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The ballistic missile system is known as “Tochka” (GRAU index 9K79, according to the INF Treaty – OTR-21 – NATO designation SS-21 Scarab,) was developed by the Kolomna Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau, under the direction of Sergey Pavlovich Nepobedimy, for the Soviet Union in the late 1980s.
From 1970 through 1975, state tests of the missile system 9K79 “Tochka” were conducted in the Soviet Union. Despite the fact that mass production of missiles began in 1973, the Soviet Army only officially accepted the system in 1975.
The most significant development of the missile at that time was the “Tochka-R,” which was equipped with a passive radar homing head that entered service in 1983 paving the way for the “Tochka-U” that recently show again combat action.
More specifically, from 1986 to 1988, the RK 9K79-1 “Tochka-U” (NATO designation – Scarab B) was subjected to military tests with an enhanced firing range of up to 120 kilometers and officially entered military status in 1989, at a time when the Soviet Union was collapsing.
Tochka missiles were manufactured at the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant, special chassis for launchers BAZ-5921 and transport-loading machines BAZ-5922 were manufactured at the Bryansk Automobile Plant where the final assembly of the launchers was completed.
It was necessary to involve many military factories across the Soviet Union to help in the production cycle of the missile complex’s various components.
What is the maximum range and speed of the Tochka-U missile:
The first time that Tochka missile systems were used in battle:
In addition to their deployment in the counter-terrorist campaign in the North Caucasus, the complexes were also utilized in the military war in South Ossetia.
Use of Tochka-U systems in Syria:
Use of Tochka-U missiles in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict:
Use of Tochka-U missile systems in Ukraine:
Tactical missile weapons were actively used in the battles for Saur-Mogila according to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Viktor Muzhenko.
Viktor Muzhenko went on at that time and said:
“In July and August 2014, due to the inaccessibility of enemy facilities to be destroyed by other means of firepower during the battles for Saur-Mogila, the 19th rocket brigade performed tasks for general, and sometimes direct, fire support for the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
During the course of the missions, up to 20 group and single missile strikes were carried out, using anywhere from one to four Tochka launchers.
The most recent unconfirmed for now, use of Tochka-U missiles against Ukrainian civilians was reported on April 8, 2022, at the train station in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, according to media reports was launched by Russian Forces.
Read also: T-72 | The History of the most commonly deployed main battle tank – GEOPOLITIKI
