Ballistic Missile
Tochka-U
The Tochka-U (9K79-1, NATO: SS-21 Scarab B) is a Soviet-designed tactical ballistic missile system made by KBM Kolomna and in service since 1989. It has a range of 15–120 km and is still used in several conflicts.
Russia|KBM KolomnaOverview
The Tochka system was developed in the Soviet Union from 1983 by KBM Kolomna, and the upgraded Tochka-U entered service in 1989. The missile is solid-fuelled, 6.4 m long with a diameter of 650 mm, weighing about 2,000 kg. It has inertial guidance and a CEP of roughly 50–150 m. Range is 15–120 km, and the 482 kg warhead can be high-explosive, cluster or fragmentation. An amphibious 6×6 BAZ-5921 vehicle carries and launches it.
Russia has replaced the Tochka-U with the Iskander-M, though it still appeared in the war in Ukraine in 2022–2023. The system has seen combat in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Yemen, Syria and the 2008 Georgia war. Ukraine holds a limited number from Soviet stocks; attribution of the 14 March 2022 Donetsk strike is disputed. Current operators widely reported include Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Syria and Yemen, while Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Bulgaria have retired it.
Key Specifications
Variants
The original Tochka is the first-generation system that entered service in the 1970s–1980s.
The Tochka-U is the upgraded 9K79-1 version from 1989 with improved range and accuracy.
The Tochka-R is a variant with a radar-homing warhead designed to attack radio emitters.
Operators
Russia
Ukraine
Belarus
Armenia
Kazakhstan
Syria
YemenFrequently Asked Questions
What is the range of the Tochka-U?
The Tochka-U has a range of 15–120 km. It carries a 482 kg warhead and uses inertial guidance, with an accuracy of roughly 50–150 m CEP. It is a tactical missile, not a strategic one.
Which countries use the Tochka-U?
Widely reported current operators are Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Syria and Yemen. Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Georgia, among others, have retired the Tochka-U.
Is the Tochka-U used in Ukraine?
Yes, the Tochka-U has been used by both Russia and Ukraine since 2022. Ukraine fields a limited number from Soviet stocks, while Russia has largely replaced it with the Iskander-M. The attribution of the 14 March 2022 Donetsk strike is disputed.
Tochka-U vs Iskander-M: what is the difference?
The Tochka-U has a range of 15–120 km, while the Iskander-M reaches about 500 km. The Iskander-M replaced the Tochka-U in Russian service, though the older system was still seen in the Ukraine war in 2022–2023.
What is the warhead of the Tochka-U?
The Tochka-U carries a 482 kg warhead. It can be high-explosive, cluster or fragmentation. The missile weighs about 2,000 kg at launch and is carried on an amphibious 6×6 vehicle.
When did the Tochka-U enter service?
The Tochka-U entered service in 1989 as an upgrade of the original Tochka, which was developed from 1983 by KBM Kolomna. It has been used in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Yemen, Syria and Georgia.