.

In the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the complex is in service with a single unit: 19 RBR (missile brigade), military unit A4239, Khmelnitsky. It is armed with up to 12 launchers, divided into either three or four missile divisions. The exact number of “live”, combat-ready missiles is unknown, if only because all of them are already overdue for at least 10 years, and factory life extension is not available for Ukraine. I believe that even the Ukrainian generals themselves do not know the exact quantity and prefer to use products with the least age. According to some reports, in 2014, the total number was about 300 units.

It is reliably known about two areas of the launching firing positions (OP) of the complex: Kramatorsk airfield, Logvinovo-Kalinovka (they moved there in late August - early September 2014 in order to “reach” Ilovaisk and the surrounding area).

List of launches

I will allow myself to show some methodological voluntarism and will not follow a strict chronology of launches (especially since for the most part this is impossible to do), but first I will focus on launches that are important for analysis.

Parts of the rocket that gave rise to one of the most memetic images associated with the war in Donbass

Thanks to conscientious citizens, determining the location of the fall will not be a problem (caption on the picture: “Beloyarovka”).

Let's try to tie it using landmarks on the ground. I will not “tie” the reference in detail (i.e. show in which part of the region/region it is located, where is north-south, what are the nearest cities/towns) - below in each case the coordinates of the impact sites will be given, everyone can verify correctness of bindings, or, on the contrary, criticize them.

Easy. Let's take a closer look at the engine compartment [in fact, there is the engine plus the steering compartment, sometimes there is also an instrument compartment, but for brevity I will call all these remains the “engine compartment” in the future] more closely against a more contrasting background:

Nothing special. A stick that you fly past and won’t notice, mistaking it for noise (yes, it won’t be easy to look for them in Google Earth...).

But the most piquant detail is this. As is known, the cluster warhead of the complex carries exactly 50 9N24 submunitions.

And you can watch them all:

What a beauty! A clear field, ideal for counting and evaluation. It reveals 45+ craters from these same combat elements (a certain percentage of undetonated submunitions is a common thing for any cluster weapon, especially for a 20-year-old over 20 year old, as in in this case). They are distributed in a circle with a diameter of approximately 300 m.

Note that the engine compartment, having separated at an altitude of 2.2 km, fell 400 meters west of the center of the affected area. Moreover, the rocket was flying from north to south. Those. the compartment moved to the right in the direction of fire. Did this happen due to random factors or is this a deviation characteristic of all missiles? The question hung in the air.

Here a fair question may arise: “What makes you think that this “point” was left behind? Yes, these are just craters from the Hail!” Fair. Let's take a closer look at the tracks.

Their characteristic feature is their shape - a regular circle. Unlike cannon (and most rocket artillery) projectiles, 9N24 submunitions, due to a fabric stabilizing device, land vertically. And the area affected by fragments is equally directed in all directions, as a result of which a trace in the form of a regular circle can be observed. Whereas fragmentation shells from artillery systems flying at an angle leave a characteristic fan.

These features will be useful for verifying other launches of the complex.

Yes, by the way, the craters in the proof above were taken from a neighboring field. Because looking at it, you can see the same picture - circles inscribed in a circle with a diameter of ~300 meters. Here, however, it is impossible to accurately calculate the number of combat elements (the bushes and the Krynka River get in the way), but the distribution density is similar.

Similarly, ~400 m to the west there is a certain object a couple of meters long, looking like a stick against a contrasting background (although one can argue here).

In short, I think these are traces of another "Point". This is logical; in the video of the complex’s launches one can usually observe the operation of a pair of launchers:

Taking this assumption into account, the picture emerges like this:

So what can we say about the combat effectiveness of the means used?

I think I’m not lying if I say that it doesn’t even strive, but is simply EQUAL to zero. They put it in milk, as they say. No damage was caused, they didn’t even hit civilian houses (which the Ukrainian Armed Forces do best), but from the point of view of propaganda, the benefit is clearly negative.

Launch results

Missile type: 9M79M, n.d.

b/n:Ш89466, n.d.

MS type: both cassette

n.p.: Beloyarovka

Coordinates: 47.7989949, 38.571732; 47.8027531, 38.5639268

Efficiency: bottom

From the table you can see that if at the beginning mainly 9M79M missiles were used, then from some point on most of the launches were more “fresh” 9M79-1. Is this related to the explosion during the launch of the 9M79M rocket on August 24? It may very well be.

Hm. "Dot"? On the calendar, let me remind you, August 26, i.e. The winds have been blowing for two days. So what happens, the north crushed the Ukrainian artillery with Tochka-U? The Kremlin dwarf raised his nuclear club against the peacefully-children demonstrators from the 26th separate artillery brigade? #ForTheHague ?

The fact is that upon careful examination you can see that the fuel compartment is located in the ground backwards (the direction of the stabilizers). In addition, the compartments do not stick into the ground (you and I know well what they look like on the ground - read the sheet above). And there’s clearly something “wrong” with the compartment itself:

And the casket simply opens, just rewind the satellite image one day back:

This is nothing more than a 9P129 launcher. Dejected, from a famous video

An astute reader can compare the characteristic landmarks himself.

Note the unnaturally acid-colored particles on the field - traces of aluminum oxidized by ammonium perchlorate (burnt rocket fuel).

Yes, it is better not to eat bread from these fields now. Although, what kind of bread is there, this is where the line of contact passes at the moment.

And it turned out to be not a crater at all, but earth dug up with shovels.

In general, these are the same starting positions of the complex mentioned at the beginning of the article.

A serviceman of the 19th RBR, who directly observed the explosion, confirmed both these guesses and the fact that the launcher was lost (it was not repaired and went for spare parts):

Total:

• The vast majority of missiles are found on the map.


• Traces of previously unknown impacts were found (analytically calculated).


• The topographical patterns of the impacts left by the complex were revealed (in the version of the cluster warhead, the missile unit falls 400 meters from the center of the affected area, the affected area has a diameter of 300-350 meters, and has characteristic craters).

Facts show that the combat effectiveness of the complex in the hands of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is low. An individual case of successful application does not affect the overall picture.

Inept peasant propaganda has inflated this weapon in the eyes of the pots to the scale of a wunderwaffe, capable, if necessary, of “punching the aggressor in the teeth” and other nonsense. However, this is the same type of weapon whose effectiveness is directly proportional to the level of combat training of the crew (of course, this is inherent in any type of weapon, but here it is especially acute). But, since Ukraine does not have the ability to either produce or capitalize the missiles of the complex (and is not expected to do so in the near future), the possibilities for improving the quality of combat training through firing exercises will be extremely limited (if not reduced to zero, to save scarce missiles). This means that during the next serious aggravation, the missilemen from the 19th RBR will again take up the old routine and most likely will not be able to issue anything other than launching missiles at the residential sectors of cities.

Unless, of course, by that time this problem will not disappear by itself due to the emergence of anti-aircraft missile systems in the armed forces of the DPR/LPR capable of dealing with these missiles. Mine based;)

Well, while the RF IC is procedurally consolidating the evidence on the use of the complex (I hope that the materials, or part of them, will be made publicly available, since interesting details are mentioned there), we can say what was not possible to do:

• It was not possible to find clear classification features that would allow us to recognize the use of missiles with a high-explosive warhead. At the moment, it is impossible to even say for sure whether high-explosive warheads were used at all. Those. an attempt to determine the type of warhead from missile debris and satellite images was unsuccessful. Only a cassette warhead is reliably determined when 45-50 craters are clearly visible in the images.


• No clear logic was found for the direction of deflection of the block and subs during the fall process (the deflection of the block to the right of the area relative to the direction of the rocket’s flight is implicitly dominant). Probably, this is still a random process and it should not exist.


• Well, the maximum task has not been completed. “Dark spots” in the use of the complex still remain (although they have become an order of magnitude smaller).

Therefore, I urge all honest and decent people, democratic journalists, gays and subscribers of the Tisk public page to post photo and video information in the comments on the LostArmour.info website, which could help in systematizing the use of the Tochka/Tochka-U complex on Donbass. This is especially true for poorly lit applications (not found on the map in this review, with a small number of photos, etc.) and photos of missile numbers.

In the mid-sixties, the Ministry of Defense Soviet Union initiated work to create 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 through a more powerful warhead, but through greater guidance accuracy. Testing and operation of previous tactical missile systems have confirmed the correctness of this approach: a more accurate missile could destroy targets with great efficiency, even without having a particularly powerful warhead.

Launch of the 9M79 "Tochka" missile of the 9K79-1 "Tochka-U" complex, Kapustin Yar training ground, 09.22.2011 (photo by Vadim Savitsky, http://twower.livejournal.com, http://militaryrussia.ru)

The development of two new missile systems began at the Fakel design bureau. The basis for the surface-to-surface missile was the B-611 anti-aircraft missile of the M-11 “Storm” ship-based complex. The Hawk project was the first to appear. 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 commands sent from the ground. A little later, in 1965, the Tochka project was created on the basis of the Yastreb. What distinguished the Tochka missile system from the previous one was its guidance system. Instead of a radio command that is relatively difficult to manufacture and operate, they proposed using an inertial one, as on several previous domestic tactical missile systems.

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

Active work on the project began in 1968, in accordance with the resolution 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 set of electronic equipment, etc. The main developers and manufacturers of units of the Tochka complex were the Central Research Institute of Automation and Hydraulics, which created the rocket control system, the Volgograd Barricades plant, which made the launcher, as well as the Bryansk Automobile Plant, on the wheeled chassis of which all elements of the complex were eventually mounted.

It is worth noting that there were two launcher options. The first was designed by the mechanical engineering design bureau itself together with the rocket and was used only in field tests. It was with this unit that the first two test launches were carried out 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, rocket assembly 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 the Tochka missile system was put into service in 1975. The GRAU complex index is 9K79.

The basis of the Tochka complex was the 9M79 solid-fuel single-stage rocket. The ammunition, 6400 millimeters long and 650 in diameter, 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 was the rocket unit. The remaining weight of the ammunition was determined by 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. 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 9B64 command-gyroscopic device. The gyro-stabilized platform of this device had means for its alignment, as well as two accelerometers. Data from all sensors of the guidance system were 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 at the rear of the rocket. When the engine was running, gas-dynamic rudders were also used, located in the flow of reactive gases.

Since the warhead of the 9M79 missile did not separate in flight, the designers provided control at the final part 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.

9K79-1 Tochka-U missile systems with 9M79M Tochka missiles during exercises of missile 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 rose to a vertical position. The 9V390 control and launch equipment with the 1V57 Argon electronic computer calculated the flight mission, after which the data was transferred 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 window 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 vehicles of the Kharkov Tractor Plant. However, based on the comparison results, the BAZ-5921 floating chassis, created at the Bryansk Automobile Plant, was chosen. On its basis, the 9P129 combat vehicle was created. It is noteworthy that it was not the Bryansk Automobile Plant, but the Volgograd enterprise “Barricades” that was responsible for installing all the target equipment on the wheeled chassis. The Petropavlovsk Heavy Engineering Plant took over the serial production of launchers and transport-loading vehicles.

The six-wheel all-wheel drive self-propelled launcher 9P129 was equipped with a 300-horsepower diesel engine. This power plant allowed a combat vehicle with a missile to accelerate to 60 kilometers per hour on the highway. On off-road conditions the speed was reduced to 10-15 km/h. If necessary, the 9P129 vehicle could cross water obstacles at a speed of up to 10 km/h, for which two water cannons were used. With a combat weight of about 18 tons including the missile, the self-propelled launcher was suitable for transportation by military transport aircraft. The equipment of the rocket compartment is interesting. In its front part, the self-propelled launcher had a special heat-protective casing, which 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 ensuring the stability of the launcher during launch. Other procedures were much faster. Thus, it took less than a second to transmit 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 launcher guide was 78°. At the same time, the mechanisms of the 9P129 machine made it possible to rotate the guide and rocket in the horizontal plane 15° to the right or left of the vehicle axis. The flight of the 9M79 rocket to a maximum range of 70 kilometers took just over two minutes. During this time, a crew of three or four people had to move the combat vehicle into a traveling position and leave the position. The recharging procedure took 19-20 minutes.

Approximate projections of the V-611 (Volna air defense missile system), V-614 "Tochka", 9M79 "Tochka", 9M79-1 "Tochka-U" missiles and a cross-section of the 9M79 missile (the last three with high-explosive warheads). 01/17/2010, the drawing is based on projections by an unknown author with significant edits 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 vehicle there are two cradle for missiles with heat-protective casings for warheads. Loading of missiles into the transport-loading vehicle and installation on the launch guide is carried out using a crane with which the 9T128 is equipped. If necessary, missiles can be stored in the cargo compartment of a transport-loading vehicle, but for long-term storage It is recommended to use special metal shipping containers. To transport missiles or warheads in containers, 9T222 or 9T238 transport vehicles 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 the missile with new system guidance 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 modernizing the Tochka complex in order to improve its characteristics. Testing of the updated 9K79-1 Tochka-U complex began in the summer of 1986. In 1989, it was put into service and put into mass production. During modernization fighting machine The complex has undergone some changes, primarily related to the upgrade of the rocket. As a result, the total weight of the self-propelled launcher 9P129-1, and then 9P129-1M, increased by 200-250 kilograms. During 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 the modernization, the Tochka complex received new types of missiles and warheads. Thus, currently 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 modernization 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 missile is called 9M79R;
- 9M79-1. Missile of the Tochka-U complex with an increased flight range;
-9M79-GVM, 9M79M-GVM, 9M79-UT, etc. Weight and size and training mock-ups of combat missiles. They were produced with extensive use of their parts, but some of the units, such as a fuel block, squibs, etc. were replaced by imitators.

The nomenclature of warheads for Tochka missiles is as follows:
- 9N123. 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. During an explosion, the 9N123 warhead scatters fragments of three types: six thousand fragments weighing about 20 grams, four thousand ten-gram fragments and 4.5 thousand submunitions weighing about five and a half grams. The fragments hit targets over 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 part of the missile flight path, the charge block explosive located at an angle to the axis of the warhead;
- 9N123K. Fragmentation warhead with 50 submunitions. Each of them is a fragmentation element weighing 7.45 kilograms, about one and a half of which is explosive. Each submunition scatters 316 fragments over a relatively small area, but thanks to the deployment 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 their fall by ribbon parachutes;
- Nuclear warheads of models 9N39 with a power of 10 kilotons and 9N64 with a power 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 the 9N64 on the 9M79B1;
- Chemical warheads 9N123G and 9N123G2-1. Both warheads carry 65 submunitions filled with chemical agents, V-gas and soman, respectively. The total mass of substances was 60 kilograms for the 9N123G warhead and 50 for the 9N123G2-1. According to various sources, the total number of chemical warheads produced does not exceed several dozen. By now most of 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 real warheads. Training blocks have the same designations as combat ones, but with the letters “UT”.

Self-propelled launcher 9P129M OTR "Tochka"

Transport-loading vehicle 9T218 OTR "Tochka"

Transport vehicle 9T238

Layout of the Tochka / Tochka-U rocket (diagram from the site http://rbase.new-factoria.ru)

Tochka missile systems began to enter service with 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 withdrawal Soviet troops from Germany, all Tochka and Tochka-U complexes, due to the military-political situation, turned out to be 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 had the appearance of real combat work. During the very first arms exhibition and military equipment IDEX (Abu Dhabi United United Arab Emirates) Russian missilemen conducted five launches of Tochka-U missiles and hit conditional targets with a maximum deviation of no more than 45-50 meters.

Later, during the first war in Chechnya, a number of “Points” were actively used when 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 missiles with high-explosive fragmentation warheads were used up during the two Caucasian conflicts. There is no confirmed information about the use of cluster warheads and warheads of other types. Latest for now combat use complexes of the Tochka family refers to the “War of Three Eights” in August 2008. Foreign sources talk about 10-15 missile launches against Georgian positions and facilities.

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

In addition to Russia, other countries have Tochka missile systems, primarily the former Soviet republics. A number of self-propelled launchers, auxiliary equipment and missiles remain in Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In addition, some of these countries bought or sold the remaining "Points", including to each other. Outside former USSR Tochka missile systems are owned by Bulgaria (from several 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 based on them they created their 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, rumors appeared with enviable regularity about the possible start of work on modernizing missile systems, as a result of which they could significantly increase their combat capabilities. Even the name of such modernization appeared - “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 their service life expires and the available stock of missiles is used up. 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)

Based on materials from sites:
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/
http://kap-yar.ru/
http://arms-expo.ru/
http://russkaya-sila.rf/
http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-191.html

On July 29, 2014, the American news channel CNN notified the whole world that it was launched during the hostilities waged by Ukraine. ballistic missile“Tochka-U” was not supposed to cross the state border. At least that was the meaning of the mysterious message. Why might there be an assumption that the target of the launch could have been 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? There are many 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 is it to make a mistake when aiming a missile at a target? To answer it, you need to understand the structure of this type of weapon.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces immediately declared their non-involvement, citing three reasons why this was impossible. Firstly, the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not have ballistic missiles. 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 took place with Russian minister Foreign Affairs Lavrov, at which the latter was once again assured that the strike was not carried out 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 “high-precision weapon” with which Prime Minister Yatsenyuk tried to scare the leadership of the DPR and LPR. At least, the Armed Forces of Ukraine obviously does not have anything more accurate.

I really couldn't get into anything. But this does not mean that there was no attempt. Military experts are making various bold assumptions, finding certain parallels between the successful repulsion of an Israeli missile attack by the Syrian missile defense system and this incident. The most plausible version seems to many to be that four Ukrainian Tochka-U missiles were shot down by Russian defense systems. There is no documentary evidence of this, but some 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 samples? What are the characteristics of this type of weapon? How should they be used and why were they created? What warheads 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 military concepts

All nuclear forces are divided into two main categories. Strategic missiles and nuclear submarines carry charges that serve to inflict maximum, destructive damage to the economy of the enemy country in the event of a global conflict. But there are also less powerful means, problem solvers 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 characteristics, but by the end of the sixties they ceased to satisfy the requirements of the military. When using nuclear charges, accuracy was not particularly important, but at that time changes occurred in foreign policy that influenced the nature of the defense doctrine. Strategic forces were assigned the role of global deterrence and guarantor of the territorial integrity of the countries of the socialist camp, but the number of local conflicts increased. The thought of using special charges during the Vietnam or Middle Eastern wars may have crossed some 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 Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau. A secret institution with a modest name was led by S.P. Invincible. The surname is telling.

New rocket

Design documentation for the previous one was transferred to KBM from MKB Fakel. These materials turned out to be a very important component of the work and saved a lot of time and effort. Many components, assemblies and systems, for which the Tochka rocket served as a unique design, have been preserved. The new model has different rudders, including gas-jet ones, the destabilizer has been eliminated, and the control and guidance technologies have been changed. As a result of the hard work of engineers during 1968-1971, significant improvements in performance were achieved, apogee and perigee increased. And - most importantly - hitting the target has become more accurate. Tests were carried out at the Kapustin Yar cosmodrome, and in 1973 the State Commission accepted the project. Production has begun. Prototypes were manufactured at the Volgograd plant "Barricades" (launch and control systems) and (the missiles themselves). The system went into production at the heavy engineering plant in Petropavlovsk. In addition, orders for components were placed at various defense enterprises throughout the country. The official adoption took place in 1975; they were used by the 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 Tochka-U tactical missile (this 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. Over the course of two years, the refinement and final determination of the compliance of the obtained data with the state order was carried out. The characteristics were quite satisfactory to the high commission. Deviation from given goal did not exceed 250 meters with a minimum range of 15 kilometers and a maximum of 70.

Target designation systems have also been improved. "Tochka-R" could use a passive head to target the emissions of radio stations and locators, which expanded the range of its use and made it possible to use this weapon to suppress air defense enemy or disorientation of military command and control systems and communications of a potential enemy. With a affected area of ​​two hectares, the accuracy increased - now it was 45 meters.

These were very good results.

Purpose

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

However, the size of such a target cannot be called miniature. A ballistic missile (even a small one) hitting a separate building, ship, airplane, helicopter or railway car is out of the question. The strike is delivered over an 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 were broadcasting about the situation in Ulster. The events of recent decades have shown that this tactical weapon can also be useful in the fight against gangs, in particular, for the destruction of militant bases and their training camps. But in no case was it intended to use Tochka-U missiles to fire at residential areas of cities or villages. No matter how high the accuracy, it is impossible to achieve selective defeat of armed groups of people surrounded by civilians.

By land and water

The rocket itself cannot be launched from the launcher. The system is mobile and consists of a column of several Vehicle, the number of which varies depending on the task at hand. Firstly, you need a launcher that directly launches the Tochka-U rocket. But the complex was not created for the sake of a single shot! The launcher is followed by a column consisting of charging and transporting machines, a mobile control and testing station and a maintenance workshop. The 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 range). The rocket is fueled at the factory and has a solid propellant engine.

The complex can move over almost any terrain, even over water. The speed 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 water-jet engines, the vehicles will overcome water obstacles at a speed of 8 km/h. The motor life of vehicles is 15 thousand kilometers.

Special charges

"Tochka-U" - ballistic missile. Its characteristics, although more modest than those of strategic monsters, are quite sufficient to consider it a possible carrier of special charges. By this term the military understands means mass destruction, nuclear and chemical. To strike the enemy with them, you need a corresponding 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. Thus, the warhead of 9N39 has up to one hundred kilotons, and 9N64 - up to two hundred.

When using nuclear special charges, which 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 tactical chemical warfare, 9N123G and 9N123G2-1 warheads are provided, each containing 65 chemical agent subelements in quantities of 60.5 and 50.5 kg, respectively (Soman).

Conventional ammunition

The range of high explosive ammunition is wider. The 9N123F high-explosive fragmentation warhead ensures the detonation of 162 kg of TNT, scattering almost fifteen thousand fragments. For the greatest effect, the final maneuver performed by the Tochka-U missile is important. A damage area of ​​up to three hectares is ensured by detonating a charge at a height of 20 meters after turning from a ballistic trajectory to an almost vertical drop. The axis of the fragment dispersion cone is shifted to expand the firing sector.

The 9N123K cassette warhead contains fifty elements (each weighing about eight kilograms) stuffed with submunitions 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 over 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 over the horizon, then the parameters will be slightly different. The highest altitude (apogee) will decrease significantly. In 2 minutes 16 seconds, a rocket will cover 120 km - this is maximum range Tochka-U missiles.

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

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

Practical tactical application

The Tochka-U missile, whose target destruction radius does not exceed 120 kilometers, is perfect for destroying terrorist camps and bases located in the mountains or desert. During the first campaign in Chechnya, it was used for its intended purpose, as General G.N. Troshev wrote about in his memoir diaries (the book was called “Chechen Break”). The peculiarities of the tactics of using this ammunition presuppose that the command has reliable information and exact coordinates of the target. Such information in our time can be provided by space reconnaissance (if the weather is suitable over the theater of military operations and there are no clouds obscuring the firing zone). It is also possible to use other sources if they are obtained from qualified agents with experience working with topographic maps.

March 2000, outskirts 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 when attempting an assault, large losses of personnel are inevitable. There is a settlement nearby, which, of course, cannot be destroyed. The explosion of the Tochka-U rocket covered the defensive area, and the powerful gang ceased to exist, never having entered into the battle for which it had so carefully prepared. Tactical missilemen solved similar problems in other sectors of the front, minimizing losses and achieving impressive successes, an important part of which was the excellent training of the crews.

The crews of Russian divisions showed the same high qualifications during the 2008 events in South Ossetia. Syrian military personnel cope well with such tasks, suppressing the anti-government rebellion. Their targets are usually terrorist bases in desert areas.

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

Maintenance of the complex

The control equipment for the Tochka complex is quite complex. Obtaining the necessary qualifications takes several months, and even in the case of the most favorable circumstances (the shelf life has not been exhausted, skillful calculation and the absence of active opposition from the enemy), there is no complete guarantee of a hit from the first launch. The Tochka-U missile is not a high-precision weapon. Experts say that the best result can be achieved by firing four projectiles, one of which with high degree probability at the end of the ballistic trajectory will be within a radius measured in tens of meters from the target. It should also be taken into account that standards have changed over the time since the development of this complex. The use of Tochka to combat rebel militia groups operating near populated areas is not only pointless, but also criminal, especially taking into account the low qualifications of the missile crews.

Tactical missile system

9K79-1 "Tochka-U" with 9M79-1 missiles developed by the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau (Kolomna), chief designer - S.P. Invincible. Modernization of the Tochka complex in order to increase the range and improve accuracy began in 1984. Changes affected the composition of the rocket engine fuel, modernization of control devices, and the design of the rocket was slightly changed.

Tests of the modernized Tochka-U complex were carried out at the Kapustin Yar training ground from August 1986 to September 1988. Climatic tests were carried out in 1989 in the Transbaikal and Turkestan Military Districts.

The 9K79-1 Tochka-U complex was put into service in 1989, and serial production of missiles was launched at the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant in the same year. The Tochka-U complex can use missiles of the Tochka complex.

The Western name of the 9K79-1 Tochka-U complex is SS-21B SCARAB-B.

Launchers of the 9K79-1 "Tochka-U" complexes in the starting position (http://mil.ru)

Missile systems "Tochka" and "Tochka-U" in the Russian Armed Forces

Tochka missile systems were the main weapons of the units missile forces Ground forces of the Russian Armed Forces for more than 20 years. As of 1991, the USSR armed forces had 300 Tochka and Tochka-U missile systems. As of 2009, the Russian Army had 140 Tochka and Tochka-U complexes, united into 11 missile brigades and 2 separate missile divisions. By 2018, during the re-equipment of missile brigades with new 9K720 Iskander-M missile systems, the number of Tochka and Tochka-U systems was significantly reduced.

Battery composition of the complex

2 self-propelled launchers 8P129M;
- 2 transport-loading vehicles 9T218;
- 2 transport vehicles 9T238;
- 1 automated control and testing machine (AKIM) 9V819-1 or 9V819M or 9V820;
- 1 maintenance vehicle 9V844 (ZIL-131 chassis) - for checking SPU and AKIM equipment;
- 1 command and staff vehicle R-145BM on the BTR-60 chassis.

Performance characteristics of the Tochka-U missile system

Rocket length- 6407 mm Rocket diameter- 650 mm Wingspan– 1440 mm Rocket mass- 2010 kg Rocket block mass- 1528 kg Fuel weight- 1006 kg Warhead mass- 480 kg Range- 20 - 120 km Flight speed- 1036 m/s Maximum trajectory height- 26000 m KVO- 10-250 m

Tochka family of missiles and B-611/B-614 prototypes
(http://militaryrussia.ru).

Combat equipment

9M79-1 Tochka-U missiles can be equipped with the following types of combat equipment: - 9N39 low-power nuclear warhead; - nuclear warhead of special importance; - high-explosive warhead 9N123F-1; - cassette 9N123K-1; - anti-radar warhead 9N123F-R.

9M79-1 "Tochka-U" missile (http://mil.ru)

Control system and guidance

Autonomous inertial control system using a 9B64 command-gyroscopic device (developed by NPO Elektromekhaniki, Miass), a 9B65 discrete-analog computing device (DAVU), a 9B66 on-board automation unit, a 9B150 turbogenerator control unit and a DUSU-1- angular velocity and acceleration sensor 30V; The rocket is controlled using aerodynamic lattice rudders at the initial and final stages of flight; in the active part of the trajectory, tungsten gas-dynamic rudders are also used synchronously (on the same shaft) with the aerodynamic ones. At the final stage of the trajectory, the missile, at the command of the radio altitude sensor, dives towards the target at an angle of 80 degrees. A laser sensor is used to detonate a warhead above the ground.

Modifications:

Missile complex 9K79-1 "Tochka-U"- an improved version of the Tochka complex with backward compatibility for missiles (can use missiles of the Tochka complex).

Missile system 9K79M "Tochka-M"- a failed project of deep modernization of the missile system.

"New Defense Order. Strategies"

…IN last decades the main emphasis in the conduct of hostilities sharply shifted towards delivering accurate and powerful strikes in the depths of the enemy’s defense and deep behind the enemy’s rear. These strikes are capable of being carried out by aircraft and missile systems (RK). The second category includes tactical and operational-tactical missile systems. There is no escape from the latter, unlike aviation, at any time of the day, in any weather.

When creating modern missile systems, the priority was to significantly increase the effectiveness of conventional combat units of various equipment. It was supposed to be solved by achieving very high shooting accuracy with a noticeable increase in the probability of overcoming the missile defense system. The second goal in the development of new missile launchers was the creation of launchers (PUs) that provide higher secrecy during missile launch preparations with high cross-country ability and autonomy of operations. The minimum time for deployment of the complex and the subsequent launch of a missile from previously unprepared positions were also important. To a large extent, the implementation of these tasks had to be achieved with a high degree of automation.

The first complex of this kind, created in the Soviet Union and put into service in 1976, was the Tochka tactical missile system.

In the regional center of Kolomna, not far from Moscow, the buildings of the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau are located. It was here, under the leadership of Sergei Nepobedimy, that work on “Tochka” was carried out.

The creation of the Tochka tactical missile system began with a resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers of March 4, 1968. In addition to the lead contractor - Kolomna KBM - many enterprises were involved in the work, including the Volgograd Production Association "Barricades", which designed the launcher, and the Bryansk Automobile Plant, which created the chassis for the launcher and the transport-loading vehicle (TZM). Serial production of missiles was launched at the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant.

The complex, named 9K79 “Tochka” (according to the Western classification SS-21 “Scarab”), had a firing range from 15 to 70 km and a circular probable deviation (CPD) of only 160 m.

Already in 1971, during factory flight tests, the first two launches of the new 9M79 guided missiles were carried out. Their mass production began in 1973. But only three years later the Tochka was officially put into service.

The main tasks for the Republic of Kazakhstan were: the destruction of command posts of military branches (including highly fortified ones), military aviation bases, fuel and ammunition storage facilities, and various reconnaissance and strike complexes. The new divisional complex (intended for operations at the division-army link) was the first example of effective ground-based high-precision weapons in the Soviet Union.

The 9M79 single-stage solid-propellant missile had an integral high-explosive warhead loaded with 120 kg of explosive. This was more than enough to destroy most possible targets. In this case, the rocket could be controlled along the entire flight path.

The 9P129 launcher received an excellent floating all-terrain chassis - the three-axle BAZ-5921, and the TZM 9T218 - the BAZ-5922.

In April 1971, KBM began developing the Tochka-R modification with a passive radar homing head, but without changing the rest of the missile design. It was intended to destroy various radio-emitting targets. The radar homing system ensured target acquisition at a distance of at least 15 km. When pointing at a continuously emitting target, the CEP varied within 45 meters.

The new rocket was ready in 1983. Work to improve the complex continued, and in 1989 the modified RK 9K79-1 Tochka-U was put into service. The new complex’s firing range has increased to 120 km with a CEP of 170 m (in reality, less than 50 m). The Tochka-U complex ensures the operation and combat use of missiles of an earlier design, originally intended for the Tochka complex.

The 9M721 missile of the updated complex received a number of warheads to expand its combat capabilities. It was equipped with a 9N123F high-explosive warhead and a 9N123K cassette warhead containing a “filling” of 50 fragmentation submunitions. A complete guarantee of target destruction was provided by the AA-60 nuclear warhead.

The 9P129M-1 launcher, which is part of the Tochka-U complex, is mounted, like the Tochka launcher, on a BAZ-5921 wheeled chassis. Transport-loading vehicle 9T218-1 - on BAZ-5922. Both of them have a six-cylinder diesel engine 5D20B-300. To move through water, propeller-type water-jet propulsors are used, and control is carried out using built-in channels and water-jet valves.

The chassis has all six wheels - driven, tires have air pressure regulation. Ground clearance reaches 400 mm. All this allows you to move both on roads of all categories and over rough terrain.

When launching missiles, the autonomous equipment of the launcher allows you to tie the launch point and calculate the flight mission, followed by aiming and launch. Therefore, no special topographic and geodetic and meteorological measurements, as well as engineering preparation of starting positions are required. Thanks to this, a missile can be launched within 16–20 minutes after arriving at the position. Then, after just 1.5 minutes, the PU is able to curl up and leave the position. The start of the launcher's ascent and the launch of the rocket are separated by only 15 seconds.

The spent ammunition of the starting batteries is replenished with the help of transport-loading vehicles. The sealed compartment of the TZM stores two ready-to-launch missiles with their warheads docked. The presence of a jib crane and a hydraulic drive makes it possible to load the launcher within 19 minutes. This requires the presence of a site that allows placing TZM and launchers nearby. Also, missiles can be transported in metal containers and on 2T238 transport vehicles that can accommodate two missiles or four warheads.

The 9K79 high-precision tactical missile system includes: a self-propelled launcher with a missile, a transport-loading vehicle, an automated control and testing vehicle, a maintenance vehicle, a set of arsenal equipment, and training facilities. Combat work is carried out by a crew of three people.

“Tochka-U” for the first time demonstrated its unique capabilities to the world’s military specialists gathered at the international arms exhibition IDEX’93. Five missile launches were carried out to demonstrate the capabilities of the complex. In this case, the maximum deviation from the target was less than 50 m, and the minimum was several meters.

The Tochka missile system's baptism of fire took place in Afghanistan. Then the missiles were launched from the outskirts of Kabul. The Tochka-U complex was also actively used by Russian federal forces during the fighting in Chechnya.

The Tochka and Tochka-U missile systems are in service Russian army and some armies foreign countries. In 1983, the first Tochka tactical missile systems (six launchers and 18 9M79 missiles) arrived in Syria from the Soviet Union. Currently, the Syrian ground forces have 18 Tochka tactical missile launchers. In 1988, North Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic) also purchased the Tochka missile system from the USSR. Currently, the Yemeni ground forces have 10 launchers.

By 1988, about 140 RK Tochka launchers were deployed on the territory of the USSR alone. In addition, they were stationed on the territory of the GDR (as part of the Western Group of Forces). The complex was also in service with the socialist countries: Bulgaria, Poland and Czechoslovakia.

Among the CIS countries, until recently, the armies of Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan were armed with the Tochka. The Ukrainian Ground Forces had a missile division consisting of three brigades armed with Tochka and Tochka-U missile launchers (about 90). The Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus include the 465th missile brigade, armed with Tochka and Tochka-U missile launchers (up to 36). In Kazakhstan, modernized Tochka complexes are in service - 45 units.

Characteristics of the head parts of the Tochka complex
	– a special nuclear warhead as part of the 9M79B (9M79-1B) missile, a nuclear charge of the AA-60 type, with a power of 10 to 100 kt
	– a special nuclear warhead as part of the 9M79B1 missile, a nuclear charge of the AA-86 type, with a power of up to 200 kt (according to other sources - 100)
Special nuclear warhead as part of the 9M79B2 rocket	– nuclear charge of type AA-92, with a power of up to 200 kt (according to other sources – 100 kt)
9N123F	– high-explosive fragmentation warhead of concentrated action, as part of 9M79F (9M79-1F) missiles. The mass of the warhead is 482 kg, the mass of the TG-20 explosive is 162.5 kg, the number of fragments is 14.5 thousand. The affected area is 2-3 hectares. When approaching the target, the missile makes an additional turn to ensure that the charge meets the target at an angle close to 90° for the most efficient use of the warhead explosion energy. The air blast of the warhead is carried out at a height of 20 meters above the surface to achieve the maximum affected area
9N123K	– cluster warhead consisting of 9M79K (9M79-1K) missiles, containing 50 9N24 fragmentation warheads (weighing 7.45 kg each, mass of A-IX-20 type explosives – 1.45 kg, 316 fragments). The mass of the warhead is 482 kg, the number of fragments is 15.8 thousand. The detonation of the central charge and the opening of the warhead is initiated by a 9E326 type radio sensor at an altitude of 2250 m. The affected area is 3.5-7 hectares. The warhead is designed to destroy manpower and unarmored vehicles located in open areas
9N123F-R(9N123F-R2, 9N123F-R3)	– high-explosive fragmentation warhead with a passive radar seeker 9N215 as part of anti-radar missiles 9M79R (9M79FR, 9M79-1FR), with RF type 9M79M or 9M79-1, in preparation for launch the target radiation frequency was set, the affected area was up to 2 hectares
9N123G	– a special chemical cassette warhead containing 65 subelements loaded with 930 g of the R-33 toxic substance, each (total 60.5 kg of agent)
9N123G2-1	– a special chemical cassette warhead containing 65 subelements filled with the toxic agent R-55 “Soman” (total 50.5 kg of agent)