SS-21 Scarab
Encyclopedia
OTR-21 Tochka 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.
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 (37.3 mph) and 8 km/h (5 mph) in water. It is NBC-protected. The system has been in development since 1968. Three variants have been created.
in 1975. It carries one of three types of warhead:
of conventional HE
The minimal range is about 15 km (9.3 mi), maximum range is 70 km (43.5 mi); its Circular Error Probable
(CEP) is estimated to be about 150 m (492.1 ft).
has developed a local variant, the KN-02 Toksa (Viper
), by reverse-engineering Syrian-supplied Scarab A missiles. 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.
s.
At least 15 Tochka missiles were deployed by Russian forces from August 8–11 during the 2008 South Ossetia war
.
: 36
: 8 launchers and 21 missiles (Scarab-A)
: unknown number
: unknown number
: about 50
: 140
: 90
: 1 brigade plus at least 36 missiles
: 10
: inherited from Czechoslovakia, retired.
: less than 10, retired
: 4 retired in 2005, because of lack of rockets and service parts
: small number, inherited from Czechoslovakia, all retired.
: Passed on to successor states.
Short-range ballistic missile
A short-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of about 1,000 km or less. They are usually capable of carrying nuclear weapons. In potential regional conflicts, these missiles would be used because of the short distances between some countries and their relative low cost...
tactical
Tactical bombing
Tactical bombing is the aerial bombing aimed at targets of immediate military value, such as troops, military installations or equipment. This is in contrast to strategic bombing, attacking enemy's cities and factories to debilitate the enemy's capacity to wage war, the enemy's future military...
ballistic missile
Ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...
. Its GRAU
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 is 9K79; its NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
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
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
began in 1981, replacing the earlier FROG
FROG-7
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....
series of unguided ballistic missiles.
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-7FROG-7
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....
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
Warhead
The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
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
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
structure. There are 18 launchers in a brigade; each launcher is provided with 2 or 3 missiles. The vehicle is completely amphibious
Amphibious vehicle
An amphibious vehicle , is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water – just like an amphibian....
, with a maximum road speed of 60 km/h (37.3 mph) and 8 km/h (5 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 ArmySoviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
in 1975. It carries one of three types of warhead:
of conventional HE
- fragmentation (lethal radius more than 200 m (656.2 ft)
- nuclear
The minimal range is about 15 km (9.3 mi), maximum range is 70 km (43.5 mi); its 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...
(CEP) is estimated to be about 150 m (492.1 ft).
Scarab B
The improved Scarab B (Tochka-U) was introduced in 1989. Improved propellant increased the range to 120 km (74.6 mi). CEP significantly improved, to less than 95 m (311.7 ft).Scarab C
A third variant, Scarab C, was developed in the 1990s. Again, range increased (185 km (115 mi)), and CEP decreased. Scarab C weighs 1800 kg (3,968.3 lb).Others
North KoreaNorth Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
has developed a local variant, the KN-02 Toksa (Viper
Viperidae
The Viperidae are a family of venomous snakes found all over the world, except in Antarctica, Australia, Ireland, Madagascar, Hawaii, various other isolated islands, and above the Arctic Circle. All have relatively long, hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of venom. Four...
), by reverse-engineering Syrian-supplied Scarab A missiles. The Toksa has a range of 120-140 kilometers, and it is the most accurate ballistic missile in KPA
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
'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 WarChechen War
There have been two Chechen Wars:* 1940–1944 insurgency in Chechnya* First Chechen War, 1994–1996* Second Chechen War, 1999–2009...
s.
At least 15 Tochka missiles were deployed by Russian forces from August 8–11 during the 2008 South Ossetia war
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
.
Operators
: 9: 36
: 8 launchers and 21 missiles (Scarab-A)
: unknown number
: unknown number
: about 50
: 140
: 90
: 1 brigade plus at least 36 missiles
: 10
Former operators
: passed on to successor states.: inherited from Czechoslovakia, retired.
: less than 10, retired
: 4 retired in 2005, because of lack of rockets and service parts
: small number, inherited from Czechoslovakia, all retired.
: Passed on to successor states.