On January 10, 2025, the Russian Telegram channel Voenacher reported that Russian forces had successfully destroyed a “Western-made radar station” in the Kursk region using a first-person-view (FPV) drone. However, subsequent analysis revealed that the equipment destroyed was actually a North Korean surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, known informally as Tor-NK, marking a new likely friendly fire incident. This event not only highlights the presence of modern North Korean weapons in the ongoing conflict but also underscores operational and coordination challenges within the Russian armed forces.
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The destroyed “Western-made radar station” has been, in fact, identified as a North Korean variant of the Russian Tor (SA-15) surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, known informally as Tor-NK, which was first publicly showcased during the 75th-anniversary parade of the Workers’ Party of Korea in October 2020. (Picture source: Telegram/Voenacher and KCNA)
Friendly fire incidents have plagued Russian forces across multiple domains—air, ground, and sea—throughout the conflict in Ukraine. In September 2023, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet was reportedly downed by Russian air defense systems near Tokmak in the Zaporizhzhia region, demonstrating coordination issues within contested airspace. On the ground, a mid-August 2023 confrontation near Mariupol involved Chechen fighters and Russian soldiers, resulting in 11 deaths, including four soldiers and seven civilians. Although naval friendly fire incidents remain less documented, the complexities of naval operations in contested environments raise significant risks for similar occurrences.
These incidents can be traced to several contributing factors. Low morale and discipline among Russian troops have heightened alertness and led to misjudgments, often described by Ukrainian officials as indiscriminate firing. Language barriers further exacerbate operational challenges, with reports of North Korean troops deployed alongside Russian forces having killed eight Russian soldiers due to miscommunication. The integration of diverse units without standardized coordination or communication has amplified the risks of operational errors, undermining cohesion and combat effectiveness.
The destroyed surface-to-air missile (SAM) system has been identified as a North Korean variant of the Russian Tor (SA-15) system, known informally as “Tor-NK.” This system was first publicly showcased during the 75th-anniversary parade of the Workers’ Party of Korea in October 2020. It incorporates design elements from both the Russian Tor and Chinese HQ-17 systems, with distinct features tailored to North Korea’s requirements.
Unlike its self-propelled counterparts, the Tor-NK is mounted on a semi-trailer, indicating its intended use for fixed-site air defense or limited mobility with towing vehicles. Its radar configuration includes an electronically scanned array and an integrated identification friend-or-foe (IFF) antenna, while the missiles are uniquely positioned in the middle of the trailer.
The Tor-NK is mounted on a semi-trailer, indicating its intended use for fixed-site air defense or limited mobility with towing vehicles. Its radar configuration includes an electronically scanned array and an integrated identification friend-or-foe (IFF) antenna, while the missiles are uniquely positioned in the middle of the trailer. (Picture source: Telegram/Voenacher)
The Tor-NK fills a gap in North Korea’s short-range air defense capabilities. Historically, North Korea relied on older air defense systems such as anti-aircraft guns, MANPADS, SA-13 systems, and medium-range SAMs like the S-125. The development of this system reflects an effort to modernize its air defense, particularly against drones, aircraft, and precision-guided munitions. The system reportedly employs radio-command guidance technology similar to the Russian Tor and Chinese HQ-17 systems, although its missile capacity and performance specifications remain uncertain. For comparison, the Russian Tor-M2 variant can carry up to 16 missiles with a maximum range of 12 kilometers.
The destruction of this system in the Kursk region marks its first documented use in Russian service. Analysts noted that North Korea had showcased the Tor-NK system during its 2020 military parade alongside ballistic missiles, emphasizing its strategic significance. The system’s semi-trailer design, however, limits its mobility compared to its self-propelled counterparts. Analysts also questioned whether the system represents a fully developed platform or a prototype. Its radar configuration has led some experts to speculate whether it could serve as part of the KN-06 air defense system, a medium-range platform modeled on the S-300.
Comparisons with other surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems highlight the Tor-NK’s distinctiveness. Unlike the modular Tor-M2KM, which can be mounted on a variety of platforms, the North Korean system appears to be a stationary or semi-mobile design with limited flexibility. The Tor-M2KM, developed by Almaz-Antey and the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant, was first showcased on an Indian Tata chassis during the MAKS-2013 air show and later at DEFEXPO INDIA 2014. The destroyed North Korean system lacks the modularity of the Tor-M2KM, further distinguishing it from its Russian counterpart.
Friendly fire incidents, such as the destruction of this SAM system, have had significant consequences for Russian military operations. They cause unnecessary casualties, reduce combat readiness, and disrupt command and control structures. This latest incident underscores the risks of integrating unfamiliar equipment, particularly in high-pressure combat environments where situational awareness is limited.
As of now, Russia has reportedly lost 294 surface-to-air missile systems in Ukraine, including 218 destroyed, 48 damaged, 4 abandoned, and 24 captured. These losses span various systems, such as 28 units of the 9K33 Osa, 51 of the 9K35 Strela-10, and 34 9A310M1-2 TELARs for Buk-M1-2. Other significant losses include 27 Pantsir-S1 systems, 31 9A331M TLARs for 9K332 Tor-M2, and several S-300 and S-400 launchers. These losses, estimated to total between $9.58 billion and $9.65 billion, reflect the scale of attrition among Russia’s modern and legacy SAM platforms. Estimates may vary depending on factors such as system configurations, production costs, and currency fluctuations.
