station associated with the "Ranzhir". The command post receives information about 16 more targets from the combat vehicles of the battery. A self-propelled command post can, on its own, process target data and issue commands to combat vehicles.
The 9S737 "Ranzhir" vehicle is built on the MT-LBu chassis and is controlled by a crew of four. It takes about 6 minutes to deploy all the command post equipment.
State tests of the updated Tor-M1 air defense system began in March 1989. Until the end of the year, all the necessary work was carried out at the Emba test site, after which the complex was recommended for adoption. The 9K331 complex was put into service in 1991. At the same time, serial production began, which, for obvious reasons, proceeded at a relatively slow pace.
During the tests, it was revealed that the "Tor-M1" in terms of combat qualities has only two main differences from the base "Torah". The first is the possibility of simultaneously firing at two targets, including two missiles each. The second difference was the shorter reaction times. When working from a position, it was reduced to 7, 4 s, when firing with a short stop - to 9, 7 s.
For the first few years, the Tor-M1 air defense system was produced in limited quantities only for the Russian armed forces. In the early nineties, the first export contract appeared. China became the first foreign customer. In 1999, the first Tor-M1 complexes were transferred to Greece.
It is known about the creation of several variants of the 9K331 complex at various bases. Thus, the Tor-M1TA combat vehicle was to be built on the basis of a truck chassis. The Tor-M1B complex could be based on a towed trailer. Tor-M1TS was developed as a stationary anti-aircraft system.
Since 2012, the armed forces have received an updated version of the anti-aircraft complex under the designation "Tor-M1-2U". It was planned that such combat vehicles would eventually replace the equipment of previous modifications in the troops. Some sources previously stated that the Tor-M1-2U air defense system is capable of hitting up to four targets simultaneously.
Tor-M2E
A further development of the Tor family anti-aircraft systems was the Tor-M2E. As before, the complex received new components and assemblies during the upgrade, which accordingly affected its characteristics. In addition, a curious innovation of the project was the use of a wheeled chassis. The 9A331MU and 9A331MK combat vehicles are produced on tracked and wheeled chassis, respectively.
One of the main means of improving the characteristics was the new slotted phased antenna array of the target detection station. In addition, a new optoelectronic system can now be used to detect targets. Due to a serious update of the electronic equipment, it turned out to significantly increase the number of simultaneously tracked targets and tracks. Automation of the "Tor-M2E" complex can simultaneously process up to 48 targets and calculate 10 routes, distributing them according to danger. The guidance station can now provide an attack on four targets simultaneously using eight missiles.
As before, radar stations and computers of a combat vehicle can operate both while driving and at stops. The search for missiles is performed only from a place or from short stops. Automation has a so-called. conveyor mode of operation. In this case, the target channel, after completing the guidance of the missile on the target, is immediately used to attack the next target. The order of attack of targets is determined automatically, in accordance with their characteristics and danger.
Combat vehicles of the "Tor-M2E" air defense missile system can work together in the "link" mode. Two machines of this type can exchange data on the air situation. In this case, the SOC of two machines survey and control a larger area. The defeat of the detected target is carried out by the combat vehicle having the most advantageous position. In addition, the "link" remains operational in the event of malfunctions with the SOC of one of the combat vehicles. In this case, both vehicles use data from the same radar station.
From "Tora-M1" the new complex has taken over the antenna-launching device with slots for the installation of 9M334 missile modules. Each combat vehicle carries two such modules with four 9M331 missiles in each. Due to the use of already mastered missiles, the characteristics of the Tor-M2E complex remain approximately at the same level as in the case of the Tor-M1, but with an amendment to more advanced electronic equipment.
Improvement of electronics made it possible to significantly increase the maximum values of the range and height of the attacked target. Thus, a target flying at a speed of up to 300 m / s can be hit at a distance of up to 12 km and an altitude of up to 10 km. A target with a speed of up to 600 m / s can be shot down at altitudes up to 6 km and a range of up to 12 km.
The GM-335 tracked chassis is used as a base for the 9A331MU combat vehicle. The 9A332MK is based on the MZKT-6922 wheeled chassis manufactured by the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. At the request of the customer, all equipment of the anti-aircraft complex can be installed on a wheeled or tracked chassis. All the differences between combat vehicles in this case are only in the characteristics of mobility and operational features.
To expand the list of possible chassis, a modification was created by a complex under the designation "Tor-M2KM". In this case, all units of the anti-aircraft complex are mounted in a module that can be installed on any suitable chassis, primarily wheeled. In 2013, a sample of the Tor-M2KM air defense system based on an Indian-made TATA truck with an 8x8 wheel arrangement was demonstrated at the MAKS aerospace show. Other trucks can also be the basis for such a complex.
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According to The Military Balance 2014, Russia currently has at least 120 anti-aircraft missile systems of the Tor family in service. At present, this technique is used as part of the military air defense, along with other complexes of a similar purpose. In addition to the "Thors" in service are the short-range complexes "Strela-10" and "Wasp" of various modifications. In addition, the military air defense system includes longer-range complexes, which creates an echeloned system of protection against enemy aircraft.
The production and operation of anti-aircraft complexes of the "Tor" family continues. A gradual replenishment of anti-aircraft units with new combat vehicles with improved characteristics is underway. In addition, complexes of new modifications are supplied to foreign countries. So, back in 2013, the military of the Republic of Belarus received three batteries of the Tor-M2 complexes, which made it possible to form the first division. The production and delivery of systems of the "Tor" family continues. Being one of the newest complexes of its class, "Torah" will remain in service for the next several decades.
