Report: Russia Supplying Iran With Advanced Defense System
Pastor Dale Morgan
Report: Russia Supplying Iran With Advanced Defense System*
09:45 Nov 26, '06 / 5 Kislev 5767
by Yechiel Spira
Iran’s news agency reported that Russia is providing Tehran with TOR-M1
ground-to-air missiles. Such a move is seen as preparing Iran for a
strike by Israel or America against its nuclear program.
According to Israel Aircraft Industries information the TOR-M1
surface-to-air missile system is a mobile, integrated, air defense
system, designed for operation at medium-, low- and very low –altitudes,
against fixed/rotary wing aircraft, UAVs, guided missiles and precision
weapon. IAI reports the deal between Russia and Iran was signed and
delivery began this month.
The system is capable of operating in an intensive aerial jamming
environment. The system is comprised of a number of missiles and a
Transporter Launcher Vehicle (TLV). A Russian air defense TOR battalion
consists of 3 - 5 companies, each equipped with four TLVs. Each TLV is
equipped with 8 ready to launch missiles, associating radars, fire
control systems and a battery command post.
The combat vehicle can operate autonomously, firing from stationary
positions or on the move. Set-up time is rated at 3 minutes and typical
reaction time, from target detection to missile launch is 5-8 seconds.
Reaction time could range from 3.4 seconds for stationary positions to
10 seconds while on the move. Each fire unit can engage and launch
missiles against two separate targets. TOR M1 can detect and track up to
48 targets (minimum radar cross section of 0.1 square meter) at a
maximum range of 25 km, and engage two of them simultaneously, at a
speed of up to 700 m/sec, and at a distance of 1 to 12 km. The system's
high lethality (aircraft kill probability of 0.92-0.95) is maintained at
altitude of 10 – 6,000 m. The vertically launched, single-stage solid
rocket propelled missile is capable of maneuvering at loads up to 30gs.
It is equipped with a 15kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead
activated by a proximity fuse. The system is offered as fully integrated
tracked combat vehicle, or as a modular combat unit (TOR-M1T) comprising
a truck mounted mobile control module and launcher/antenna units,
carried on a trailer. Other configurations include separated towed
systems, as well as shelter-based systems, for the protection of fixed
sites.
The missile is also effective against precision guided weapons and
cruise missiles. In tests the missile demonstrated kill probability of
such targets ranging from 0.6 to 0.9.
The first operator of the Tor system was the Russian Army Air-Defense,
which operates 100 units of the SA-15 Gauntlet variant. The Russian navy
also uses the naval version known as SA-N-9. China bought 50 systems and
possibly 25 more, between 1997 and 2002. The Greek army fielded 21 Tor
M-1 systems. Most recently (December 2005) Iran was reported to sign a
deal worth US$ 1.0 billion covering the procurement of up to 29 TOR M-1
missile systems, modernization of air-force systems and the supply of
patrol boats. The system was also proposed to several other countries.
THe TOR component of the deal was reported to be US$700 million.
Deliveries of the TOR systems began in November 2006 and are expected to
continue through 2008.
The new defense system would make attempts at an aerial assault against
Iran’s nuclear facilities considerably more complicated as the
international community sits by – permitting Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad to move ahead at a brisk pace towards nuclear independence.