SS-21 (Scarab) OTR-21 Tochka

History

World War II (1939-1945) eventually shifted the power and lethality of indirect missile attack from a Country to another country/V-2 program. In the decades following the war, the Soviet Union - already familiar with the inherent power of stacked missile launcher formations against German enemies - put considerable effort into producing a large number of missile/missile delivery solutions for use against Western Western countries. The Cold War used to "get hot".

One of them, OTR-21 "Tochka" (GRAU designation "9K79", NATO SS-21 "Scarab") appeared in its original form in 1976.

This weapon is a 6x6 wheeled tactical ballistic missile launcher that has since been in widespread service, covering the Yemeni Civil War (1994 and 2015), the first (1994-1996) and the second (2000- 2009) Conflict in Chechnya War, Syrian Civil War (since 2011), Donbas War (since 2014), Saudi involvement in Yemen (since 2015), Nagomo-Karabakh conflict (2020) and Russian invasion Neighboring Ukraine (2022).

Advances in missiles have led to larger, more powerful solutions that provide greater accuracy than covering the entire target area with missiles, while still retaining the inherently scary psychological value. Indirect fire allows the launcher source to fire its lethal payload from range and land on an enemy position or fixed target, providing the attacker with a tactical advantage in this situation.

The prospect of a wheeled delivery vehicle means the system can be relocated to another launch site once it is replenished with new missiles - but this requires the use of an accompanying replenishment vehicle and additional support personnel for optimal battlefield performance.

Serial production of the OTR-21 vehicle began in 1973 under the brand name KBM (Kolomna), followed by the Soviet deployment of mobile launchers in East Germany in 1981. These were used to replace the aging 9K52 "Luna-M" rocket projectors that had arrived back in 1964.

The complete OTR-21 system consists of a lightly armored 6x6 all-wheel drive military truck chassis capable of on- and off-road driving, with a single rocket launcher unit located above the rear fuselage. The vehicle part of the system is 9P129.

The missile component that sits on top of the BAZ-5921 mobile TEL launcher is a single-stage solid-fuel weapon with a range that depends on the production model. These missiles reach speeds of Mach 5.3 and are guided to the target by an inertial guidance system (the "Tochka-R" version has since added passive radar support to better strike radar launchers).

The "Scarab-A" was the first missile developed in 1975 for high-explosive (HE), fragmentation (FRAG) and nuclear warheads. These missiles have a range of about 43 miles, but have accuracy issues (probability of error less than 490 feet). The "Scarab-B" ("Tochka-U") increased the accuracy of the probability of error by about 200 feet, down from 315 feet, and increased the range to 75 miles. After years of testing, the missiles came online in 1989. The B model was followed by an improved "Scarab-C" in the 1990s.

The range is increased to 115 miles and the chance of error is reduced to 230 feet - making the vehicle very useful.

Many former Soviet allies have abandoned the use of the OTR-21 system, including Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic/Czech Republic), Poland and Slovakia. However, the missile is still in service with the armed forces of Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Syria, Kazakhstan, Yemen and other countries.

Over time, the Russian Army version was replaced by the 9K720 "Iskander" series.

The OTR-21s were actively used in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Ukraine is still using them in large numbers. At peak usage, there were about ninety in stock.

Specification

Base

Year of Service

1976

Origins

Soviet Union

Status

Active.

Limited service.

Crew

3

Production

2,000

Manufacturer

KB Mashinostroyeniya (KBM) - USSR

Operator

Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bulgaria; Czechoslovakia (formerly); Czech Republic (formerly); East Germany (formerly); Germany (formerly); Kazakhstan; North Korea; North Yemen (formerly); Poland (formerly); Russia; Slovakia (formerly); Soviet Union (formerly); Ukraine; Syria; Yemen

Roles

Special designs developed to fulfill one or more equally special battlefield roles.

Highlights

Tire layout

The wheeled arrangement gives the system inherent road capability and improved maneuverability.

Cross-country skiing

The design includes features like a chain linkage system or high ground clearance for better traversing of terrain.

ABC Protection

Crew are protected (standard or optional) by nuclear biological and chemical agents to improve survivability in contaminated areas.

Night Vision

Night vision equipment is available to the crew to allow operation in low light conditions or at night.

Indirect fire possible

The capabilities of this system allow it to attack targets/target areas without reaching line of sight.

Psychological effect

Capable of firing lethal indirect fire from a distance to saturate the area; can include nuclear, biological, and chemical agents.

Dimensions and Weights

Weights

7,716 lbs

3,500 kg

Tonnage

3.9 tons

Power and Performance

Engine:

1 x diesel engine driving 6x6 all-wheel drive.

Speed

46.6 km/h

(75.0 km/h)

Area

192. 6 miles

(310.0 km)

Weapon

1 x Ballistic Missile with HE, FRAG or Nuclear/Bio Warhead.

AMMOTION

1 x Ballistic Missile.