- OTR-21 Tochka
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OTR-21 Tochka
SS-21 ScarabType Tactical ballistic missile Place of origin Soviet Union Service history In service 1976-present (Scarab A)
1986-present (Scarab B)Used by See operators Production history Manufacturer KBM (Kolomna) Specifications Weight 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) Scarab A
2,010 kg (4,400 lb) Scarab BLength 6.4 m (21 ft) Diameter 0.65 m (2 ft 2 in) Warhead Chemical, 100 kt nuclear warhead, EMP, or fragmentation filling Engine Single-stage solid propellant Operational
range70 km (43 mi) Scarab A
120 km (75 mi) Scarab BSpeed 1.8 km/s (1.1 mi/s) Guidance
systemInertial with GLONASS Launch
platformMobile TEL OTR-21 Tochka (Russian: оперативно-тактический ракетный комплекс (ОТР) «Точка»; English: Tactical Operational Missile Complex "Tochka", "Point") is a Soviet short-range tactical ballistic missile. Its GRAU designation is 9K79; its NATO reporting name is SS-21 Scarab. It is transported in a 9P129 vehicle, then erected vertically prior to launch. It uses an inertial guidance system.
The OTR-21 forward deployment to the German Democratic Republic began in 1981, replacing the earlier FROG series of unguided ballistic missiles.
Contents
Description
The OTR-21 is a mobile missile launch system, designed to be deployed along with other land combat units on the battlefield. While the FROG-7 is large and relatively inaccurate, the OTR-21 is much smaller. The missile itself can be used for precise strikes on enemy tactical targets, such as control posts, bridges, storage facilities, troop concentrations and airfields. The fragmentation warhead can be replaced with a nuclear, biological or chemical warhead. The solid propellant makes the missile easy to maintain and deploy.
OTR-21 units are usually managed in a brigade structure. There are 18 launchers in a brigade; each launcher is provided with 2 or 3 missiles. The vehicle is completely amphibious, with a maximum road speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) and 8 km/h (5.0 mph) in water. It is NBC-protected. The system has been in development since 1968. Three variants have been created.
Scarab A
The initial Scarab A entered service with the Soviet Army in 1975. It carries one of three types of warhead:
- 482 kg (1,060 lb) of conventional HE
- fragmentation (lethal radius more than 200 m (660 ft)
- nuclear
The minimal range is about 15 km (9.3 mi), maximum range is 70 km (43 mi); its Circular Error Probable (CEP) is estimated to be about 150 m (490 ft).
Scarab B
The improved Scarab B (Tochka-U) was introduced in 1989. Improved propellant increased the range to 120 km (75 mi). CEP significantly improved, to less than 95 m (312 ft).
Scarab C
A third variant, Scarab C, was developed in the 1990s. Again, range increased (185 km (115 mi)), and CEP decreased[citation needed]. Scarab C weighs 1,800 kg (4,000 lb).
Others
North Korea has developed a local variant, the KN-02 Toksa (Viper), by reverse-engineering Syrian-supplied Scarab A missiles.[1] The Toksa has a range of 120-140 kilometers, and it is the most accurate ballistic missile in KPA's inventory to date. KN-02 uses a MAZ-630308-224 truck instead of the 9P129.
Use in combat
Russia used the missiles in the Chechen Wars.[2]
At least 15 Tochka missiles were deployed by Russian forces from August 8–11 during the 2008 South Ossetia war.[3]
Operators
- Azerbaijan
- 9
- Belarus
- 36 [4]
- Bulgaria
- 8 launchers and 21 missiles (Scarab-A)
- Iran
- unknown number
- Kazakhstan
- unknown number
- North Korea
- about 50
- Russia
- 140
- Ukraine
- 90 [5]
- Syria
- 1 brigade plus at least 36 missiles
- Yemen
- 10
Former operators
- Czechoslovakia
- passed on to successor states.
- Czech Republic
- inherited from Czechoslovakia, retired.
- Hungary
- less than 10, retired
- Poland
- 4 [6] retired in 2005, because of lack of rockets and service parts
- Slovakia
- small number, inherited from Czechoslovakia, all retired.
- Soviet Union
- Passed on to successor states.
References
- ^ globalsecurity.org
- ^ "It Was No Spontaneous, But Planned War". Novaya Gazeta. http://en.novayagazeta.ru/data/2008/59/01.html.
- ^ Fulghum, David A.; Douglas Barrie, Robert Wall and Andy Nativi (2008-08-15). "Georgian Military Folds Under Russian Attack". Aviation Week. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/aw081808p2.xml&headline=Georgian%20Military%20Folds%20Under%20Russian%20Attack. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
- ^ Belarus Army Equipment
- ^ Ground Forces Equipment - Ukraine
- ^ MILITARIUM - Wojsko Polskie - Uzbrojenie
External links
- SS-21 Scarab article on Warfare.ru
- Tochka-U Video
- SS-21 Scarab (9K79 Tochka)
- (Russian) OTR Tochka
- MissileThreat.com SS-21
- Jane's Defence news on North Korean SS-21 test, April 2006
Russian, Ukrainian, and former Soviet armoured fighting vehicles after World War II Tanks Armoured personnel carriers TrackedWheeledInfantry fighting vehicles Self-propelled artillery Guns- 2S1 Gvozdika
- 2S3 Akatsiya
- 2S4 Tyulpan
- 2S5 Giatsint
- 2S7 Pion
- 2S9 Nona
- 2S19 Msta
- 2S23 Nona-SVK
- 2S25 Sprut-SD
- 2S30 Iset
- 2S31 Vena
- ASU-57
- ASU-85
- A-222 Bereg
- 2K6 Luna (FROG-3/5)
- 9K52 Luna-M (FROG-7)
- 9K79 Tochka (SS-21 Scarab)
- R-400 Oka (SS-23 Spider)
- Iskander (SS-26 Stone)
- K-300P Bastion-P
Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons GunsCategories:- Chemical weapon delivery systems
- Cold War missiles of the Soviet Union
- Nuclear missiles of the Soviet Union
- Tactical ballistic missiles
- Theatre ballistic missiles
- Quasiballistic missiles
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