Russian S-300, TOR defence system shockingly spotted in Ohio, US

Following the recent sighting of a Russian-made T-90 tank in the United States, attention has now turned to the sudden appearance of what appear to be Russian-made surface-to-air missile systems on flatbed railcars in Ohio, USA.

Two flatbed railcars were recently spotted at Norfolk Southern’s rail yard in Bellevue, Ohio, carrying what seemed to be Russian-made S-300 and Tor-M1 surface-to-air missile systems, The Eurasian Times reports.

The images of the railcars and their cargo were captured by bystanders and then shared on social media. The two flatbed railcars spotted in Ohio were carrying a total of four vehicles, with two in each car.

One car was spotted with a Tor-M1 and a 5P85S transporter-erector-launcher (TEL). This TEL is typically linked with various versions of the S-300 system.

Meanwhile, another railcar was seen with a mobile tracking and missile guidance radar, known as the 5N63 or 30N6, along with another Tor-M1. This radar is a common component of different S-300 variants.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, the S-300 air defence systems have played a vital role in Kyiv’s defence capabilities, effectively countering a variety of airborne threats from Russia.

The S-300 is a surface-to-air missile system designed to provide long-range air defence capabilities. It is capable of engaging and neutralising a wide range of airborne threats, including aircraft, drones, and missiles.

In addition to its primary role as an air defence system, the S-300 also has a secondary surface-to-surface strike capability. Russian forces have actively employed this secondary capability in the ongoing war in Ukraine, where they have used the S-300 system to strike Ukrainian positions and infrastructure.

The Tor-M1 is a short-range surface-to-air missile system designed to defend against helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and cruise missiles. Equipped with two radars, it can track and engage targets while carrying up to eight command-guided missiles at a time.

At the start of the war, Ukraine had a strong air defence arsenal, which included three brigades and two regiments of S-300PS/PT systems (also known as SA-10), totaling around 25 fire units with up to 12 launchers, along with a radar and command vehicle for each unit.

Furthermore, Ukraine’s Air Force had one brigade of S-300V1s (SA-12) with at least two fire units. The S-300 consists of multiple components that differ slightly in different variants.

The S-300PS system and later versions are mounted on 8×8 MAZ truck chassis, such as the 5P85S TEL and the 5N63/30N6 Flap Lid radar vehicle. The 5P85S has an equipment shelter behind its cab that serves as a control node for other TELs within a single firing battery, making it easily identifiable.