Russia has fired its latest state-of-the-art air defence missile complex in the Arctic for the first time.

Video released by the country's Ministry of Defence shows the white-painted vehicles carrying the new lethal Tor-M2DT missiles in the test site along the southern shores of Novaya Zemlya.

The white-painted vehicles are specially designed to be used in Russian Arctic regions.

It then shoots out missiles that are set to hit targeting drones flying at different altitudes, both within sight and while hidden over clouds.
The Kondapoga landing ship sent the missile complex vehicles to the southern shore of Novaya Zemlya (
Image:
Russian Defense Ministry Press O)

"The new tactical air defence missile complex was used for military training purposes in the high latitudes of the Arctic for the first time,” reported the Russian defence ministry’s TV Zvezda.

The all-weather system is specially designed to destroy enemy missiles and aircraft in harsh Arctic conditions.

The Tor-M2DT vehicles were brought to Novaya Zemlya by the Northern Fleet's landing ship Kondapoga from the Kola Peninsula, according to the navy's press release in Severomorsk.

The test is believed to be the latest major military deployment to the Arctic under Vladimir Putin as Russia asserts its interests in energy-rich polar regions.
The white-painted vehicles are specially designed to be used in Russian Arctic regions (
Image:
Russian Defense Ministry Press O)
The missiles were launched to shoot at drones flying at different altitudes (
Image:
Russian Defense Ministry Press O)

Air defence officers last month underwent training at Russia’s Kapustin Yar shooting range near the Caspian Sea.

“The shooting was performed in hard weather conditions,” stated the TV Zvezda report.

“The targets flew at different heights, some of them being clearly visible, other hidden by the clouds.”

The Tor-M2DT is based on the Tor-M2 missile system - NATO reporting name SA-15 Gauntlet - and is attached to a DT-30 belt wagon.

Its missiles have a range of nine-and-a-half miles.
It's the first time the Russians test-fired the new missile complex in the Arctic region (
Image:
Russian Defense Ministry Press O)

The system was first seen in public during the 9 May Victory Day military parade in Moscow in 2017 when it crossed Red Square.

It is a low-to-medium altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed to strike enemy warplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles, precision guided munitions, drones and short-range ballistic threats.

It is expected the mobile Tor-M2DT will be deployed at a number of bases across the Russian Arctic.