According to military experts, during the hostilities, the warring parties strive to limit the confrontation at the forefront as much as possible. The fight is in the second echelons. This strategy allows you to save manpower and at the right time to inflict a decisive blow to the enemy. This is possible thanks to the use of aviation. However, the use of combat aircraft is limited by weather factors. Therefore, one of the most effective means of destruction is considered a missile system.
For several decades, such weapons have been in the arsenal of developed countries. In the Soviet Union, the Oka missile provided protection from a likely enemy for a long time. Description, purpose and technical characteristics of this complex are presented in the article.
Acquaintance
The Oka missile, or OTR-23 (GRAU 9K714), is the Soviet operational-tactical complex of the army level. In NATO, he is listed as the SS-23 Spider. Developed by the Kolomensk Design Bureau under the leadership of S.P. Invincible.
About OTR requirements
Due to the socio-political situation that developed in the 70s, the first developments of tactical and operational-tactical missile systems used exclusively nuclear military equipment. Missiles, such as Broadcasting Company and OTRK, differed in low accuracy of hit. In addition, they, according to experts, theoretically could not always successfully overcome the enemy’s missile defense systems. The soon changed military-political situation became the impetus for the use of conventional (non-nuclear) equipment in the Broadcasting Company and the Broadcasting Company. Specialists formulated the basic requirements that should be taken into account in the production of complexes. In accordance with these requirements, combat vehicles must be:
- Autonomous, mobile, maneuverable and have high maneuverability.
- Able to provide covert training with further missile strikes.
- Suitable for use in engineering and surveying unexplored starting positions.
- Reliable and easy to use.
- Independent of temperature conditions.
In addition, the OTRK should have a high probability of overcoming the means of the enemy’s missile defense. It is desirable to automate the processes of rocket preparation and launch as much as possible, as well as reduce the time required to deploy self-propelled launchers and prepare to launch the rocket.
History of creation
The Soviet rocket "Oka" was developed since 1973. OTR-23 planned to replace the 9K72 missile system. Since 1972, the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering has carried out design work on the tactical missile Uranus. Upon completion, the outline design was transferred to the Engineering Design Bureau in the city of Kolomna. Minister of Defense Industry S.A. Zverev in March 1973 signed a decree No. 169-57 on the start of work on a new operational-tactical missile system of the USSR. The Oka missile was created on the basis of the Uran UTR.
Landfill arrangement
Since 1975, preparatory work has been carried out for the flight tests of the Oka rocket, the place for which was the Kapustin Yar training ground, namely platform No. 231. Before testing, they prepared a launching position, repaired the assembly and test building, equipping it with a 15-meter canopy. A Vors camouflage coating was laid on top of it, the task of which is to provide protection from enemy space reconnaissance equipment. The landfill was completely ready in 1977.
About the test
1977 was the year of the first flight tests of the Oka missile of the USSR. The testing procedure, tasks and responsibilities of the commission members were agreed at a meeting that was held in September at the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau. In total, it was planned to launch 31 Oka missiles. State level testing was carried out from 1978 to 1979. Such characteristics of the Oka rocket were tested as the effect on the complex of electromagnetic radiation and the features of the operation of OTR in hot and cold climates. The first launch was in October 1977. The Oka missile made a small flight. According to experts, the launch by the complex was carried out normally, and the flight of 8 thousand meters occurred due to a malfunction of the on-board processor.
About destination
The Soviet Oka missile is capable of effectively destroying small and small-sized enemy targets: missile systems, multiple launch rocket systems, long-range artillery, enemy aircraft located at aerodromes, command posts, important communications centers, bases and arsenals. In addition, according to experts, with the help of the OTR-23 complex it is possible to destroy the most important enemy industrial infrastructure.
About the composition of the complex
OTR-23 was a system of the following components:
- Solid rocket 9K714.
- Systems responsible for guiding the missile at the target and control during its flight.
- Self-propelled launcher.
- Chassis.
- Transport and loading machine.
- Learning Tools.
- Maintenance Machines.
About guidance and control system
The correction of the trajectory of the Oka combat missile on the active flight site was carried out by the 9B81 system. Management was made by special rotary engine nozzles and trellised aerodynamic rudders. The control equipment was represented by the following components:
- Gyroscopic command device (KGP) 9B86. For OTR-23, a gyrostabilized platform is provided on which speed and acceleration sensors are located.
- Digital computing device 9B84.
- Analogue calculator 9B83.
- Automation unit.
- Block 9B813, adjusting the power supply.
- Optoelectronic system 9Sh133, which is responsible for aiming. OTR "Point" is also equipped with a similar system.
How did the 9B81 system work?
Guidance missiles was carried out when it was in an upright position in the launcher. To do this, it was necessary to turn the gyrostabilized platform towards the target. Starting, the rocket began to move toward a given object at an angle provided for it. Even after she overcame the active sector, the management system did not stop working. Improving the accuracy of the rocket provided aerodynamic rudders, which began to function in dense atmospheric layers.
Overcoming the countermeasures of enemy missile defense was possible through the use of the following techniques:
- Maneuvering immediately after rocket launch.
- Establish a high flight path.
- Giving a rocket high speed.
- Equipping the head with a special heat-resistant coating.
- The launch of several active and passive interference after disconnecting the warhead (warhead). Their task is to imitate the warheads of the gun.
According to experts, theoretically, guidance of anti-missile defense systems of the enemy would be difficult if the rocket was fueled with special additives. However, it was not possible to put this version into practice.
About SPU and chassis
The complex is equipped with a self-propelled launcher (SPU) 9P71. The manufacturer of prototypes was the Barricades factory. Serial production was carried out in Kazakhstan by employees of the Petropavlovsk Heavy Engineering Plant named after Lenin. A self-propelled launcher with two missiles was installed on a transport-loading machine (TZM 9T230) with a BAZ-6944 chassis. The seat of the management cabin was the front of the chassis. BAZ consisted of a motor compartment and a cargo compartment. An independent torsion bar suspension and wide-pressure tires with variable pressure are provided for the eight-wheeled chassis. The turns were performed by the first two pairs of wheels. In addition, the car had two water-jet propulsion devices, with the help of which the BAZ overcame water obstacles. Missiles on SPU were located openly, without the use of transport and launch containers. The place for the location of the launch and test-launch equipment, communications and aiming systems was the inside of the SPU.
About the transport car
Missiles were transported in special containers 9Y249. For this purpose, 9T240 transport vehicles were used. Separate 9Y251 containers were intended for transportation of missile warheads.
About 9K714
The complex was equipped with a 9K714 solid propellant rocket, which was characterized by a single-stage execution scheme. In addition, the Oka rocket (photo presented in the article) had a detachable warhead. In the production of rocket blocks used reinforced carbon fiber.
A special heat-protective layer was applied on top of the surface. The layout of the rocket is represented by the following compartments:
- Motor. The nozzle block and aerodynamic rudders were located in it.
- Instrument.
- Transitional. It was a cone-shaped product connecting a rocket block and warhead. The weight of the adapter was 80 kg.
In addition, the complex had a detachable warhead. The warhead separation procedure was carried out by shooting pyro-bolts, after which the brake engine was turned on in the rocket block.
The place of the brake propulsion system was the tail of the unit. This installation was tested during 1978-1983. In 9K714, an inertial management system was used. Before starting, the replacement of the head part took no more than 15 minutes. In the active phase of the flight, the 9K714 was able to reach a speed of 4M. Mass production of solid rockets was carried out by the Votkinsk Engineering Plant.
About combat equipment
9K714 was represented by the following options:
- 9K714B. Contained the AA-75 nuclear warhead. The indicator of its maximum range was 500 thousand meters.
- 9M714F. A high-explosive fragmentation type of warhead was provided for the rocket. The mass of MS did not exceed 450 kg. The maximum range of the rocket is not more than 450 thousand meters.
- 9M714K. Cluster warheads were provided for missiles. MS weighed in the range of 715 kg. They contained submunitions of 95 units, weighing 4 kg. Upon reaching a solid-propellant rocket 3 km high, its head was opened. Amazed areas of up to 100 thousand square meters.
In addition to the above options, the head of 9K714 missiles could also contain chemical poisonous substances.
On the main tactical and technical characteristics of the rocket "Oka"
- OTR-23 is an operational-tactical missile system, armed with the Russian army in the 80s of the last century.
- It was designed for a minimum firing range of 15 thousand meters.
- The maximum missile range was 120 thousand meters.
- He was distinguished by high-precision shooting.
- The starting mass of the complex was 2010 kg.
- Preparing to launch a rocket took no more than 2 minutes.
- Weight PU with 9K714 - 181 145 kg.
- The launcher on a flat surface moved at a speed of 60 km / h, swimming - 8 km / h.
- A fully loaded combat vehicle had a fuel reserve of 650 km.
- Technically, BM was designed to overcome at least 15 thousand meters.
- The crew consisted of three people.
- The solid-fuel rocket functioned properly in the temperature range from -40 to +50 degrees.
- The operational period of 9K714 was no more than 10 years.
- The mass of the warhead of the rocket is 482 kg.
- Missile weight without warhead - 3990 kg.
Years of service
OTR-23 was adopted in 1980. Serial production of tactical missile systems was carried out during 1979-1987. In 1987, after the Soviet-American meeting in Washington in December, the leadership of the USSR decided to eliminate medium and short-range missiles.
Since the Oka complex had a range of up to 400 thousand meters, according to experts, it should not have been included in this list. Nevertheless, despite the compliance with generally accepted criteria, OTR-23 has become one of the reduced complexes.
