MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. The Vympel Design Bureau (part of Tactical Missiles Corporation) has prepared an engineering project that defines the conceptual design of a new small-size missile for the Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile system, the Vympel Design Bureau said in its corporate publication on Wednesday.

"We have carried out considerable work and prepared an engineering project that defines the conceptual design of a new short-range small anti-aircraft missile as a whole and its integral parts for modernizing the Tor-M2 air defense system," the publication says.

Russian Ground Forces Commander-in-Chief Army General Oleg Salyukov said in an interview with the Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily in October that Russia was developing a small-size missile for the Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile system to fight tactical drones.

The Tor-M2 is designated to shield vital administrative facilities and the first echelons of ground forces against strikes by anti-radar and cruise missiles, gliding air bombs, aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Tor air defense system can control the designated airspace on its own and independently shoot down all air targets that are not identified by the friend or foe system. The Tor-M2 comprises 16 vertically launched surface-to-air missiles with a striking range of up to 12 km and an altitude range of up to 10 km. An upgraded locator is capable of detecting aircraft based on the technology of reduced radar signature.