Iran Rejects Tor As Replacement For S-300 Air Defense System

Iran has rejected a Russian proposal to substitute the Tor (NATO: SA-15) short-range air defense system for the S-300 (NATO: SA-10) long-range air defense system.

Iran had originally ordered the S-300-PMU1 in 2007. The $800 million contract was then cancelled by Russia in 2010. In 2011, Iran launched a $4 billion lawsuit against Russia over the cancellation.

Iran insists that Russia fulfill the original contract and deliver the S-300 as agreed. It will only withdraw the lawsuit when Russia agrees to honor the contract that was signed.

While Iran has yet to receive the S-300, it already has the Tor-M1 system. In 2005, 29 Tor-M1 systems were ordered for $700 million. All were delivered by 2007.

The Tor-M1 is a short-range, all-weather, surface-to-air missile air defense system that can engage aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and other precision guided munitions.

The tracked Tor-M1 vehicle carries 8 vertically cold-launched 9M331 missiles. Each 9M331 has a:

• Length of 2900 mm
• Diameter of 235 mm
• Weight of 167 kg
• Warhead of 15 kg
• Speed of 850 m/s
• Range of 12000 m
• Ceiling of 6000 m

The Tor-M1 vehicle carries its own target acquisition radar with a range up to 25 km, a tracking radar in addition to a optical tracking system.

The latest version, the Tor-M1 features a number of improvements, including:

• new phased array radar
• improved missiles
• improved electronic counter measures
• improved infrared tracking system
• increase in the number of targets that can be engaged simultaneously

The Tor-M2 also features a new wheeled chassis.


http://en.ria.ru/world/20130610/181598186/Iran-Rejects-Russias-S-300-Substitute-Offer.html

By Leonid Dzhepko [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons