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. Tests 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 a particularly powerful warhead.
Launch of the 9M79 Tochka rocket of the 9K79-1 Tochka-U complex, Kapustin Yar training ground, 2011-22-09 (photo by Vadim Savitsky, https://twower.livejournal.com, The development of two new missile systems at once began at the Fakel Design Bureau. The ground-to-ground missile was based on the V-611 anti-aircraft missile of the M-11 Shtorm complex, ship-based. The first to appear was the "Hawk" project. It was supposed to use an electronic missile guidance system. In such a case, the ballistic munition would fly on the active leg 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 Yastreb. From the previous missile system "Tochka" was distinguished by the guidance system. Instead of a relatively complex radio command in production and operation, it was proposed to use inertial, as on several previous domestic tactical missile systems.
Both projects of MKB "Fakel" remained at the stage of development and testing of individual units. Approximately in 1966, all project documentation was transferred to the Kolomna Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau, 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 variant of the tactical missile system would be the Tochka with a missile equipped with an inertial guidance system. It was this project that received further development, although later it was 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 required 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 Tochka complex units were the Central Research Institute of Automation and Hydraulics, which created the missile control system, the Volgograd Barrikady plant, which made the launcher, and the Bryansk Automobile Plant, on the wheeled chassis of which all elements of the complex were eventually mounted.
Missile systems 9K79-1 "Tochka-U" with missiles 9M79M "Tochka" at the exercises of the missile and artillery units of the 5th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District, Sergeevsky Combined Arms Range, March 2013 The launch of the 9M79M "Tochka" missiles was conditional. (https://pressa-tof.livejournal.com, It is worth noting that there were two options for the launcher. 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 such a unit that the first two test launches were made in 1971 at the Kapustin Yar test site. A little later, testing 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 the Tochka missile system was put into service in 1975. The GRAU index of the complex is 9K79.
The Tochka complex is based on the 9M79 solid-propellant single-stage rocket. The ammunition 6400 mm long and 650 in diameter had lattice rudders with a span of about 1350-1400 mm. The launch mass of the rocket is two tons, about one and a half of which fell on the rocket unit. 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 section 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 9B64 command-gyroscopic device. 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 were transmitted to the 9B65 computer, which automatically calculated the trajectory of the missile, compared it with the given one and, if necessary, issued the appropriate commands. The trajectory was corrected using four lattice rudders in the tail of the rocket. When the engine was running, gas-dynamic rudders were also used, which were in the stream of reactive gases.
Since the warhead of the 9M79 missile was not separated in flight, the designers provided for control at the end of the trajectory, which significantly increased the accuracy of hitting the target. At this stage of the flight, the automatics kept the rocket in a dive with an angle of 80 ° to the horizon.
Missile systems 9K79-1 "Tochka-U" with missiles 9M79M "Tochka" at the exercises of the missile and artillery units of the 5th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District, Sergeevsky Combined Arms Range, March 2013 The launch of the 9M79M "Tochka" missiles was conditional. (https://pressa-tof.livejournal.com, Target data were entered into the missile guidance system immediately before launch, before the missile was lifted into a vertical position. The 9В390 control and launching equipment with the 1В57 "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 located on the combat vehicle. Through a special porthole in the side of 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, based on the comparison results, the BAZ-5921 floating chassis, created at the Bryansk Automobile Plant, was selected. On its basis, the 9P129 combat vehicle was created. It is noteworthy that not the Bryansk Automobile Plant, but the Volgograd enterprise "Barrikady" was responsible for the installation of all target equipment on the wheeled chassis. In the serial production of launchers and transport-loading machines, the Petropavlovsk Heavy Engineering Plant was occupied.
The 9P129 six-wheel drive self-propelled launcher 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 on the highway. Off-road, the speed dropped to 10-15 km / h. If necessary, the 9P129 machine could cross water obstacles at a speed of up to 10 km / h, for which two water cannons were used. With a combat weight with a rocket of about 18 tons, 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, which protected the missile warhead from overheating or hypothermia.
According to the standards, it took no more than 20 minutes to prepare 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. So, 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 start. 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 turn the guide and the rocket in a horizontal plane by 15 ° to the right or left of the machine axis. The flight of the 9M79 rocket 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 stowed position and leave the position. The recharge procedure took 19-20 minutes.
Approximate projections of V-611 missiles (Volna air defense missile systems), V-614 Tochka, 9M79 Tochka, 9M79-1 Tochka-U and a section of the 9M79 missile (the last three with high-explosive warheads). 2010-17-01, the drawing is based on the projections of an unknown author with significant changes in dimensions, proportions and modifications, In addition to the rocket and the self-propelled launcher, the Tochka complex included a 9T128 transport-loading vehicle based on the Bryansk chassis BAZ-5922. In the cargo compartment of this vehicle there are two cradles for missiles with heat-shielding warheads. The loading of missiles into the transport-loading vehicle and installation on the launch rail are carried out using the crane, which is equipped with the 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 transport containers. To transport missiles or warheads in containers, 9T222 or 9T238 transport vehicles are used, which are a truck tractor with a semitrailer. 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. With the 9M79 missile unit, the 9N915 guidance system was combined with a passive radar homing head. It is capable of capturing an emitting target at a distance of about 15 kilometers, after which the missile is guided at it using standard control systems. Complex "Tochka-R" 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 characteristics. Tests of the updated 9K79-1 Tochka-U complex began in the summer of 1986. In 1989, he was put into service and put into mass production. In the course of modernization, the combat vehicle of the complex has undergone some changes, primarily related to the upgrade of the rocket. As a result, the total mass of the 9P129-1 self-propelled launcher, and then the 9P129-1M, increased by 200-250 kilograms. The 9М79-1 rocket, during the modernization, 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 missiles and warheads of new types. Thus, at present, Tochka-U can operate the following guided ballistic ammunition:
- 9M79. The basic model of the rocket, which appeared along with the complex itself;
- 9M79M. The first modernization of the rocket. The changes mainly affected 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. Rocket of the Tochka-U complex with an increased flight range;
-9M79-GVM, 9M79M-GVM, 9M79-UT, etc. Mass and size and training models of combat missiles. They were produced with extensive use of their parts, but some of the units, such as the fuel block, igniters, 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. The 9N123 warhead in an explosion scatters fragments of three types: six thousand fragments weighing about 20 grams, four thousand ten-gram and 4.5 thousand submunitions weighing about five and a half grams. The fragments hit targets in an area of up to three hectares. Also worth noting is 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 unit is located at an angle to the axis of the warhead;
- 9N123K. A fragmentation warhead with 50 submunitions. Each of them is a fragmentation element weighing 7.45 kilograms, about one and a half of which are explosives. Each submunition scatters 316 shrapnel 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 shrapnel. Submunitions are stabilized in the fall by belt 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. So, 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 each loaded with poisonous substances, V-gas and soman, respectively. The total mass of the 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. 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 blocks have the same designations as combat ones, but with the letters "UT".
Self-propelled launcher 9P129M OTR "Tochka"
Transport-loading vehicle 9Т218 OTR "Tochka"
Transport vehicle 9Т238
The layout of the Tochka / Tochka-U rocket (diagram from the site
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 the 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 arms and military equipment IDEX (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Russian missilemen carried out five launches of Tochka-U missiles and hit conventional targets with a maximum deviation of no more than 45-50 meters.
Later, during the first war in Chechnya, a number of "Tochki" were actively used in shelling the positions of the militants. 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 on the use of cluster warheads and warheads of other types. The last at the moment combat use of the Tochka family of complexes refers to the War of the Three Eights in August 2008. Foreign sources talk about 10-15 missile launches at Georgian positions and targets.
Dislocation of a division of OTR 9K79 Tochka-U complexes in South Ossetia, August 10, 2008 (https://www.militaryphotos.net)
In addition to Russia, other countries, primarily the former Soviet republics, have Tochka missile systems. A 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 delivered 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 their 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 the modernization of missile systems, as a result of which they could significantly increase their combat capabilities. There was even the name of such a modernization - "Tochka-M". However, by the end of the last decade, the heads 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 use of the available stock of missiles. Over time, they will end their service and give way to newer tactical missile systems.
The 9M79M Tochka missile at the exercises of the rocket and artillery units of the 5th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District, Sergeevsky Combined Arms Range, March 2013. The launch of the 9M79M Tochka missiles was conditional. (https://pressa-tof.livejournal.com,
Launch of the 9M79-1 "Tochka-U" rocket of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan at the "Combat Commonwealth-2011" exercise, Sary-Shagan training ground, September 2011 (photo - Grigoriy Bedenko,
Installation "Tochka-U" with missile "Tochka" 152nd RBM during firing at the Pavlenkovo range in the Kaliningrad region, 08.10.2009 (photo from the Konst archive,
The Tochka missiles are launched by the 308th separate division of the 465 missile brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces, February 2012 (photo - Ramil Nasibulin,
