The Tor (Russian: Тор; English: torus) is an all-weather, low-to medium-altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed for destroying airplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and short-range ballistic threats. Originally developed by the Soviet Union under the GRAU designation 9K330 Tor, the system is commonly known by its NATO reporting name, SA-15 "Gauntlet." A navalized variant was developed under the name 3K95 "Kinzhal," also known as the SA-N-9 "Gauntlet." Tor was designed to shoot down guided weapons in various conditions, including day and night, in bad weather, and jamming situations.

Development

The development of the Tor missile system began in response to directives from the Central Committee of the CPSU in 1975. It was initiated as a successor to the 9K33 Osa (NATO reporting name SA-8 "Gecko"). The system was developed for both land-based and naval applications. Responsibility for development was given to several design bureaus, and all the developers and manufacturers of the Tor missile system unified into Almaz-Antey in 2002.

In early 2023, the Tor system received fine-tuning to improve its effectiveness against missiles fired by the US-made HIMARS system.

Characteristics

The Tor system is designed for mobility and adaptability, with features including:

• Capable of engaging targets like airplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles, and UAVs.
• Utilizes the 9A330 combat vehicle, acting as an autonomous Transporter, Launcher, And Radar unit (TLAR).
• Equipped with NBC protection for operating in various environments.
• Mobility time of 3 minutes and transportable by various means, including aerial transport.
• Can detect and track targets while on the move.
• Reaction time varies from 5 to 10 seconds, depending on the operational status and variant.
• Can engage multiple targets simultaneously, with later variants enhancing these capabilities.
• The system also includes an optical tracking system.

It can be accompanied by a 9S80 search radar (NATO designation "Dog Ear"), HARM code 109.

Combat History

The Tor system has seen combat use in various conflicts and operations, including the Russo-Georgian War (2008), Syrian War, shoot-down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian War.