R-17

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Short-range ballistic missile. Family: V-2. Country: Russia. Status: Active. Other Designations: R-17. Department of Defence Designation: SS-1C. ASCC Reporting Name: Scud C. Article Number: 9K72. Manufacturer's Designation: R-17. Popular Name: Aerofan. Launch System: Elbrus. Complex: 9K72.

The final refinement of the R-11 design, the R-17, was exported widely and became infamous around the world by its ASCC reporting name - "Scud". It was perhaps the most famous ballistic missile of the post-war period due to its use in the Iran-Iraq 'War of the Cities' and the Gulf War. This was the definitive production version of what was essentially a storable-propellant rocket with the performance of the V-2. The original design was by Makeyev but the missile itself was produced by the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant.

In 1958-1959 Makeyev designed and built the first mock-up of the new missile. But by then the decision was made to devote the bureau to sea-launched missiles, and in 1959 the program was transferred to Votkinsk Machine Building Plant. There design work continued with first launch in 1961 and acceptance into military service in 1964. Later built under license in Iraq and North Korea.

In the 1980s, TsNIIAG (Central Research Institute of Automatics and Hydraulics ) began development of an optronically-guided terrain-comparison and map-matching re-entry vehicle for the R-17. TsNIIAG specialists developed software, an optronic guidance system, onboard equipment for the re-entry vehicle control system, ground-based data gathering equipment, and re-entry vehicle targeting equipment. To ensure the reliability of the guidance system in any weather, and over any terrain, a target databank was developed of more than 10,000 images of the Earth’s surface made at different times of day and in different seasons of the year. After a series of ground tests the system’s equipment components and software were substantially improved. During hundreds of flights, the system’s accuracy and operating reliability in any weather and over any terrain were assessed.

At the final stage of the tests, missiles fitted with target re-entry vehicles were launched. Their point-of-impact error did not exceed a few dozen meters. The work on the R-17 missile equipped with an optronic guidance system was successfully completed, and the missile was subsequently placed in operational service.

Iraq Launched 331 Scud-B missiles at Iran during the Iran-Iraq war, and 189 al-Hussein missiles at Iranian cities during the 1988 "War of the Cities." In the first Iraq War, between January 18 and February 26, 1991, 40 Scuds were launched by Iraq against Israel and 46 against Saudi Arabia. This handful of launches had enormous operational impact on Coalition operations.

Efforts by Coalition air forces to suppress Iraqi launches ran into many problems. Key portions of the target set -- notably the presurveyed launch sites and hiding places used by the mobile launchers -- were not identified before 17 January 1991, and, even in the face of intense efforts to find and destroy them, the mobile launchers proved remarkably elusive and survivable. Although Iraq's average weekly launch rate of modified Scuds during Desert Storm (14.7 launches per week) was lower than it had been during the 1988 "war of the cities," and while launch rates generally declined over the course of the Gulf War, the actual destruction of any Iraqi mobile launchers by fixed-wing Coalition aircraft was impossible to confirm. Coalition aircrews reported destroying around eighty mobile launchers; another score or so were claimed by special operations forces. Most of these reports undoubtedly stemmed from attacks that did destroy objects found in the Scud launch areas. But most, if not all, of the objects involved appear to have been decoys, vehicles such as tanker trucks that had infrared and radar signatures impossible to distinguish from those of mobile launchers and their associated support vehicles, and other objects unfortunate enough to provide "Scud-like" signatures. Over the 43 days of Desert Storm, roughly 1,500 strikes were carried out against targets associated with Iraqi ballistic missile capabilities.

Manufacturer: Makeyev. Launches: 35. Failures: 5. Success Rate: 85.71%. First Launch Date: 1961-01-01. Last Launch Date: 2007-04-06. Launch data is: continuing. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 81.300 kN (18,277 lbf). Total Mass: 6,350 kg (13,990 lb). Core Diameter: 0.85 m (2.80 ft). Total Length: 13.00 m (42.00 ft). Span: 1.80 m (5.90 ft). Standard warhead mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Maximum range: 300 km (180 mi). Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket. Guidance: Inertial + Optical correlation.

Stage1: 1 x .

Version:

Scud. Status: Active.

Manufacturer: Votinsk. Launches: 5. First Launch Date: 1997-02-07. Last Launch Date: 2007-04-06. Apogee: 72 km (44 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 5,500 kg (12,100 lb). Core Diameter: 0.88 m (2.88 ft). Total Length: 11.20 m (36.70 ft).

Stage1: 1 x R-17. Gross Mass: 5,385 kg (11,871 lb). Empty Mass: 1,645 kg (3,626 lb). Motor: 1 x Isayev R-17. Thrust (vac): 93.100 kN (20,930 lbf). Isp: 251 sec. Burn time: 95 sec. Length: 7.43 m (24.37 ft). Diameter: 0.96 m (3.14 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/Kerosene.

Version:

Scud B. Status: Active. ASCC Reporting Name: Scud B.

Launches: 3. First Launch Date: 2002-11-14. Last Launch Date: 2005-05-27. Apogee: 76 km (47 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Core Diameter: 0.88 m (2.88 ft). Total Length: 11.30 m (37.00 ft). Maximum range: 300 km (180 mi).

Stage1: 1 x R-17. Gross Mass: 5,385 kg (11,871 lb). Empty Mass: 1,645 kg (3,626 lb). Motor: 1 x Isayev R-17. Thrust (vac): 93.100 kN (20,930 lbf). Isp: 251 sec. Burn time: 95 sec. Length: 7.43 m (24.37 ft). Diameter: 0.96 m (3.14 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/Kerosene.

Version:

Scud D. Status: Active. ASCC Reporting Name: Scud D.

Manufacturer: Korea North. Launches: 5. First Launch Date: 2000-09-01. Last Launch Date: 2007-01-28. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 16,000 kg (35,000 lb). Core Diameter: 1.30 m (4.20 ft). Total Length: 16.00 m (52.00 ft).

Stage1: 1 x R-17. Gross Mass: 5,385 kg (11,871 lb). Empty Mass: 1,645 kg (3,626 lb). Motor: 1 x Isayev R-17. Thrust (vac): 93.100 kN (20,930 lbf). Isp: 251 sec. Burn time: 95 sec. Length: 7.43 m (24.37 ft). Diameter: 0.96 m (3.14 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/Kerosene.

Version:

I-Scud. IOC: 1994.

Standard warhead mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Maximum range: 320 km (190 mi). Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket. Guidance: Inertial. Version:

Hwasong 5. Country: Korea North. Status: Retired 1984.

Single stage tactical ballistic missile. Derived from Russian R-17. The Hwasong 5-derivative had a 340 km range.

Manufacturer: Korea North. Launches: 3. First Launch Date: 1984-04-01. Last Launch Date: 1984-09-01. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 90.000 kN (20,232 lbf). Total Mass: 5,860 kg (12,910 lb). Core Diameter: 0.85 m (2.80 ft). Total Length: 11.19 m (36.71 ft). Span: 1.80 m (5.90 ft). Standard warhead mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Maximum range: 340 km (210 mi).

Stage1: 1 x Hwasong 5. Gross Mass: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb). Motor: 1 x S2.253. Thrust (vac): 93.000 kN (20,907 lbf). Length: 10.00 m (32.00 ft). Diameter: 0.88 m (2.88 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/Kerosene.

Version:

Hwasong 6. Country: Korea North. Status: Active.

Single stage tactical ballistic missile. Derived from the Russian R-17. The Hwasong 6-derivative had a 500 km range, presumably with a reduced payload.

Manufacturer: Korea North. Launches: 11. First Launch Date: 1990-06-01. Last Launch Date: 2006-07-04. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 90.000 kN (20,232 lbf). Total Mass: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb). Core Diameter: 0.85 m (2.80 ft). Total Length: 11.19 m (36.71 ft). Span: 1.80 m (5.90 ft). Standard warhead mass: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Maximum range: 500 km (310 mi).

Stage1: 1 x Hwasong 6. Gross Mass: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb). Motor: 1 x S2.253. Thrust (vac): 93.000 kN (20,907 lbf). Length: 10.00 m (32.00 ft). Diameter: 0.88 m (2.88 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/Kerosene.

Version:

Al Abbas. Intermediate range ballistic missile. IOC: 1990. Country: Iraq.

Iraqi modification of the R-17 with an 800-km range, achieved by reducing warhead weight to 125 kg, and increasing propellant load by 30 percent .

Al Abbas could be fired only from static launchers.

Total Mass: 7,700 kg (16,900 lb). Core Diameter: 0.85 m (2.80 ft). Total Length: 13.75 m (45.11 ft). Span: 1.80 m (5.90 ft). Standard warhead mass: 125 kg (275 lb). Maximum range: 800 km (490 mi). Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket. Version:

Al Hussein.
Al Hussein
Credit - US Congress
Intermediate range ballistic missile. IOC: 1988. Country: Iraq. Status: Retired 1991.

Iraqi modification of the R-17 that doubled the missile's range at the expense of more than halving the payload and accuracy.

In the Iran-Iraq War, the Iraqis needed a missile with the range to bombard Tehran in reply to Iranian attacks on Baghdad. The Al-Hussein was an Iraqi modification of Soviet-supplied R-17 Scud B tactical missiles. The oxidizer tank was lengthened by 0.85 m, and the fuel tank by 0.45 m. The warhead was reduced from 1000 kg to 500 kg (some sources say 250 kg). These changes increased the range from 280 to 600 km (some sources say 650 kg), although the accuracy decreased correspondingly, from 1.0 km CEP to 3.3 km. The modifications weakened the structure of the missile, causing it to disintegrate during re-entry. This later actually proved to be an advantage, since the fragments served as decoys - the American Patriot missile system could not differentiate the warhead from the missile fragments.

The missile was used against Tehran during the War of the Cities, and later against coalition forces in Saudi Arabia during the 1991 Gulf War. Of the 93 total missiles launched in 1991, 88 were Al-Husseins - 42 against Israel and 46 against Saudi Arabia, resulting in 28 deaths.

One variant of the Al Hussein, the Al Hijara (the stones) used a concrete warhead. At least one was fired against the Israeli nuclear complex at Dimona. VX nerve gas warheads were developed for the missile but never used.

Manufacturer: Iraq. Launches: 59. First Launch Date: 1990-08-15. Last Launch Date: 1991-02-25. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 90.000 kN (20,232 lbf). Total Mass: 6,800 kg (14,900 lb). Core Diameter: 0.85 m (2.80 ft). Total Length: 12.20 m (40.00 ft). Span: 1.80 m (5.90 ft). Standard warhead mass: 250 kg (550 lb). Maximum range: 650 km (400 mi). Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket.

Stage1: 1 x R-17. Gross Mass: 5,385 kg (11,871 lb). Empty Mass: 1,645 kg (3,626 lb). Motor: 1 x Isayev R-17. Thrust (vac): 93.100 kN (20,930 lbf). Isp: 251 sec. Burn time: 95 sec. Length: 7.43 m (24.37 ft). Diameter: 0.96 m (3.14 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/Kerosene.

R-17 Chronology

1958 During the Year - Development of the R-17 begins In 1958-1959 Makeyev designed and built the first mock-up of a new design missile to rectify the shortcomings of the R-11. The R-17 would later become infamous around the world as the 'Scud-B'. The decision was made to devote the Makeyev bureau to sea-launched missiles, and in 1959 the program was transferred to Votkinsk Machine Building Plant.

1961 During the Year - R-17 (Scud B) first launch The program was conducted by the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant. There design work continued with first launch in 1961 and acceptance into military service in 1964.

1964 Duing the year - R-17 (Scud B) accepted for military service

1964 February 5 - 06:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 FAILURE: Failure. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1964 February 11 - 12:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 FAILURE: Failure. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1964 March 15 - 14:12 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 278 km (172 mi).

1964 April 8 - 08:41 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 278 km (172 mi).

1964 April 25 - 06:05 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 FAILURE: Failure. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1964 July 18 - 04:30 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1964 August 12 - 03:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 246 km (152 mi).

1964 September 2 - 16:45 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 FAILURE: Failure. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1964 October 10 - 07:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 254 km (157 mi).

1964 October 16 - 12:10 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 254 km (157 mi).

1964 October 29 - 12:15 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 248 km (154 mi).

1964 November 28 - 11:14 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1964 December 21 - 09:44 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1965 January 15 - 15:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1965 January 30 - 05:15 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 206 km (128 mi).

1965 February 12 - 12:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1965 February 20 - 06:30 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 FAILURE: Failure. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1965 March 5 - 11:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1965 March 13 - 08:20 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 207 km (128 mi).

1965 April 24 - 10:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1965 May 26 - 17:30 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. R-17 KY-2 Agency: MVS. Apogee: 231 km (143 mi).

1984 April 1 - Gitdaeryung -. Test mission Agency: DPRK. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1984 September 1 - Gitdaeryung -. Test mission Agency: DPRK. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1990 June 1 - Gitdaeryung -. Test mission Agency: DPRK. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1990 August 15 - Scud Batteries -. Weapon test Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1990 December 1 - Scud Batteries -. Weapon/test Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 17 - Scud Batteries -. Israel Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 19 - Scud Batteries -. Israel Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 20 - 18:43 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Dhahran Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 21 - 08:29 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Dhahran Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 21 - 09:42 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 21 - 19:18 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Combat launch - target: Al Jubail Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 22 - Scud Batteries -. Israel Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 22 - 00:41 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 22 - 04:10 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Dhahran Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 23 - 19:54 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Dhahran Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 23 - 19:54 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Israel Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 23 - 19:54 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 25 - Scud Batteries -. Israel Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 25 - 19:23 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 26 - Scud Batteries -. Israel Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 26 - 00:28 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Dhahran Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 26 - 19:46 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 January 28 - 17:55 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 1 - Scud Batteries -. Israel Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 2 - Scud Batteries -. Israel Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 2 - 21:41 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 7 - 22:54 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 11 - 19:20 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 14 - 08:45 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Hafir Al Batin Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 15 - 23:01 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Combat launch - target: Al Jubail Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 21 - 14:06 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Combat launch - target: King Khalid Military City Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 21 - 18:00 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Combat launch - target: King Khalid Military City Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 21 - 23:31 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Bahrain Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 23 - 01:59 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Dhahran Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 24 - Scud Batteries -. Israel Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 24 - 01:32 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 24 - 06:23 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Riyadh Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 24 - 09:17 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Combat launch - target: King Khalid Military City Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 25 - 17:32 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Dhahran Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 February 25 - 22:26 GMT - Scud Batteries -. Qatar Agency: IRAQ. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1991 May 1 - Qom -. Test mission Agency: IRAN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1991 July 1 - Chiha-ri -. Test mission Agency: DPRK. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1992 July 1 - Hama-Allepo -. Test mission Agency: SYRIA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1992 July 1 - Hama-Allepo -. Agency: SYRIA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1993 May 29 - Gitdaeryung -. Test mission Agency: DPRK. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1993 May 30 - Gitdaeryung -. Test mission Agency: DPRK. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1994 Q3 - Hama-Allepo -. Hwasong 6 Scud C Test mission Agency: SYRIA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1997 February 7 - Bigen Island -. Scud FMA Willow Dune Target mission Agency: USA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1997 March 19 - Bigen Island -. Scud FMA Willow Dune Target mission Agency: USA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

2000 September 1 - Hama-Allepo -. Test mission Agency: Syria. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

2000 September 23 - Hama-Allepo -. Agency: Syria. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

2002 November 14 - 19:25 GMT - Vandenberg LF7632. GMDS Agency: MDA. Apogee: 46 km (28 mi).

2002 November 25 - 18:30 GMT - Vandenberg LF7632. GMDS test Agency: MDA. Apogee: 84 km (52 mi).

2004 July 29 - Point Mugu -. Arrow Target mission Agency: MDA. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).

2005 May 27 - Hama-Allepo -. Scud D Agency: SYRIA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

2005 May 27 - Hama-Allepo -. Agency: SYRIA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

2006 July 4 - 18:32 GMT - Gitdaeryung -. Agency: CMIK. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

2006 July 4 - 22:12 GMT - Gitdaeryung -. North Korean missile test Agency: CMIK. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

2007 January 27 - 05:20 GMT - Barking Sands -. Scud FMA FMA Agency: USA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

2007 January 28 - Hama-Allepo -. Scud D Long range test Long range test Agency: SYRIA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

2007 April 6 - 06:42 GMT - Barking Sands -. Scud FMA FMA Agency: USA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

Bibliography:

McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
Semenov, Yu. P., S P Korolev Space Corporation Energia, RKK Energia, 1994.

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