this is from August 23rd edition of Janes
Not sure if this deal is going ahead of not.
Not sure if this deal is going ahead of not.
Russian officials have confirmed the
validity to Jane’s of earlier
disclosures by Asian sources of the
revival of a Chinese effort to coproduce
the Almaz/Antei Tor-M1
(SA-15 ‘Gauntlet’) low- to mediumaltitude
self-propelled surface-to-air
missile (SAM) system.
The Asian sources contend such a deal
is nearly complete while Russian officials,
interviewed at the International
Defense Exhibition Land Forces (IDELF),
held in Moscow, between 2 and 6
August, noted that negotiations are still
under way.
China ordered a first batch of 13-15
Tor-M1s and up to 120 9M331 missiles
in 1997 and a second batch of 20
systems in 1999.
Jane’s reported in 2000 that
negotiations were under way for
co-production in China for up to 160
units, while in 2001 Russian officials
noted China would not be able to
reverse-engineer the Tor-M1.
Asian sources suggest that coproduced
versions will include the
naval variant Tor-M, the Klinok (SA-N-9
‘Gauntlet’).
Originally designed to provide
rapid-reaction automatic protection for
S-300-class SAM units, of which 20
battalions have reportedly been
ordered by the Chinese People’s
Liberation Army Air Force, the Tor-M1
is known to serve in just two Chinese
air defence regiments.
The revival of co-production
prospects may indicate a desire to now
defend the valuable S-300s with a compatible
purpose-designed system,
which has demonstrated an ability to
intercept precision-guided missiles. At
IDELF Russian sources also disclosed
that an upgraded Tor-M1 model will
include improved radar, better optical
tracking systems and improved software.