OTR-21 Tochka

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
(Redirected from OTR-21)
Jump to: navigation, search
OTR-21 Tochka
SS-21 Scarab
OTR-21 Tochka during a parade in Kiev.jpg
Missiles systems Tochka-U during a parade rehearsal in Kiev
Type Tactical ballistic missile
Place of origin  Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1976–present (Scarab A)
1989–present (Scarab B)
1990–present (Scarab C)
Used by See Operators
Production history
Manufacturer KBM (Kolomna)
Produced 1973
Specifications
Weight 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) Scarab A
2,010 kg (4,430 lb) Scarab B
1,800 kg (4,000 lb) Scarab C
Length 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-fuel rocket
Operational
range
 70 km (43 mi) Scarab A
120 km (75 mi) Scarab B
185 km (115 mi) Scarab C
Speed 1.8 km/s (1.1 mi/s; Mach 5.3)
Guidance
system
 Inertial guidance, Tochka-P added passive radar against radar installations
Launch
platform
 BAZ-5921 Mobile TEL

OTR-21 Tochka (Russian: оперативно-тактический ракетный комплекс (ОТР) «Точка»; English: Tactical Operational Missile Complex "Tochka", "Point") is a Soviet tactical ballistic missile. Its GRAU designation is 9K79; its NATO reporting name is SS-21 Scarab. It is transported in a 9P129 vehicle and raised prior to launch. It uses an inertial guidance system.

The OTR-21 forward deployment to East Germany began in 1981, replacing the earlier FROG series of unguided artillery rockets.

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 9K52 Luna-M 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 (1,063 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 passed state tests from 1986 to 1988, 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 to less than 70 m (229 ft). Scarab C weighs 1,800 kg (4,000 lb).

Use in combat

  • 1994 The Yemeni government used Tochka missiles against southern forces during the 1994 Yemen civil war.[1]
  • 1999 Russia used the missiles in the Chechen Wars.[2]
  • 2008 At least 15 Tochka missiles were deployed by Russian forces from August 8–11 during the 2008 South Ossetia war.[3]
  • Multiple videos show the Ukrainian Army fired multiple Tochka missiles near Donetsk during the War in Donbass.[4][5][6][7][8]
  • 2014 The Syrian Army fired at least one Tochka against the insurgents during the battle of Wadi al-Deif (near Ma'rat al-Nu'man, in the province of Idlib) in December 2014.[9]
  • On 20 August 2015 during the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, Yemeni Republican Guard loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh fired an OTR-21 targeting a Saudi base.[10]
  • On 4 September 2015 Yemeni Republican Guard fired a Tochka at Safir base in Marib killing over 100 Saudi-led coalition personnel [11][12][13][14]
  • On 14 December 2015 Yemeni Republican Guard fired a Tochka at Bab Al Mandab base killing over 150 of the Saudi-led coalition personnel [15][16][17][18]
  • On 16 January 2016 Yemeni Republican Guard fired a Tochka at Al Bairaq base in Marib killing dozens of Saudi-led coalition personnel [19] [20]
  • On 31 January 2016 Yemeni Republican Guard fired a Tochka at Al Anad base in Lahj killing over 140 Saudi-led coalition personnel [21][22][23][24]
  • On 26 April 2016 the Syrian Army fired a Tochka at opposition forces in the Syrian Civil Defense Center in west Aleppo[25][26]

Operators

Map of OTR-21 operators in blue with former operators in red
Ukrainian OTR-21 Tochka missiles during the Independence Day parade in Kiev

Current operators

 Armenia
At least 8 launchers Tochka-U
 Azerbaijan
3 launchers Tochka-U with 4 missiles
 Belarus
36[27]
 Bulgaria
18[28]
 Kazakhstan
unknown number
 North Korea
unknown number of variant KN-02
 Russia
220 launchers.[29] Missile systems have been upgraded since 2004 (replacing the onboard automated control systems)[30][31] It is planned to be replaced on 9K720 Iskander.[32][33]
 Ukraine
90[34]
 Syria
unknown number
 Yemen
unknown number

Former operators

 Czechoslovakia
passed on to successor states.
 Czech Republic
inherited from Czechoslovakia, retired.
 East Germany
passed on to Germany.
 Germany
retired.
 Lithuania
retired.
 Poland
4[35] 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

  1. ↑ Zaloga, Steven J. Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005, page 39.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcA3LtpiQOQ
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6rDPTtQJv0
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ http://spioenkop.blogspot.fr/2015/08/houthis-continue-to-fire-ballistic.html
  11. ↑ http://www.janes.com/article/55137/arab-coalition-deploys-patriot-to-yemen
  12. ↑ Toll From Yemen Rebel Attack Rises as 10 Saudi Troops Killed
  13. ↑ [1]
  14. ↑ [2]
  15. ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/12/14/united-arab-emirates/77289732/
  16. ↑ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35091675
  17. ↑ https://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395289223805.html
  18. ↑ http://www.wsj.com/articles/senior-saudi-military-commander-killed-in-yemen-1450100887
  19. ↑ http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/250124
  20. ↑ http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?fromval=1&cid=23&frid=23&eid=250292
  21. ↑ http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/26597/
  22. ↑ http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=252844&frid=23&cid=23&fromval=1&seccatid=31
  23. ↑ https://twitter.com/DefenseDigest/status/693630175410434049
  24. ↑ http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/26597/
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Belarus Army Equipment
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ http://warfare.be/db/catid/363/linkid/1704/title/ss-21-scarab-/-otr-21-tochka-u/
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ The Military Balance 2010. P. 223.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Ground Forces Equipment - Ukraine
  35. ↑ MILITARIUM - Wojsko Polskie - Uzbrojenie

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=OTR-21_Tochka&oldid=717460688"