In the mid-sixties, the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union initiated work on the creation of a new tactical missile system with a high-precision ballistic missile. It was understood that the combat potential of the new complex would be increased not due to a more powerful warhead, but with the help of greater guidance accuracy. Testing and operation of previous tactical missile systems confirmed the correctness of this approach: a more accurate missile could destroy targets with great efficiency, even without a particularly powerful warhead.

Launch of the 9M79 Tochka missile of the 9K79-1 Tochka-U complex, Kapustin Yar test site, 09/22/2011 (photo by Vadim Savitsky, http://twower.livejournal.com, http://militaryrussia.ru)

The development of two new missile systems at once began at the Fakel Design Bureau. The ship-based V-611 anti-aircraft missile of the M-11 Storm complex was taken as the basis for the ground-to-ground missile. The first was the project "Hawk". It was supposed to use an electronic missile guidance system. In this case, the ballistic munition would fly on the active part of the trajectory in accordance with the commands sent from the ground. A little later, in 1965, the Tochka project was created on the basis of the Hawk. From the previous missile system "Tochka" was distinguished by a guidance system. Instead of a radio command, which is relatively difficult to manufacture and operate, it was proposed to use an inertial one, as on several previous domestic tactical missile systems.

Both projects of the ICB Fakel remained at the stage of development and testing of individual units. Approximately in 1966, all project documentation was transferred to the Kolomna Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering, where work continued under the leadership of S.P. Invincible. Already in the early stages of development, it became clear that the most convenient and promising option for a tactical missile system would be "Tochka" with a missile equipped with an inertial guidance system. It was this project that was further developed, although it was later almost completely redesigned.

Active work on the project began in 1968, in accordance with the decree of the USSR Council of Ministers of March 4. About 120 enterprises and organizations were involved in the new project, since it was necessary to create not only a rocket, but also a wheeled chassis, a launcher, a complex of electronic equipment, etc. The main developers and manufacturers of the units of the Tochka complex were the Central Research Institute of Automation and Hydraulics, which created the missile control system, the Volgograd plant Barrikady, which made the launcher, and the Bryansk Automobile Plant, on the wheeled chassis of which all the elements of the complex were eventually mounted.

It is worth noting that there were two options for the launcher. The first was designed by the Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering along with the rocket and was used only in field tests. It was with such a unit that the first two test launches were made in 1971 at the Kapustin Yar test site. A little later, tests of the complex began with the use of combat vehicles equipped with a launch system developed by the designers of the Barrikady plant. Already in 1973, the assembly of missiles began at the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant. In the same year, the first stages of state tests took place, according to the results of which, in 1975, the Tochka missile system was put into service. The GRAU index of the complex is 9K79.

The basis of the Tochka complex was the 9M79 solid-propellant single-stage rocket. Ammunition with a length of 6400 millimeters and a diameter of 650 had lattice rudders with a span of about 1350-1400 mm. The launch weight of the rocket is two tons, about one and a half of which accounted for the rocket block. The rest of the weight of the ammunition was due to the 482-kilogram warhead and control system. The acceleration of the 9M79 rocket in the active part of the trajectory was carried out by a single-mode solid-propellant engine with fuel based on rubber, aluminum powder and ammonium perchlorate. About 790 kilograms of fuel burned out in 18-28 seconds. The specific impulse is about 235 seconds.

The inertial guidance system of the 9M79 missile included a set of various equipment, such as a command-gyroscopic device, a discrete-analog computer, an angular velocity and acceleration sensor, etc. The basis of the guidance system is the command-gyroscopic device 9B64. On the gyro-stabilized platform of this device, there were means for setting it up, as well as two accelerometers. Data from all sensors of the guidance system was transmitted to the 9B65 computer, which automatically calculated the missile's flight path, compared it with the given one, and, if necessary, issued the appropriate commands. The trajectory was corrected using four lattice rudders in the tail section of the rocket. When the engine was running, gas-dynamic rudders were also used, which were in the jet gas flow.

Since the warhead of the 9M79 missile did not separate in flight, the designers provided for control in the final section of the trajectory, which significantly increased the accuracy of hitting the target. At this stage of the flight, the automation kept the rocket in a dive with an angle of 80 ° to the horizon.

Missile systems 9K79-1 "Tochka-U" with 9M79M "Tochka" missiles at the exercises of rocket and artillery units of the 5th combined arms army of the Eastern Military District, Sergeevsky combined arms training ground, March 2013. The launch of 9M79M "Tochka" missiles was conditional. (http://pressa-tof.livejournal.com, http://militaryrussia.ru)

Target data was entered into the missile guidance system immediately before launch, before the missile was raised to a vertical position. The 9V390 control and launch equipment with the 1V57 Argon electronic computer calculated the flight task, after which the data was transmitted to the rocket computer. An interesting way to check the gyro-stabilized platform of the guidance system. In its lower part there was a multifaceted prism, which was used by a special optical system placed on the combat vehicle. Through a special porthole on board the rocket, the equipment determined the position of the platform and issued commands to correct it.

In the early stages of the Tochka project, it was proposed to make a self-propelled launcher based on one of the machines of the Kharkov Tractor Plant. However, according to the results of the comparison, the BAZ-5921 floating chassis, created at the Bryansk Automobile Plant, was chosen. Based on it, they created the 9P129 combat vehicle. It is noteworthy that it was not the Bryansk Automobile Plant that was responsible for the installation of all the target equipment on the wheeled chassis, but the Volgograd enterprise Barrikady. In the serial production of launchers and transport-loading vehicles, they occupied the Petropavlovsk heavy engineering plant.

The six-wheeled all-wheel drive self-propelled launcher 9P129 was equipped with a 300-horsepower diesel engine. Such a power plant allowed a combat vehicle with a rocket to accelerate to 60 kilometers per hour along the highway. Off-road speed was reduced to 10-15 km/h. If necessary, the 9P129 vehicle could cross water obstacles at speeds up to 10 km / h, for which two water cannons were used. With a combat weight of about 18 tons with a rocket, the self-propelled launcher was suitable for transportation by military transport aircraft. The equipment of the rocket compartment is interesting. In front of it, the self-propelled launcher had a special heat-shielding casing that protected the missile warhead from overheating or hypothermia.

According to the standards, no more than 20 minutes were allotted for preparation for launch from the march. Most of this time was spent on ensuring the stability of the launcher during launch. Other procedures were much faster. Thus, it took less than a second to transfer commands to the rocket control system, and the subsequent rise of the rocket to a vertical position took only 15 seconds, after which the rocket could immediately launch. Regardless of the range to the target, the elevation of the guide launcher was 78 °. At the same time, the mechanisms of the 9P129 machine made it possible to turn the guide and the rocket in a horizontal plane by 15 ° to the right or left of the axis of the machine. The flight of the 9M79 missile to a maximum range of 70 kilometers took just over two minutes. During this time, a calculation of three or four people had to transfer the combat vehicle to the traveling position and leave the position. The reloading procedure took 19-20 minutes.

Approximate projections of the V-611 missiles (Volna air defense missile system), V-614 Tochka, 9M79 Tochka, 9M79-1 Tochka-U missiles and the section of the 9M79 missile (the last three with high-explosive warheads). 01/17/2010 the drawing is based on the projections of an unknown author with significant changes in size, proportions and modifications, http://military.tomsk.ru

In addition to the missile and self-propelled launcher, the Tochka complex included a 9T128 transport-loading vehicle based on the Bryansk BAZ-5922 chassis. In the cargo compartment of this machine there are two cradles for missiles with heat shields for warheads. The loading of missiles into the transport-loading vehicle and installation on the launch rail are carried out using a crane, which is equipped with 9T128. If necessary, missiles can be stored in the cargo compartment of the transport-loading vehicle, but for long-term storage it is recommended to use special metal shipping containers. For the transportation of missiles or warheads in containers, transport vehicles 9T222 or 9T238 are used, which are a truck tractor with a semi-trailer. One semi-trailer can accommodate two missiles or four warheads.

In 1983, the Tochka-R complex was adopted. It differed from the base complex only in a missile with a new guidance system. The 9N915 guidance system with a passive radar homing head was combined with the 9M79 missile unit. It is capable of capturing a radiating target at a distance of about 15 kilometers, after which the missile is aimed at it using standard control systems. The Tochka-R complex retained the ability to use missiles with a standard inertial guidance system.

In 1984, work began on the modernization of the Tochka complex in order to improve its performance. Tests of the updated complex 9K79-1 "Tochka-U" began in the summer of 1986. In 1989, it was put into service and put into serial production. During the modernization, the combat vehicle of the complex has undergone some changes, primarily related to the upgrade of the missile. As a result, the total mass of the 9P129-1 self-propelled launcher, and then 9P129-1M, increased by 200-250 kilograms. During the modernization, the 9M79-1 rocket received a new engine with a fuel charge of 1000 kilograms. The use of a more efficient fuel mixture made it possible to increase the flight range to 120 kilometers.

Shortly before modernization, the Tochka complex received new types of missiles and warheads. Thus, at present, Tochka-U can operate the following guided ballistic munitions:
- 9M79. The basic model of the rocket, which appeared along with the complex itself;
- 9M79M. The first upgrade of the rocket. The changes affected mainly the technological part of production. In addition, compatibility with the new passive radar homing head is ensured. In this case, the rocket is called 9M79R;
- 9M79-1. Rocket complex "Tochka-U" with an increased range;
-9M79-GVM, 9M79M-GVM, 9M79-UT, etc. Mass-dimensional and training models of combat missiles. They were produced with extensive use of their parts, but some of the units, such as a fuel block, squibs, etc. replaced by imitators.

The nomenclature of warheads for Tochka missiles is as follows:
- 9H123. High-explosive fragmentation warhead of concentrated action. It was developed together with the 9M79 rocket in the late sixties. Carries 162.5 kilograms of TNT-hexogen mixture and 14.5 thousand semi-finished fragments. The warhead 9N123 during the explosion scatters fragments of three types: six thousand fragments weighing about 20 grams, four thousand ten grams and 4.5 thousand striking elements weighing about five and a half grams. Fragments hit targets in an area of ​​up to three hectares. It is also worth noting the layout of this warhead. For uniform destruction of the area, due to the inclination of the last section of the missile's flight path, the explosive charge block is located at an angle to the axis of the warhead;
- 9H123K. Fragmentation warhead with 50 submunitions. Each of them is a fragmentation element weighing 7.45 kilograms, about one and a half of which falls on the explosive. Each submunition scatters 316 fragments over a relatively small area, but thanks to the opening of the cassette at an altitude of about 2200-2250 meters, one 9N123K warhead is capable of “sowing” up to seven hectares with fragments. Submunitions are stabilized in the fall by parachutes;
- Nuclear warheads of models 9N39 with a capacity of 10 kilotons and 9N64 with a capacity of at least 100 kt (according to other sources, up to 200 kt). The letter "B" and the corresponding figure were added to the index of missiles equipped with nuclear warheads. Thus, the 9N39 warhead was used on the 9M79B missile, and 9N64 on the 9M79B1;
- Chemical warheads 9N123G and 9N123G2-1. Both warheads carry 65 submunitions loaded with poisonous agents, V-gas and soman, respectively. The total mass of substances was 60 kilograms for the warhead 9N123G and 50 for 9N123G2-1. According to various sources, the total number of chemical warheads produced does not exceed a few dozen. To date, most of the chemical warheads have been disposed of or are being prepared for destruction;
- Training warheads are designed to train personnel to work with combat units equipped with a real warhead. Training units have the same designations as combat units, but with the letters "UT".

Self-propelled launcher 9P129M OTR "Tochka"

Transport-loading vehicle 9T218 OTR "Point"

Transport vehicle 9T238

The layout of the rocket "Tochka" / "Tochka-U" (scheme from the site http://rbase.new-factoria.ru)

Missile systems "Tochka" began to enter the troops already in 1976. Just a few years later, the first such systems went to serve at bases located on the territory of the GDR. After the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Germany, all Tochka and Tochka-U complexes, due to the military-political situation, were concentrated in the European part of the country. By the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the total number of "Points" of all modifications approached three hundred. In 1993, these tactical missile systems were shown to the foreign public, and this demonstration looked like real combat work. During the very first exhibition of weapons and military equipment IDEX (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Russian rocket launchers conducted five launches of missiles of the Tochka-U complex and hit conditional targets with a maximum deviation of no more than 45-50 meters.

Later, during the first war in Chechnya, a certain number of “Points” were actively used in shelling militant positions. Missile systems of this type also operated during the second Chechen war, in 1999 and 2000. According to various sources, at least one and a half hundred rockets with high-explosive fragmentation warheads were used up during the two Caucasian conflicts. There is no confirmed information on the use of cluster warheads and warheads of other types. The last combat use of the Tochka family complexes at the moment refers to the “War of the Three Eights” in August 2008. Foreign sources speak of 10-15 missile launches at Georgian positions and facilities.

Deployment of the OTR 9K79 Tochka-U division in South Ossetia, August 10, 2008 (http://www.militaryphotos.net)

In addition to Russia, other countries, primarily the former Soviet republics, have Tochka missile systems. A certain number of self-propelled launchers, auxiliary equipment and missiles remained in Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In addition, some of these countries bought or sold the remaining "Points", including to each other. Outside the former USSR, Tochka missile systems are owned by Bulgaria (from a few units to several dozen), Hungary, Iraq, North Korea and some other countries. There is an opinion that the designers of the DPRK carefully studied the supplied Tochka complexes and, on their basis, created their own KN-2 Toska (“Viper”) missile system.

Currently, the Russian armed forces have no more than 150 9P129 combat vehicles and its modifications, as well as other equipment of the Tochka, Tochka-R and Tochka-U complexes. Several years ago, with enviable regularity, rumors appeared about the possible start of work on the modernization of missile systems, as a result of which they could significantly increase their combat capabilities. Figured even the name of such modernization - "Tochka-M". However, by the end of the last decade, the leaders of the Ministry of Defense decided to abandon the development of the Tochka complex in favor of the newer and more promising 9K720 Iskander. Thus, the existing complexes of the Tochka family will serve until the expiration of their service life and the exhaustion of the existing stock of missiles. Over time, they will end their service and give way to newer tactical missile systems.

Tochka missile launches are carried out by the 308th separate division of the 465th missile brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces, February 2012 (photo - Ramil Nasibulin, http://vsr.mil.by)

According to the websites:
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/
http://kap-yar.ru/
http://arms-expo.ru/
http://russian-power.rf/
http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-191.html

Literature

Tactical missile system 9K79-1 Tochka-U

The development of the Tochka divisional missile system was launched by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of March 4, 1968. The Tochka complex was intended to destroy point small targets in the depths of the enemy’s defense: ground-based reconnaissance and strike systems, command posts of various branches of the armed forces, aircraft and helicopter parking, reserve groupings of troops, storage of ammunition, fuel and other materiel. The Kolomna Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering was appointed the lead contractor on the topic, and S.P. Invincible. The missile control system was developed at the Central Research Institute AG. The launcher was designed and mass-produced by the Barricades software in Volgograd. Serial production of rockets was carried out by the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant. Chassis for the launcher and transport-loading vehicles were made in Bryansk. The first two launches of Tochka guided missiles were made in 1971 during factory flight design tests. Serial production of the rocket began in 1973, although the complex was officially put into service in 1976. The Tochka complex had a firing range of 15 to 70 km and an average circular deviation of 250 m. In April 1971, the development of the Tochka-R modification began, with a passive homing system for radio-emitting targets (radar, radio stations, etc.). The guidance system provided a target capture range at a distance of at least 15 km. It was assumed that the accuracy of pointing "Point-R" on a continuously operating target does not exceed 45 m, and the affected area is over two hectares. In 1989, the modified 9K79-1 Tochka-U complex was put into service. Its main difference is its long range and accuracy. In the west, the complex received the designation SS-21 "Scarab".

The composition of the 9K79 (9K79-1) missile system (see the gallery of images of the machines of the complex):
Combat means
Missiles:
- 9M79B with a nuclear warhead AA-60 with a capacity of 10 kt
- 9M79B1 with a nuclear warhead of special importance AA-86
- 9M79B2 with nuclear warhead AA-92
- 9M79F with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead of concentrated action 9N123F (9M79-1F)
- 9M79K with cluster warhead 9N123K (9M79-1K)
- 9M79FR with high-explosive fragmentation warhead and passive radar seeker 9N123F-R (9M79-1FR)
The technical divisions are armed with 9T31M1 cranes and 8T311M washing and neutralizing machines and other equipment.

The missile is equipped with the following types of warheads:
AA-60 - nuclear power from 10 to 100kt,
AA-86 - nuclear special importance,
AA-92 - nuclear
9N123F - high-explosive fragmentation concentrated action (see description),
9H123K - cassette (see description),
9N123F-R - high-explosive fragmentation with a passive radar seeker.

The missile warhead does not separate in flight. Docking of the missile and warheads is carried out by 6 hinged bolts with self-locking nuts along the ring connection, the electrical connection between the warhead and the missile part is carried out by a cable through the Sh45 connector. The presence of interchangeable warheads expands the range of application of the complex and expands its effectiveness. Missiles in conventional equipment can be stored in the final assembled form for 10 years. Assembly work with missiles in the troops is not required. When carrying out routine maintenance, it is not required to remove the instruments from the rocket body. In the calculations of the flight task, when pointing the “Point” at the target, digital maps of the area are used, obtained from the results of space or aerial photography of the enemy’s territory.

Testing and operation
During the demonstration of the Tochka-U complex at the IDEX-93 international exhibition, 5 launches were performed, during which the minimum deviation was several meters, and the maximum deviation was less than 50 m. The Tochka-U complex was actively used by federal forces to destroy military facilities in Chechnya. In particular, the complex was used by the 58th Combined Arms Army to strike at militant positions in the Bamut area. A large weapons depot and a fortified terrorist camp were chosen as targets. Their exact location was revealed by means of space reconnaissance.

PERFORMANCE AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE “POINT” MISSILE COMPLEX
Launch weight of the rocket 2000 kg
Head weight 480 kg
Shooting range:
Maximum 120 km
Minimum 15 km
Maximum travel speed:
on the highway 60 km/h
on dirt roads 40 km/h
off-road 15 km/h
afloat 10 km/h
Power reserve 650 km
Calculation 4 people.

He began to enter the troops in 1989.

The production of missiles was carried out at the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant (according to other sources, at the Petropavlovsk Heavy Machine-Building Plant, Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan), the production of special chassis for launchers (PU) BAZ-5921 and transport-loading vehicles (BAZ-5922) - at Bryansk plant of special automotive industry, the assembly of launchers was carried out at the software "Barricades". The enterprises of the entire Soviet Union were involved in the production cycle of the components of the missile complex.

Organizationally, the complex can be represented as part of a brigade, which includes 2-3 divisions. Each missile division has 2-3 launch batteries with 2-3 launchers in each battery. Thus, in the composition of one brigade there can be from 8 to 27 launchers.

Rocket

The rocket of the "Tochka" ("Tochka-U") complex is a single-stage solid-propellant ballistic missile controlled throughout the flight, consisting of a 9M79 (9M79M, 9M79-1) rocket part with an X-shaped arrangement of rudders and wings and from a warhead that cannot be separated in flight parts (MS). The missile and warhead are joined by six hinged bolts, and the electrical connection between the warhead and the RF is organized through a cable. A wide range of interchangeable warheads expands the range of tasks solved by the complex and increases its effectiveness in specific application conditions. Completely assembled missiles in conventional (non-nuclear) equipment can be stored for 10 years. The missiles are delivered to the troops in assembled form; when carrying out their maintenance, it is not required to remove the instruments from the missile.

Missile part

The missile part (RF) performs the function of delivering the warhead to the target and consists of the RF body, including the instrument, engine, tail compartments, aerodynamic surfaces and two cable shafts, as well as the propulsion system (PS) and onboard control system devices (BSU). The body of the instrument compartment (OS) is located in the front of the RF, hermetically sealed with a lid and is a cylindrical shell with stiffeners, made of aluminum alloy. On the front frame of the software there are elements for attaching the warhead, and in the lower part of the software there is a transport yoke and a detachable electrical connector through which the onboard control devices are connected to the ground equipment of the launcher (PU). Optical communication between the SPU aiming system (or AKIM 9V819 devices) and the missile's BSU is provided by a porthole on the right side of the software.

The remote control housing is located in the middle part of the RF and is a cylindrical structure made of high-strength steel with 3 frames: front, middle, rear. Transport yokes are attached to the upper part of the front and rear frames, and launch yokes are welded to their lower part. 4 wing mounting units are fixed on the middle frame.

The tail section (XO) is conical in shape, has longitudinal stiffeners, is made of aluminum alloy and is a fairing for the PS nozzle block. Also in the CW body there is a turbogenerator power supply together with the executive bodies of the control system, and on the back of the CW body there are 4 attachment points for lattice aerodynamic and gas-jet rudders. At the bottom of the CW there is a descent sensor. On the upper part of the hull there are two hatches for carrying out routine maintenance with the missile, and in the lower part of the CW there are two holes for the exit of gases from a working turbogenerator power source (TGPS).

The X-shaped plumage of the rocket includes 4 fixed wings (folding in pairs in the transport position), 4 aerodynamic and 4 gas-jet rudders.

Propulsion system

A single-mode solid-propellant rocket engine is a combustion chamber with a nozzle block and a fuel charge and an ignition system placed in it. The combustion chamber consists of an ellipsoidal front bottom, a rear bottom with a nozzle block and a cylindrical body made of high-alloy steel. The inner side of the remote control case is covered with a layer of heat-shielding coating. The nozzle block consists of a housing and a composite nozzle; until the moment of launch, the nozzle of the remote control is closed by a sealing plate. Materials used in the nozzle block: titanium alloy (body), pressed materials such as graphite-silicon (inlet and outlet from the nozzle), siliconized graphite and tungsten (liners in the critical section of the nozzle and the inner surface of the liner, respectively).

The fuel charge ignition system installed on the front bottom of the combustion chamber includes two 15X226 squibs and a 9X249 igniter. The igniter is a body, inside of which are placed tablets of pyrotechnic composition and smoky rocket powder. When triggered, the squibs ignite the igniter, which, in turn, ignites the 9X151 fuel charge.

The fuel charge 9X151 is made of mixed solid fuel type DAP-15V(oxidizer - ammonium perchlorate, binder - rubber, fuel - aluminum powder), is a cylindrical monoblock, the main part of the outer surface of which is covered with armor. During engine operation, the charge burns both on the surface of the internal channel, and on the front and rear ends with annular grooves, and on the unarmored outer surface, which makes it possible to provide an almost constant burning area during the entire operation of the remote control. In the combustion chamber, the charge is fixed with the help of an attachment point (made of rubber-coated textolite and a metal ring), sandwiched on one side between the frame of the rear bottom and the remote control housing, and on the other side attached to the annular groove of the charge. This design of the attachment assembly prevents the flow of gases into the tail section, while at the same time allowing the formation of a relatively cold stagnant zone in the annular gap (between the charge and the body), which prevents the combustion chamber walls from burning out and at the same time compensates for the internal pressure on the fuel charge.

Onboard control system

• Launchers MLRS - 2 9M79K, or 4 9M79F
• Lance missile battery - 2 9M79K, or 4 9M79F
• Battery of self-propelled guns or towed guns - 1 9M79K, or 2 9M79F
• Helicopters on landing sites - 1 9M79K, or 2 9M79F
• Ammunition depots - 1 9M79K, or 3 9M79F
• The defeat of manpower, unarmored vehicles, aircraft in the parking lot, etc.
  • On an area of ​​40 hectares - 2 9M79K, or 4 9M79F
  • On an area of ​​60 hectares - 3 9M79K, or 6 9M79F
  • On an area of ​​100 hectares - 4 9M79K, or 8 9M79F

Combat use

Fighting in Chechnya

The Tochka-U complex was used by the 58th Combined Arms Army to destroy military facilities in Chechnya during the first and second Chechen wars. Targets were previously identified by means of space reconnaissance. In particular, the complex was used to strike at a large weapons depot and a fortified terrorist camp in the Bamut area, in a special operation in the village of Komsomolskoye in March 2000:

Another attempt to leave the village - at the junction of the positions of the 503rd regiment and the unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - was thwarted thanks to the use of the Tochka-U operational-tactical missile. The zone of continuous destruction occupied an area of ​​​​about 300 by 150 meters. The rocket men worked filigree - the blow fell exactly on the bandits, without affecting their own.

South Ossetia (2008)

The complexes were used by the Russian army during the fighting in South Ossetia on August 8-12, 2008.

Ukraine (2014-2017)

It was used by the Ukrainian army in the armed conflict in the east of the country, in particular during the battles for Saur-Mohyla

Invasion of Yemen (2015)

Incidents

Ukraine (2000)

On April 20, 2000, a rocket was launched from the Goncharovsky training ground, located 130 km north of Kyiv, which, after launch, deviated from the course and at 15:07 hit a residential building in the city of Brovary, breaking through the building from the ninth to the second floor . 3 people were killed and 3 injured. Fortunately, the rocket was equipped with an inert warhead, otherwise there could have been much more victims. The failure of the missile's control system was named as the cause of the tragic incident by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Operators

• Azerbaijan Azerbaijan- about 4 9M79 missiles, the number of launchers is unknown, as of 2013
• Armenia Armenia- from 6 units as of 2011
• Belarus Belarus- 12 units as of 2016
• Yemen Yemen- 10 units as of 2013
• Kazakhstan Kazakhstan- 45 units of 9K79 as of 2013
• North Korea North Korea- local copy of KN-02 Toksa, launcher based on MAZ-63171.
• Russia Russia- about 300 units as of 2016
• Syria Syria- more than 18 units as of 2013)
• Ukraine Ukraine- 90 units as of 2013
• NKR NKR- Several units as of 2016

Withdrawn from service

Notes

Footnotes

Sources

1. Lensky A. G., Tsybin M. M. Soviet ground forces in the last year of the USSR. Directory. - St. Petersburg. : V&K, 2001. - S. 266. - 294 p. - ISBN 5-93414-063-9.
2. http://zato-znamensk.narod.ru/History.htm
3. V. Shesterikov. Roses and rockets // Niva. - Astana: Niva, 2007. - Issue. 4 . - pp. 155-161. The volume is 1.5 MB.
4. DIMMI. 9К79 Point - SS-21 SCARAB (indefinite) . Domestic military equipment (after 1945) (05/11/2010 00:38:00). Date of treatment June 14, 2010. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012.

On July 29, 2014, the American information channel CNN informed the whole world that the Tochka-U ballistic missile, launched during the hostilities conducted by Ukraine, was not supposed to cross the state border. At least that was the meaning of the cryptic message. Why could there be an assumption that the launch target could be an object on the territory of another country? Which one? And if the target was located in Ukraine, why use ballistic missiles to destroy it? Lots of questions...

Be that as it may, it was precisely because of these events that the public became interested in the Tochka-U tactical complex.

diplomatic incident

One of the main questions was how likely a mistake was made when aiming a missile at a target? To answer it, you need to understand the device of this type of weapon.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine immediately declared their non-involvement, immediately naming three reasons why it was impossible to do this. First, there are no ballistic missiles in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Secondly, they didn't get anywhere. And thirdly, the Ukrainian army did not use them. Then, at the initiative of the US State Department, a meeting of its representatives with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov took place, at which the latter was once again assured that the blow was not delivered on the territory of the Russian Federation. It was formally exhausted, although the Tochka-U missile, which, by the way, is in service with the Ukrainian army, quite fits the definition of the mysterious “ultra-precision weapon” that Prime Minister Yatsenyuk tried to scare the leadership of the DPR and LPR with. At least, obviously, it does not have anything more accurate than the APU.

Really didn't get anywhere. But that doesn't mean there wasn't an attempt. Military experts are making various bold assumptions, finding certain parallels between the successful repulsion of an Israeli missile attack by Syrian missile defense systems and this incident. The most plausible version seems to many, according to which four Ukrainian Tochka-U missiles were shot down by Russian defense systems. There is no documentary evidence for this, but some well-known facts suggest such an idea.

So what kind of missile is this and where did Ukraine get it from? When and where were they made? How old are the newest designs? What are the characteristics of this type of weapon? How should they be used and why were they created? What ammunition can it carry? Who can manage this complex?

This article will answer these and other questions clearly and without unnecessary details.

Tactical Missiles and Changing the Military Concept

All nuclear forces fall into two main categories. Strategic missiles, submarine nuclear fleet and carry charges that serve to inflict maximum, detrimental damage to the economy of the enemy country in the event of a global conflict. But there are also less powerful means that solve the problems of front-line confrontation - they are called tactical. For these purposes, in 1965, Soviet engineers from the Fakel Design Bureau created the Tochka rocket. She had good performance, but by the end of the sixties they no longer met the requirements of the military. When using nuclear charges, accuracy did not matter much, but at that time there were changes in foreign policy life that affected the nature of the defense doctrine. The strategic forces were assigned the role of global containment and guarantor of the territorial integrity of the countries of the socialist camp, but the number of local conflicts increased. The idea of ​​using special charges during the Vietnam or Middle East wars may have visited someone's hotheads, but, fortunately, to no avail. The role of conventional ammunition has increased, therefore, it was necessary to seriously improve the accuracy of hitting the target. And at the same time increase the range. The case was entrusted to the Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering. A secret institution with a modest name was led by S.P. Invincible. Surname speaking.

New rocket

The design documentation for the previous one was transferred to KBM from the Fakel Design Bureau. These materials turned out to be a very important component of the work, they saved a lot of time and effort. Many components, assemblies and systems have been preserved, for which the Tochka rocket served as a kind. The new model has other rudders, including gas-jet ones, the destabilizer has been eliminated, control and guidance technologies have been changed. As a result of the hard work of engineers during 1968-1971, serious improvements in performance were achieved, apogee and perigee increased. And - most importantly - hitting the target has become more accurate. The tests were carried out at the Kapustin Yar cosmodrome, and in 1973 the State Commission adopted the project. Production has begun. Prototypes were made at the Volgograd plant "Barricades" (launch and control systems) and (the missiles themselves). The system went into series at the heavy engineering plant in Petropavlovsk. In addition, orders for components were placed at various enterprises of the defense complex throughout the country. The official adoption took place in 1975, they were equipped with ground forces at the divisional level.

Further modernization of the complex took place in the mid-eighties. Various climatic operating conditions were also taken into account, for which additional tests were carried out in Transbaikalia and Central Asia.

The tactical missile "Tochka-U" (that was the new name of this weapon) was built in the city of Votkinsk.

Tochka-R and new guidance systems

The first test launches began in 1971, they were carried out by factory specialists. Within two years, fine-tuning and final determination of the compliance of the received data with the state order was carried out. Characteristics quite arranged a high commission. The deviation from the set target did not exceed 250 meters with a minimum range of 15 kilometers and a maximum range of up to 70.

Target designation systems have also been improved. "Point-R" could use a passive head to aim at the radiation of radio stations and locators, which expanded the range of its application and made it possible to use this weapon to suppress the enemy's air defense or disorientate the command and control systems and communications of a potential enemy. With an area of ​​destruction of two hectares, the accuracy increased - now it was 45 meters.

These were very good numbers.

Purpose

The tactical use of weapons implies the possibility of delivering strikes against small targets, by which the military understands small and large airfields, headquarters, communications centers, warehouses, storage facilities, railway stations, ports and other infrastructure that acquire military significance in a special period.

At the same time, the dimensions of such a target cannot be called miniature. There is no question of a ballistic missile (even a small one) hitting a separate building, ship, plane, helicopter or railway car. The blow is applied over the area, for which a whole arsenal of various combat charging warheads has been developed.

At the time when the Tochka-U missile entered service with the Soviet Army, citizens of the USSR learned about international terrorism mainly from the Vremya program, and even then only when they broadcast about the situation in Ulster. The events of recent decades have shown that this tactical tool can also be useful in the fight against bandit formations, in particular, for the destruction of militant bases and their training camps. But in no case was it supposed to use Tochka-U missiles for firing at residential areas of cities or villages. No matter how high the accuracy, it is impossible to achieve selective destruction of armed groups of people surrounded by civilians.

By land and water

By itself, a rocket cannot be launched from a launcher. The system is mobile, it is a convoy of several vehicles, the number of which varies depending on the task. First, we need a launcher that directly launches the Tochka-U missile. But the complex was not created for the sake of a single shot! The PU is followed by a convoy consisting of charging and transporting vehicles, a mobile control and testing station and a maintenance workshop. Missiles are transported in special containers designed for the safe transportation of ammunition. The charging machine is equipped with loading and unloading equipment. Equipment and instruments are designed to monitor the health of systems and units. Almost everything is provided in case of emergency situations.

A fuel tanker is needed only if you have to march over long distances (more than 650 km - this is the power reserve). The rocket is refueled at the factory, it has a solid propellant engine.

The complex can move almost on any terrain, even on water. The speed of movement on a good road is up to 60 km / h, on a dirt road - up to 40 km / h, on rough terrain - 15 km / h. When using jet engines, cars will overcome a water barrier at a speed of 8 km / h. Motor resource of vehicles is 15 thousand kilometers.

Special charges

Tochka-U is a ballistic missile. Although its characteristics are more modest than those of strategic monsters, they are quite sufficient to consider it a possible carrier of special charges. Under this term, the military understand the means of mass destruction, nuclear and chemical. To strike at the enemy with them, you need an appropriate warhead, which is also called a combat charging compartment. The Tochka-U tactical missile can be equipped with nuclear charges, depending on the required explosion power. So, the head part of 9H39 has up to one hundred kilotons, and 9H64 - up to two hundred.

When using nuclear special charges that the Tochka-U missile can be equipped with, the radius of destruction (solid), measured from the epicenter, will be over one and a half kilometers.

For conducting tactical chemical warfare, 9N123G and 9N123G2-1 warheads are provided, containing 65 sub-elements of OM in the amount of 60.5 and 50.5 kg, respectively ("Soman").

conventional ammunition

The nomenclature of blasting ammunition is presented more widely. The 9N123F high-explosive fragmentation warhead detonates 162 kg of TNT, scattering almost fifteen thousand fragments. For the greatest effect, the final maneuver performed by the Tochka-U rocket is important. The affected area of ​​up to three hectares is provided by the detonation of the charge at a height of 20 meters after turning from the ballistic trajectory into the mode of an almost sheer fall. The axis of the fragmentation cone has been shifted to expand the firing sector.

The 9N123K cassette warhead contains fifty elements (each weighing about eight kilograms) filled with striking elements with a total number close to 16 thousand. Each of the cassettes is an analogue of a conventional anti-personnel grenade, only larger. The ammunition destroys unprotected objects on an area of ​​up to seven hectares.

It is also possible to use the Tochka-U rocket to scatter propaganda literature.

Tactical and technical details

If the target is beyond the horizon, then the parameters will be somewhat different. The greatest height (apogee) will decrease significantly. In 2 minutes 16 seconds, the missile will cover 120 km - this is the maximum range of the Tochka-U missile.

Deployment efficiency is also important for successful firing. A well-trained launcher crew, consisting of four people, is able to transfer the complex from a transport to a combat state in 16 minutes, this is the standard. If the need to start is known in advance, then just two minutes after the start command is given, it will be carried out. A warhead weighing almost half a ton will fly to the target. The speed of the Tochka-U rocket reaches one kilometer per second,

Each type of armament is designed to solve a certain range of tasks, which, depending on the specific conditions, can be more or less wide. A weapon is a kind of tool, in some cases it must be very powerful and rough, and in other situations it is better to use something more subtle and delicate. Tactical ballistic ammunition, despite the high accuracy of targeting, cannot provide a clear selectivity of destruction, therefore, as a rule, they are not used in densely populated areas.

Practical tactical application

The Tochka-U missile, with a target destruction radius of no more than 120 kilometers, is perfect for destroying terrorist camps and bases located in the mountains or the desert. During the first campaign in Chechnya, it was used for its intended purpose, as General G. N. Troshev wrote about in his memoirs (the book was called "The Chechen Break"). Features of the tactics of using this ammunition require the command to have reliable information and accurate coordinates of the target. Such information in our time can be provided by space reconnaissance (in the case of suitable weather over the theater of operations and the absence of clouds obscuring the firing zone). It is also possible to use other sources if they are obtained from qualified agents with experience in working with topographic maps.

March 2000, the vicinity of the village of Komsomolskoye... It is known that there is a militant camp in this area. The object is well fortified, the level of fortification is such that large losses of personnel are inevitable when trying to storm. Nearby is a settlement, which, of course, cannot be destroyed. The explosion of the Tochka-U rocket covered the defensive area, and the powerful bandit formation ceased to exist, without entering the battle, for which it was so carefully prepared. Tactical missilemen solved similar tasks in other sectors of the front, minimizing losses and achieving impressive successes, an important part of which was excellent calculation skills.

The crews of the Russian divisions showed the same high qualification during the events of 2008 in South Ossetia. The Syrian military personnel are doing a good job with such tasks, suppressing the anti-government rebellion. Their targets are usually terrorist bases in the desert.

Ukraine cannot boast of such accuracy. The Tochka-U missiles, inherited by this country from the USSR, may have already exhausted their shelf life (it is ten years). In 2000, during exercises at the Goncharovsky test site, a launch was carried out, as a result of which three residents of Brovary (Kyiv region) were killed and five were injured. The warhead used was training, without a charge, otherwise there could have been a lot of victims.

Maintenance of the complex

The control equipment of the Tochka complex is rather complicated. Obtaining the necessary qualifications takes several months, and at the same time, even in the case of the most favorable circumstances (not exhausted storage period, skillful calculation and the absence of active opposition from the enemy), there is no full guarantee of a hit from the first launch. The Tochka-U missile is not an ultra-precise weapon. Experts say that the best result can be achieved with the release of four projectiles, one of which with a high degree of probability at the end of the ballistic trajectory will be within a radius measured tens of meters from the target. It should also be taken into account that the standards have changed since the development of this complex. The use of "Point" to fight rebel militias operating near populated areas is not only pointless, but also criminal, especially given the low qualification of rocket crews.

Although NATO today is concerned about the capabilities of the Russian Iskander missile, the much more primitive Tochka missile, or SS-21 Scarab in NATO classification, has claimed hundreds of lives over the past year in the arsenal of Yemeni rebels, as well as government forces in Syria and Ukraine .

Tactical ballistic missiles are for commanders a means of delivering high-precision strikes against enemy targets, command posts, troop concentrations, warehouses and airfields located behind the front line. At the same time, they do not need control in the airspace over targets. They can also be used as a delivery vehicle for a nuclear weapon or a chemical agent.

The United States and its allies do not use such systems on a large scale, because they carry out such strikes by air. But as the experience of fighting in Yemen and Ukraine shows, these mobile weapons can cause serious damage, even if they are used by a poorly armed rebel army.

Advanced Cold War missile.

Tochka replaced the 9K52 Luna-M missile, which NATO calls FROG-7. Luna was a Cold War icon, and the first versions of it featured in the Cuban Missile Crisis. But its disadvantage was the inaccuracy of the hit. The circular error probable deviation, or radius around the target, within which half of the missiles fall, averaged from 500 to 700 meters. In other words, if you hit a large building with a rocket, you could consider yourself lucky. Its range was only 70 kilometers, and therefore the launchers had to be deployed near the front line in order to strike at targets behind enemy lines.

The 9K79 Tochka missile, which entered service in 1975, is smaller and more efficient in design. If the Luna-M complex carried out launches of unguided rockets, then Tochka has an onboard inertial control system that corrects the rocket's flight path using internal gyroscopes and motion sensors. The rocket of the Tochka complex in 50% of cases falls within a radius of 150 meters from the target. By modern standards, this is not very “accurate”, but such an indicator is much better than that of Luna-M. But the range of the "Point" remained the same - 70 kilometers.

In 1989, the Tochka-U tactical missile system entered service. By improving the components of rocket fuel, its range was increased to 120 kilometers; and the combination of a global positioning system and a guidance radar in the final section of the trajectory helped to reduce the circular probable deviation up to 90 meters. Later versions of Tochka can be launched in cruise missile mode (presumably at low altitude), making them stealthy and more accurate at the cost of reduced range and speed.

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It is believed that an even more effective Tochka-M missile with a range of 170 kilometers and a circular probable deviation of 70 meters was developed and tested in Russia. But this complex was abandoned, preferring the more powerful Iskander system.

"Point" is transported by a long three-axle self-propelled launcher 9P129. The complex is highly mobile: 9P129 can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour, move over rough terrain and overcome water obstacles. It can also operate in areas with radioactive, chemical and biological contamination. It takes 15 minutes to bring the Tochka into combat position for launch, and it takes 20 minutes to install a new missile. The ZIL-131 truck, which is part of the complex, carries additional missiles on a trailer and has a loading system.

As for the combat charge, the explosive weight of the high-explosive fragmentation warhead is 120 kilograms. The rocket can also be equipped with a cluster warhead containing 50 fragmentation warheads with a radius of destruction of 200 meters. The cassette warhead can even include anti-tank and anti-aerodrome warheads. In addition, the missile can deliver an AA-60 tactical nuclear charge with a yield of 10 to 60 kilotons and chemical warheads to the target.

There are also more exotic options. A warhead with an electromagnetic pulse explodes in the air and disables electronics. There are even guided anti-radar missiles that are guided by radar radiation.

Russian "Points" operate as part of brigades of 18 launchers. Each launcher has 2-3 missiles. According to available information, the Russian army is armed with 200 to 300 Tochka systems and about the same number of nuclear warheads for them. This arsenal will eventually be replaced by a more accurate Iskander-M complex, which has a greater range.

The Curse of the Saudi Coalition

Unlike most ballistic missiles, which are never used, Tochka has caused numerous deaths and destruction around the world.

For the first time, Tochka was used in combat during the 1994 civil war between the forces of northern and southern Yemen. The northerners fired these missiles at the Saudi-backed southerners, who ultimately lost. The Yemeni Joint Armed Forces retained these missiles, but in 2014 their crews defected to the Houthi rebels.

The "points" of the Yemeni Republican Guard caused impressive damage within a few months. Rocket launches were carried out on the bases of the coalition led by Saudi Arabia, which is at war with the Houthis. Here are the most dramatic incidents:

On September 4, 2015, a Tochka missile hit a Saudi base in Marib, killing 73 coalition troops (mostly from the United Arab Emirates), dozens of Yemenis and dozens of military equipment, including a Leclerc tank. On December 14 of the same year, as a result of a missile attack on a base in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, more than 100 coalition troops were killed, including the commander of the Saudi special forces. A month later, Tochka attacked the Al-Anad air base, destroying the unmanned aircraft control system and more than 100 military personnel, including some of the recently arrived Sudanese mercenaries.

These devastating strikes are being carried out in spite of active Saudi countermeasures. With the help of Patriot missile systems belonging to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it was possible to shoot down more than two dozen ballistic missiles, mainly Tochka. With some success, air strikes are also carried out on the launching positions of the "Points", as soon as they reveal themselves, having launched. But this rocket rain has not yet been stopped. Last month, the media reported the interception of three missiles by Patriots and the destruction of one launcher. Three more rockets hit targets in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, killing eight people and injuring nine.

© RIA Novosti, Igor Zarembo

The losses of the coalition in Yemen are, frankly, astounding. Despite air supremacy, modern air defense systems and firepower that far exceeds everything that the enemy has, the coalition suffers heavy losses from these missiles, numbering in the hundreds of people. This suggests that the "Point" is a dangerous weapon, and also that the coalition has not been able to take adequate measures to counter this weapon to reduce losses.

As for other countries in the Middle East, Syrian government forces are launching Tochka missiles at rebel positions in Aleppo, Marea and eastern Damascus. The first reports were confirmed in 2013, and this complex is still actively used. One Russian media report says that a Tochka missile hit a conference involving two opposing rebel factions.

Grozny and other incidents

During the Russian campaign to seize the Chechen separatist capital of Grozny, more than 60 ballistic missiles, mostly Tochka, were fired at the city. In one infamous incident, two rockets (presumably Tochka) fell on the Grozny open market, and a rain of projectiles rained down on Chechens who were buying food at the market. Approximately 140 people died as a result, mostly civilians. The market also sold weapons, but this part of it was far from the center of the explosion.

Although fragments of submunitions of the cluster warhead were found on the market after the missile attack, and American radars detected these missile launches, the Russian government (this was under President Boris Yeltsin) claimed that the explosion was the result of a conflict between unbridled criminal gangs. Later, Russian leaders unofficially admitted that the missile attack was authorized from above in order to destroy the arms market.

Russia then launched 23 Tochka missiles during the 2008 war with Georgia, three of them from the city of Ochamchira. They hit Poti, Gori, Racha and Vaziani with cluster warheads, but did not cause much damage. True, there were reports that the missiles hit Georgian planes on the ground.

Ukraine has 90 Tochka missile systems and they took part in the fighting against pro-Russian separatists in 2014 and 2015. Presumably, many Ukrainian missiles failed to fly, although some of them caused serious damage. The rebels claim to have shot down one such missile this year, though most analysts say that is unlikely.

It is believed that the Ukrainian "Tochka" in February 2015 caused a powerful explosion, hitting a chemical plant in Donetsk. As a result of the explosion, glass flew out in the houses at a distance of several kilometers. At first, some experts mistakenly believed that it was an explosion of a tactical nuclear munition from the Tyulpan mortar.

There are Tochka missiles in other countries as well. A locally produced version of the Tochka called the KN-2 Toksa is believed to be in service in North Korea. Small quantities of these missiles are in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and they are supposedly ready for use in the decades-long conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. There are 36 Tochka systems in Belarus, 18 in Bulgaria. An unknown number of such missiles are in service in Kazakhstan.

The combat successes of Tochka show that even a short-range Cold War tactical ballistic missile is capable of inflicting significant damage, including during a conflict with an enemy with air superiority and modern air defense systems.

Sebastien Roblin holds a master's degree in conflict resolution from Georgetown University. He worked as an instructor for the Peace Corps in China. He currently publishes articles on security and military history on the War is Boring website.