Here's a guide on how to identify Russian military Air Defense losses in Ukraine. It will be a two part series, focusing on the Tor and Buk systems respectively.
This is part one, Tor.
1/8
Many Russian Air Defense systems are composed of smaller units/sub-systems, Tor is a little different. Its combat vehicle can work independently and does not necessarily require input from its command vehicle or radar. I will thus look at ID'ing this sub-system only.
2/8
Tor variants that are known to be active in Ukraine are:
- 9K330 Tor-M, with 9A330 Transporter Launcher and Radar (TLAR) sub-system;
- 9K331 Tor-M1, w/ 9A331 TLAR;
- 9K332 Tor-M2, w/ 9A331M TLAR.
3/8
Logically, the 9K332 Tor-M2 with 9A331M TLAR is the most modern, and 9K330 Tor-M with 9A330 TLAR is the oldest and least capable.
Now comes the good stuff, their physical characteristics and tributes :)
4/8
<9A330 TLAR of 9K330 Tor-M>
Physical attributes include:
- Six(6) road wheels;
- 'old' and more traditional looking search radar;
- Flush rear with no storage space.
5/8
<9A331 TLAR of 9K331 Tor-M1>
Physical attributes include:
- Seven(7) road wheels;
- 'old' and more traditional looking search radar;
- Rear with additional storage space.
6/8
<9A331M TLAR of 9K332 Tor-M2>
Physical attributes include:
- Seven(7) road wheels;
- New and improved 'flat' search radar;
- New day-and-night capable electro-optic;
- Rear mounted Auxiliary Power Unit (APU).
7/8
There are many other little bits and bobs different between the platforms. But this is just what I use to differ them.
There are also weird amalgamations such as the Tor-M1-2U (abbreviated as Tor-M2U) and weird variants, but I doubt they will appear in Ukraine.
8/8
Russian air defenses at Belgorod airport failed marvelously today. What appears to be the SAM-launcher itself got struck directly, perhaps a TELAR struck by HARM.
White smoke clouds can be indicative of rocket fuel going ablaze. But I'm not seeing the "sparks", in conjunction with white smoke, usually associated with their detonation.
However, they still appear to be rather accurate for solely GNSS (+INS or IMU) guided munitions.
Perhaps they both, or just the larger shahed-136, possess a small radar transceiver for terminal homing. Given the accuracy and ability to hit such a pillar.
Looks like the Ukrainians retrofitted an S-60 anti-aircraft artillery gun with a siemens simatic control panel.
Notice the arrows on the four lower buttons. They likely actuate the gun, moving it up, down, left, right. Likely by means of some hydraulic actuators and a PLC. Nice.
This is very clever, perhaps overkill when manual actuation is also possible (notice all the wheels and cranks), but still very clever and cool. I love it!
Also notice some kind of joy-stick/controller, an generator/battery, a possible optical sight, and ear-pro!
This old piece of weaponary was modernized quite cleverly, probably used for indirect fire support. This is fucking awesome!
TASS and other Russian channels are lying cunts. The original S-400 deal signed back on April 11, 2017 was to include two squadrons consisting of four 'batteries' (rather battalions) with eight TEL, two radars and one command post each. savunmasanayist.com/bakan-cavusogl…
In 2019, Turkey received all the equipment and weaponary to arm two battalions, so one Squadron.
Based on OSINT this can be concluded, they have enough radars and TEL to arm ONE squadron. The second squadron was supposed to be delivered in 2020, but that never happened (I think)
The 2020 deliveries of the second squadron might have been postponed due to technology transfer disputes, or so it's specualted. What the actual reason is, is unknown from my understanding.
"U.K. Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender, USS Laboon and Dutch frigate HMNLS Evertsen take station for close proximity sailing as a Russian warship watches from afar (rear of picture) in the Black Sea on June 17, 2021. US Navy Photo"
Since then, the Black Sea Fleet has lost its flagship missile cruiser Moskva, one Alligator-class LST, one Rescue Tug, and multiple raptor-class patrol boats...:)
"In twenty-seven of thirty-three engagements against fixed wing aircraft (82%), AWACS provided target information and identification before U.S. fighters detected enemy aircraft." Gulf War 1991.
"Crowd-funded Yaesu and Baofeng radios." Special Military Operation 2022.
Jokes aside, Russian Su-25SM3 and Su-34 pilots are literally using US-made civilian grade GPS systems and unencrypted civilian radios to perform ground attack missions.