TOR-M1 (9K331) short-range surface-to-air missile system

In numbers  Through the lens  Video

The TOR-M1 system is of Russian origin an has been operational with HAF since 2001.

Is an autonomous all-weather shorad system providing defence for troops in any types of combat actions, small-size military, administrative and economically significant assets against current and future air threats.

Systems components
The Tor-M1 system is designed to counter both high-precision air- to-surface weapon and the weapon carriers flying at nap-of-the-earth, low and medium altitudes under complicated air and jamming situation.

TOR-M1 It is a short-range (SHORAD) self-propelled tracked anti-aircraft all-weather system © Konstantinos Panitsidis

TOR-M1 short-range surface-to-air missile system

Combat Facilities

The 9A331-1 Combat vehicle
Is capable of defeating the following types of air threats with radar cross section of 0.1 m2 and more:

 high-precision weapon including guided missiles;
- unmanned Aerial Vehicles;
- fixed and rotary wing aircraft of tactical aviation.

The CV ensures aerial targets detection at halt and on the move and SAMs launch towards the selected targets at short halt. Effective independent CV work from target acquisition upto its hitting is ensured by automatic air situation analysis, selection of the most dangerous targets and their type identification, assignment of proper fire modes. All the radar, optical, computer components and missiles are based upon a light armored cross-country chassis to provide CV high effectiveness.

SHORAD TOR-M1 (9K331).

Combat vehicle comprises:

- target acquisition radar (TAR) with identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) system and antenna stabilization system
- guidance radar (GR) comprising two target and two missile channels
- autonomous lock-on channel (ALC) of SAMs
- television-optical tracker (TVOT) for automatic angular-coordinates tracking of targets
- dual-processing digital computer with high productivity
- automatic launching equipment
- control and alarming equipment
- test equipment system and data display system
- documenting equipment registering combat operation
- telecode and command radio communication system
- navigation, survey control and orientation equipment
- antenna-launching module for successive vertical launch of eight missiles
- primary power supply distribution system
- auxiliary equipment.

TOR-M1: Search and target acquisition radar

Basic performance characteristics of combat vehicles

Advantages of the 9A331-1B version

Enhanced jamming immunity under self-protection jamming
Enlarged killing zone
Capability of working in a "squad" mode

DM battery 
The main tactical sub-division providing successful combat work of the Tor-M1 ADM system is an ADM battery controlled by BCP.

Τhe standard ADM battery comprises

The 9V887-1M Maintenance vehicle and MTO-AG3M1 Maintenance shop provide CV operation of four batteries. Overall strength of crews can be 26 to 30 men depending on technical and logistical composition and number of specialists.

Defence of strategic facilities

The 9M331 Surface-to-air missile

Solid-propellant one-stage missile is of an aerodynamic CANARD configuration and equipped with a gas-jet tilt system. Guidance of SAMs toward a target is carried out by CV radio control equipment and autopilot, destruction of a target is performed by a high-explosive fragmentation warhead with active proximity fuze.
Eight ready-to-fire missiles are located in the two 4-place transportation and launching containers inside of the antenna-launching device. The 9M334 missile module is the container with SAMs.
Each SAM is fitted with a catapult enabling its vertical launch. The SAM sustainer engine maintains speed close to average for a long period.

The 9M331 SAM and 9M334 SAM module basic characteristics

The 9M331 SAM on-board equipment does not require scheduled check through the assigned life cycle.

The Tor-M1 is the Army's premier system because its radar has a minimal-element antenna phased array with electronic control of beam scanning. It decreases greatly reaction time and carries out automatic tracking and high-precision engagement of two targets simultaneously (including high precision weapon) within a sector 15x15°. Use know-how technical solutions resulted in automation of the whole combat operation process from air situation analysis to a target destruction by the surface-to-air missile.

Multiple assessment of characteristics

Detection and HPW destruction capabilities of CV 

a HPW killin zone
b Army and tactical aviation, fire-support helicopters killing zone
c Detection zone
d Detection zone in a "aquad' mode

Control Facilities

Battery Command Post 9C737M

The mobile unified BCP is used for automated centralized control of Tor-M1 combat operation as a part of the fire subdivision. BCP ensures control of four CVs (ADM battery) by telecode communication channels. The BCP is also used as a command post of ADM regiment (division) consisting of four Tor-M1 ADM batteries. The BCP assigns and supervises combat missions, distributes targets between combat vehicles to avoid fire concentration at the same target. The BCP is an independent system comprising automatisation, communication, power supply and life support means. The BCP 9C737M version is assembled on a tracked chassis TM-5965, similar to the CV chassis, 9C737MK version - on the KAMAZ 43114 chassis.

Mantenance, Logistics and training facilities

The 9T244 Transporter / loader
Is intende for loading (unloading) of the combat vehicle with missile modules, transporting and long term storing of two modules with missiles, handling works.
Tne crew of transporter / loader consists of three men. The transporter / loader is mounted on the URAL-4320 truck. Weight of the TL with SAMs is 15.055 kg. The cruising range is 600 km. It cn be ready for operation in up to 10 minutes.

URAL 9T244

The 9T245 Transporting vehicle
Is desingned for transportation and long-term storage of four missile modules and loading them into the combat vehicle with the aid of the 9T244 transporter / loader. It is mounted on the URAL-4320 truck. The TV can be used with a trailer containing four 9M334 SAM modules additionally. Weigh of the equipped vehicle (no trailer) is maximum 14.000 kg.

The 9V887M and 9V887-1M Maintenance vehicles
The 9V887M Maintenance vehicle is intended for maintenance and repair of four combat vehicles by means of the group SPTA (SPTA-2A) set under field condition and checking of CV automatic launching equipment for serviceability. 

The 9V887-1M Maintenance vehicle is intended for repair of 16 combat vehicles by means of the group SPTA (SPTA-2A) set and analysis of combat performance by the documenting equipment data decoder.

Maintenance vehicles are mounted on the URAL-43203 chassis with a K2.4320 van body. Maintenance vehicles are supplied from the towed power plant. 
Weight of the fully equipped Maintenance vehicle with a trailer is maximum 13,450 kg. The cruising range is 600 km

The 9F399-1M1 group SPTA set vehicle
Is intended for transporting and storing of group SPTA set for repair of the ADM system facilities. The SPTA set vehicle is mounted on the URAL-4320 chassis with a drop side body, canvas and 2-PN-4M (SM3-7826) trailer. The wooden boxes with the group SPTA set inside are placed in metallic containers installed in the truck and trailer bodies. Weight of the equipped group SPTA set vehicle is 13.740 (+ trailer weight 7.000 kg). The cruising range is 1.000 km.

The 9F116 Rigging equipment set
RES is designed to:
- handle and bunch of SAM modules;
- handle the package of 4 modules and bunch 2 to 4 modules;
- transport module packages within the depot limits and load them on aircraft;
- store and transport the rigging set equipment.

The MTO-AG3M1 Maintenance shop
Is intended for maintenance and current repair of tracked and wheeled vehicles of Tor-M1 ADM system under field condition.
The maintenance shop equipment provides the following works:
- hoisting and transportation;
- electric welding;
- charging and maintenance of accumulators;
- sheet metal works;
- painting;
- carpenter’s finish;
- sewing;
- assembling and mechanical works;
- diagnostics;
- repair and maintenance of units;
- test, repair and adjustment of electric equipment;
- maintenance and repair of tires;
- lubricating and filling;
- cleaning.

The MTO-AG3M1 requires a three-man crew. The MT0-AG3M1 is mounted on the URAL-43203 truck. Weight is 13.500 kg.
The cruising range is 950 km.

The self-contained training simulator for CV operators
Is intended for training of the CV crews skills to control the system under conditions close to real combat operations. The training simulator imitates CV combat operation modes and air situation. The training simulator provides simu¬lation of saturation attacks, paired and single targets, antiradar missile attacks under active and passive noise jamming, clutter. The training simulator also imitates interface with BCP. It is composed of combat vehicle equipment and air situation simulator, located in the van-body K2.4320D on the wheeled chassis KAMAZ-43101. 

Photos SHORAD TOR-M1 (9K331)