Thread by @CalamineW

(1/27) Let's look at Tochka-U.

(2/27) Work on the Tochka ('Point') tactical rocket complex officially began in 1968. It was to replace the Luna and Luna-M divisional rocket systems. These were unguided spin-stabilised rockets with CEPs on the order of ~500 m, and the Soviets wanted something more accurate.

(3/27) The Tochka's chief designer was Sergey Nepobedimiy of KB Mashinostroeniya, responsible for overall system integration. You may be familiar with some of his other work.

(4/27) The original 9K79 Tochka complex entered service in 1976, whose missiles had a maximum range of 70 km. This was followed by the improved extended range (120 km) Tochka-U in 1989.

(5/27) The Tochka's 9M79 missile family bears no resemblance to the Luna rockets, but it does have a relative with which it shares components and assemblies, but few people remember it today.

(6/27) It is the V-611 of the Shtorm naval SAM complex.

(7/27) In fact, there were two parallel projects to convert Shtorm missiles into ballistic missiles: the radio-command Yastreb and the inertial-guidance Tochka. You can read more about it here:
en.topwar.ru/101629-proekt-…

(8/27) The 9M79 missiles are single-stage inertially-guided missiles. They employ lattice fin control surfaces, together with exhaust vanes for steering the missile while the rocket motor is active.
en.missilery.info/missile/tochka

(9/27) The original 9M79 and 9M79M missiles use DAP-15V as their propellant, which is a mixture of ammonium perchlorate with rubber and aluminum powder. The extended-range 9M791 of the Tochka-U has an unknown different mixture.
en.missilery.info/missile/tochka…

(10/27) There are two types of conventional warheads available. The first is the unitary HE 9N123F(-1F). The warhead is inclined at 10°. Tochka missiles are programmed to dive down on their targets at 80° once the radio altimeter senses the missile is at 450 m altitude.

(11/27) A laser altimeter will detonate the warhead at ~15 m above the target. The warhead itself contains 162.5 kg of TG20 RDX-TNT. Detonation supposedly results in 14,500 fragments and the effective damage area rated at 2-3 ha.
web-archive-org.translate.goog/web/2020063014…

(12/27) The airburst enhances the effectiveness of the warhead explosion and fragmentation.

(13/27) The other conventional type is the 9N123K(-1K) cluster warhead. This warhead will detonate 2.25 km above the target, scattering 50 9N24 cluster munitions, each with 1.45 kg of A-IX-20 explosive. The damage area is rated at 3.5-7 ha.
armamentresearch.com/9n123k-cluster…

(14/27) The Russian programme Voennoe Delo says 'metaphorically' the system can hit a football at 120 km. This is, of course, ridiculous to expect to do reliably.

(15/27) The actual CEP figures are more like this:

(16/27) A more realistic example from Belarus:

(17/27) The full Tochka(-U) complex consists of many components (including spare parts, training simulators, missile testing equipment, and more), but the two components you are most likely to see in the field are the 9P129(M-1) TEL and the 9T218(-1) transloader.

(18/27) The 9P129 and 9T218 are both made by the Bryansk Auto Factory (BAZ) and have the factory indices 5921 and 5922. They are fully amphibious vehicles, powered by 300 hp 5D20K-300 V-6 diesels.


trucksplanet.com/catalog/model.…
argun-kazakhstan.com/products/5d20k…

(19/27) The 9P129 is fully autonomous, requiring no additional support equipment to perform a launch. Each battery has 3 TELs. The launch preparation time coming from a march is 16 min.

(20/27) The missiles are stored fully enclosed inside the TEL. The missile is not raised until 15 s before launch, to an angle of 78°. The stabiliser jacks must be lowered prior to launch. These can all be done without exiting the vehicle.

(21/27) Once the missile has been launched, the TEL can quickly get moving again. The rated time is 1.5 min.

(22/27) The 9T218 transloader carries two missiles in stored condition with folded fins. It is equipped with a hoist for loading missiles into the TEL. There is no roof like on the TEL, only canvas covering the hoist and missiles.

(23/27) Ukraine and Russia both use the Tochka(-U). In the ZSU, they are used exclusively by the 19th 'Sviata Barbara' Missile Brigade.
uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=auto…

(24/27) This unit has achieved some notable successes, such as the Millerovo airbase hit, the Saratov sinking, and played an important role in the battle for Chernihiv, particularly delaying the Russians crossing the Desna river.

(25/27) Prior to the arrival of HIMARS and Storm Shadow, the Tochka was Ukraine's most valuable long range strike asset. The main obstacle is they don't make Tochka missiles. Yuzhnoye upkeeps them, but to my knowledge does not make new missiles.

(26/27) Iskander was supposed to replace Tochka in Russian service, but there is evidence the Russians continue to use the Tochka. Most notoriously, it was a Russian Tochka probably responsible for the Kramatorsk station attack.
bellingcat.com/news/2022/04/1…

(27/27) Tochka is not as accurate as more modern weapons like ATACMS or Storm Shadow, but it is still a useful tactical missile, and both sides will likely try to keep using it as long as they can. Such systems are in great shortage for both Russia and Ukraine.

(28/27) Oh, I forgot to mention this, but the Ukrainian Tochkas appear to have been modernised with satnavs and modern comms as well. I don't know about Russian ones.

(29/27) 2018 video from the MO RF showing Tochka in Russian service.

(30/27) Tochka!

(with apologies to Chris Bellamy's 'Red God of War')

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1538212395314716675

(31/27) 5921/5922 repair manual