Russia to upgrade Tor air defence systems after Middle East experience

Russia plans to upgrade its Tor short-range surface-to-air missile systems based on lessons learned from recent conflicts in the Middle East.

Military analysts say further improvements to the air defence system will be based on recent military conflicts involving Western-made aerial attack weapons, the National Defence magazine reports, citing experts from the Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT).

Commenting on the Tor-M2, experts said there was no doubt that the 2026 war experience in the Middle East would also be taken into account in further work.

They highlighted Tor-M2’s ability to intercept both ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

They identified its key advantages as rapid deployment — taking just three minutes — and the capability to engage targets while on the move.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov