FROG-7
Encyclopedia
The 9K52 Luna-M is a Soviet short-range ballistic missile complex. The 9M21 missiles are unguided and spin-stabilized. "9K52" is its GRAU
designation. Its NATO reporting name
is FROG-7.
The 9M21 missiles are mounted on a wheeled 9P113 transporter erector launcher
(TEL) based on the ZIL-135
8x8 army truck. The TEL features a large hydraulic crane used for reloading missiles from 9T29 transporters (also ZIL-135 based). The 9M21 has a range up to 70 km and a CEP (circular error probable
) between 500 m and 700 m. The road mobile rocket has a 550 kg warhead and is capable of delivering high explosive, nuclear, or chemical warheads. The 9M21 was first introduced in 1965 and extensively deployed throughout Soviet satellite states
. The rocket has been widely exported and is now in the possession of a large number of countries. After the war with Iran
, Iraq
modified its stock of 9M21's by extending their range to 90 km and fitting a submunition-carrying warhead. The rocket was renamed Laith-90.
During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, in the battle of Karbala Gap, the Headquarters of the 2nd Brigade, US 3rd Infantry Division, Tactical Operations Center (TOC) of U.S Col. David Perkins was targeted and struck by an Iraqi FROG-7 or an Ababil-100 SSM variant
rocket, killing three soldiers. Another 14 soldiers were injured, and 22 vehicles destroyed or seriously damaged, most of them unarmored Humvees.
RAF jets targeted and destroyed FROG-7 launchers operated by Pro-Gaddafi forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War
.
9M21G
Laith-90
) - Some in storage - 18 - 50 - 12
Grau
Grau is a German word meaning "gray" and a Catalan word meaning "grade". It may refer to:* BAP Almirante Grau , a De Zeven Provinciën class cruiser in service with the Peruvian Navy* Grau Käse, Tyrolean grey cheese...
designation. Its NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
is FROG-7.
The 9M21 missiles are mounted on a wheeled 9P113 transporter erector launcher
Transporter erector launcher
A transporter erector launcher is a vehicle with an integrated prime mover that can carry, elevate to firing position and launch one or more missiles. Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles...
(TEL) based on the ZIL-135
ZIL-135
The ZIL-135 is a large, 8 wheeled military transport and self-propelled artillery truck produced in the Cold War by the Soviet Union starting in 1966. Its purpose was to carry and launch an artillery missile, specifically a FROG-7, from surface-to-surface...
8x8 army truck. The TEL features a large hydraulic crane used for reloading missiles from 9T29 transporters (also ZIL-135 based). The 9M21 has a range up to 70 km and a CEP (circular error probable
Circular error probable
In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable is an intuitive measure of a weapon system's precision...
) between 500 m and 700 m. The road mobile rocket has a 550 kg warhead and is capable of delivering high explosive, nuclear, or chemical warheads. The 9M21 was first introduced in 1965 and extensively deployed throughout Soviet satellite states
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
. The rocket has been widely exported and is now in the possession of a large number of countries. After the war with Iran
Iran-Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the twentieth century...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
modified its stock of 9M21's by extending their range to 90 km and fitting a submunition-carrying warhead. The rocket was renamed Laith-90.
During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, in the battle of Karbala Gap, the Headquarters of the 2nd Brigade, US 3rd Infantry Division, Tactical Operations Center (TOC) of U.S Col. David Perkins was targeted and struck by an Iraqi FROG-7 or an Ababil-100 SSM variant
Al-Samoud 2
Al-Samoud was a liquid-fuel ballistic missile developed by Iraq in the years between the Gulf War and the American Invasion.- Development :...
rocket, killing three soldiers. Another 14 soldiers were injured, and 22 vehicles destroyed or seriously damaged, most of them unarmored Humvees.
RAF jets targeted and destroyed FROG-7 launchers operated by Pro-Gaddafi forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
.
Variants
9M21B- Nuclear-armed variant, fitted with a 500 kg (1,213-lb) warhead.
9M21G
- This variant is fitted with a 390 kg (860-lb) warhead.
Laith-90
- Iraqi version with increased range (90 km) and subammunition warhead.
Current
- Some (36 units of 9K52 and Tochka) - 65 - 288 units - 45 - Some (24 units of 9K52 and 2K6 Luna2K6 Luna
The 2K6 Luna is a Soviet short-range ballistic missile complex. Luna rockets are solid-fuel, unguided and spin-stabilized. "2K6" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting names are FROG-3 and FROG-5...
) - Some in storage - 18 - 50 - 12
External links
- http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/frog-7.htm
- Profile of the Frog 7 from The Whirlwind War a publication of the United States Army Center of Military History