OTR-21 Tochka

OTR-21 Tochka
SS-21 Scarab

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:

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

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[28]
 Bulgaria
18[29]
 Kazakhstan
unknown number
 North Korea
unknown number of variant KN-02
 Russia
220 launchers.[30] Missile systems have been upgraded since 2004 (replacing the onboard automated control systems)[31][32] It is planned to be replaced by the 9K720 Iskander[33][34] by 2020.[35]
 Ukraine
90[36]
 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[37] 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.

Comparable missiles

References

  1. Zaloga, Steven J. Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005, page 39.
  2. "It Was No Spontaneous, But Planned War". Novaya Gazeta.
  3. Fulghum, David A.; Douglas Barrie; Robert Wall; Andy Nativi (2008-08-15). "Georgian Military Folds Under Russian Attack". Aviation Week. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
  4. "Ukraine denies using ballistic missiles". Deutsche Welle. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  5. "NATO flip-flops over Kiev use of ballistic missiles against militants". RT. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  6. Tim Lister (3 September 2014). "Wrecked tanks, deserted playgrounds: Inside the kill zone of eastern Ukraine". CNN. Retrieved 2 October 2014. In a burned field south of Ilovaisk, on what was the frontline of combat a few days ago, we found a large green tube amid bushes and trees. Military experts have identified it as the rocket motor section of a Russian-made SS-21 "Scarab" ballistic missile. But both the Ukrainian and Russian militaries have the SS-21.
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcA3LtpiQOQ
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6rDPTtQJv0
  9. "( + ) -". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  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. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/12/14/united-arab-emirates/77289732/
  14. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35091675
  15. https://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395289223805.html
  16. http://www.wsj.com/articles/senior-saudi-military-commander-killed-in-yemen-1450100887
  17. http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/250124
  18. http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?fromval=1&cid=23&frid=23&eid=250292
  19. http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/26597/
  20. http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=252844&frid=23&cid=23&fromval=1&seccatid=31
  21. https://twitter.com/DefenseDigest/status/693630175410434049
  22. http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/26597/
  23. "Tochka-U fired by regime in West Aleppo". Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - liveuamap.com. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  24. "شبكة الثورة السورية on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  25. Fadel, Leith (16 June 2016). "Islamist offensive in the East Ghouta turns disastrous". Al Masdar News. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  26. Belarus Army Equipment
  27. Milev, Momchil (2014-04-11). "Da izkovem ot plugovete mechove". Economedia. p. 2. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  28. http://warfare.be/db/catid/363/linkid/1704/title/ss-21-scarab-/-otr-21-tochka-u/
  29. "24.02.12 СМИ: Минобороны отказалось ремонтировать тактические ракеты «Точка-У»". militaryparitet.com. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  30. The Military Balance 2010. P. 223.
  31. "Великий воин и защитник «Искандер»". vpk.name. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  32. Денис Тельманов. "Сухопутные войска теряют тактические ракеты". Известия. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  33. Artillery units of Russia will replace Tochka-U tactical missile with Iskander-M - Armyrecognition.com, 28 November 2016
  34. Ground Forces Equipment - Ukraine
  35. MILITARIUM - Wojsko Polskie - Uzbrojenie
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