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Missile ForcesRussia

OTR-21 Tochka (SS-21 Scarab)

Close-range ballistic missileFielded 1976Pending verification

Also known as: OTR-21 Tockka, SS-21SS-21 Scarab, 9K79 Missile System

Missile ForcesRUS
OTR-21 Tochka (SS-21 Scarab)
Photo: Kalabaha1969 · CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeClose-range ballistic missile
Alternative designationsOTR-21 Tockka, SS-21SS-21 Scarab, 9K79 Missile System
Date of introduction1976
ProliferationAt least 10 countries
ManufacturerKBM (Kolomna)Med[1]
Crew3Med[1]
Emplacement timeLess than 20 MinMed[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length9.48 m31 ftMed[1]
Flight performance
ChassisBAZ-5921 6x6 mobile launcher vehicleMed[1]
Engine5D20B-300Med[1]
Thrust / power300 hpMed[1]
Protection
NBC ProtectionYesMed[1]
Variants
Tochka-U (SS-21 Scarab-B),Improved variant of the Tochka with a maximum range of 120 km. and improved CEP. It entered service in 1989.[1]
SS-21 Scarab-CIts Russian designation is unknown. This missile system was developed in the 1990s. Range was increased to 185 km and CEP was further improved.[1]
Oka (SS-23 Spider),Essentially a longer version of the Tochka, with a maximum range of 480 km. The SS-23 Spider was eliminated due to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (or INF treaty) during the late 1980s.[1]
KN-02,North Korean reversed-engineered and upgraded version of the Scarab-A, with a longer range and improved CEP.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 1Confidence · Source
BAZ-5921 Mobile TEL Launch Platform9M79 Tactical Ballistic Missile
Med[1]
Range
70 km43 mi · 38 nmi
Type
9M79 Tactical Ballistic Missile
Guidance
inertial guidance system
Warhead
conventional, chemical, nuclear
Warhead weight
480 kg
Summary

First operationalized in 1975, the road-mobile Scarab-A variant was designed to be deployed alongside conventional forces, maintain flexibility on the battlefield, and attack tactical targets such as bridges, storage facilities, troop concentrations, and airfields.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
ArmeniaAzerbaijanBulgariaBelarusKazakhstanNorth KoreaRussiaSyriaUkraineYemen
Sources
  1. OTR-21 Tochka (SS-21 Scarab) Russian Close-Range Ballistic Missile, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (CC0)