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russian Landing Ships Will Enhance Protection Against Maritime Drones, But Will They Have Tor SAM Systems?

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One of the landing ships of the russian Navy / Open source photo
One of the landing ships of the russian Navy / Open source photo

The Ministry of Defense of the russian federation has supposedly adopted a program for the modernization of its large landing ships. It envisages "increasing the firepower" of the ships by equipping them with unmanned aerial vehicles. But how the onboard armament of the landing ships is supposed to change is not disclosed. russian landing ships are also supposed to receive enhanced air defense, but a final decision has not been made yet

One of the options being considered is the installation of the land-based Tor anti-aircraft missile system, but other options are not specified at the moment.

Tor-M2KM in the form of a standalone module, Defense Express
Tor-M2KM in the form of a standalone module

Additionally, russian large landing ships are supposed to receive "enhanced protection" against maritime drones, including additional machine gun points and electronic warfare means.

Read more: ​How Many russian Ships Destroyed by Defenders of Ukraine During Full-Scale Invasion?

russian propagandists explain the need for the modernization of their landing ships with the deployment of maritime landing.

In such a case, "enhanced firepower" and anti-aircraft defense are necessary, as the maritime landing will take place on a coast with fortified defenses.

Two Project 1171 landing ships in the waters of temporarily occupied Sevastopol, Defense Express
Two Project 1171 landing ships in the waters of temporarily occupied Sevastopol / Foto credit: Crimea.Realities, publication date - April 21, 2022

On the other hand, russian propagandists have acknowledged that they used their landing ships specifically for patrol tasks.

Apparently, in the war against Ukraine, russian military leaders have decided that they need to revive the "auxiliary cruiser" class, using landing ships as the basis for this purpose. Which are also the most numerous class of large surface ships of the russian federation in the Black Sea – approximately 9 ships in service, 2 damaged, and 2 sunk.

But it seems that among russian military discussions on how to use landing ships in conditions where conducting a naval landing is unlikely, proceedings go very difficultly.

Landing ships of the russian Black Sea Fleet, Defense Express
Landing ships of the russian Black Sea Fleet during maneuvers / Archive photo from pre-war times
Read more: ​Satellite Images Reveal Sunken russian Tarantul Patrol Ship in Sevastopol