Discover

(Redirected from SS-21 Scarab)

'OTR-21 ''Tochka''' (; , "tochka" is "point" in English) is a Soviet short-range tactical ballistic missile. Its GRAU designation is '9K79'. And its NATO reporting name is 'SS-21 Scarab'. It is transported on a 9P129 vehicle, then lifted vertically prior to launch. It was designed as a replacement for the earlier FROG series of unguided ballistic missiles.
Two versions have been reported to have been produced, with NATO reporting names Scarab A and Scarab B.
The base missile has a range of 70 km, but this was increased to 120 km with improved propellant. The warhead could be 160 kg of explosives, bomblets, mines, chemical weapons, or a tactical nuclear warhead. The missile began forward deployment to Germany in 1981, replacing the FROG-7.

Contents

Use in combat

Operators

Former Operators

External links

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 and maternity ward, resulting in at least 143 fatalities. [1] A Russian spokesman said the busy market place was targeted because it was used by rebels as an arms bazaar. [2]

Operators

★ - 4 ^[1]

★ -

Former Operators

★ - Passed on to successor states.

External links

★ Tochka-U Video

★ SS-21 Scarab (9K79 Tochka)

★ OTR ''Tochka''

★ MissileThreat.com SS-21

★ Jane's Defence news on North Korean SS-21 test, April 2006