OTR-21 Tochka

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OTR-21 Tochka SS-21 Scarab
Type	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 B
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 propellant
Operational range	70 km (43 mi) Scarab A 120 km (75 mi) Scarab B
Speed	1.8 km/s (1.1 mi/s)
Guidance system	Inertial with GLONASS
Launch platform	Mobile 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 began forward deployment to Germany in 1981, replacing the earlier FROG series of unguided ballistic missiles.

Contents 1 Description 1.1 Scarab A 1.2 Scarab B 1.3 Scarab C 1.4 Others 2 Use in combat 3 Operators 3.1 Former Operators 4 External links 5 References

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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).

[edit] 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 (310 ft).

[edit] 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).

[edit] Others

North Korea is known to have developed a local variant, the KN-2 Toksa, by reverse-engineering Syrian-supplied Scarab A missiles.^[1]

[edit] Use in combat

One of suspected uses of the OTR-21 Tochka in combat came on October 21, 1999 during the Second Chechen War. On that date U.S. military surveillance systems tracked a launch of five to six short-range missiles from within Russia that landed in the city of Grozny. The missiles struck a marketplace, hospital, mosque and post office, resulting in hundreds of casualties. At least 15 Tochka missiles were deployed by Russian forces from August 8–11 during the 2008 South Ossetia war.^[2]

[edit] Operators

 Azerbaijan

 Belarus

36 ^[3];

 Bulgaria

1 brigade + up to 72 missiles (Scarab-A)

 Iran

unknown number

 Kazakhstan

unknown number

 Libya

unknown number

 North Korea

about 50

 Russia

140

 Ukraine

90 ^[4]

 Syria

1 brigade plus at least 36 missiles

 Yemen

10

[edit] Former Operators

 Czechoslovakia

passed on to successor states.

 Czech Republic

inherited from Czechoslovakia, retired.

 Hungary

less than 10, retired

 Poland

4 ^[5] 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.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: OTR-21 Tochka

• [1]
• SS-21 Scarab
• 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
• Tochka Video

[edit] References

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