Mighty missiles: Russian Tor-M2U SAM fires from moving launcher (RARE VIDEO)

… from Russia Today,  Moscow

[ Editor’s Note:  The Russian defense industry continues to put great focus on surface to air missile development, without which the best ground forces end up as a shooting gallery for an attacker with air supremacy. Their ability to fire while moving upon offensive air targets provides a whole new level of protection, as moving columns are most vulnerable.

While Moscow’s defense budget is one-tenth of the US, it has gotten a lot of attention for the big bang for the buck, or the ruble I should say, in terms of value. The Russians consistently show that they can do more with less, and this turns out to be an ongoing advertisement for their international arms sales… Jim W. Dean ]

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– First published …  December 26, 2015 –

The Russian Defense Ministry has released rare footage of a Tor-M2U surface-to-air missile launcher firing on the move, a feat as yet unachieved by any competitor.

The launcher was driving off-road at 25 kpm/h and successfully hit a Saman practice target with the first missile fired, the ministry said. The test was performed this summer at Kapustin Yar test range in Arkhangelsk region.

Various models of the Tor short-range air defense system have been used by Russian Ground Troops, the service arm corresponding to the US Army in the Russian armed forces, for decades.

The capability to fire on the move is what distinguishes the M2U modification of the Tor. The benefit is that it can respond to a surprise attack and that a moving column doesn’t need to stop to get protection, as was the case with the previous models.

Producer of the system, Almaz Antey, said at the time that teaching the old dog the new trick was challenging, but the result brings Tors to a new tactical level.

The ministry also released footage of a night test-fire of the S-300 long-range missile system, which was used to destroy a new target missile called Pensne (Pince-nez). The target mimics advanced fast-moving rockets and has been used in Russia for air defense practice starting this year.

The S-300 launcher used in the exercise was one of the newest S-300V4 modifications. The footage was released on Saturday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Russian Air Defense Forces.

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Jim W. Dean

Jim W. Dean was an active editor on VT from 2010-2022.  He was involved in operations, development, and writing, plus an active schedule of TV and radio interviews.

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