Tondar-69 (M7, CSS-8)

June 5th, 2018

Facts

Designation Tondar-69 (CSS-8)
Missile Variants N/A
Mobility Road-Mobile
Designer/Producer China
Range 150KM
Warhead Type and Weight HE, 190 kg
MIRV and Yield No MIRV
Guidance System/ Accuracy Unknown
Stages/ Propellant Two Stage/ Solid Propellant
IOC 1992
Status/ Number of Units Estimated 100

Development

The Iranian CSS-8 (M-7) is a short range, solid fueled, ballistic missile. It is believed Iran acquired 200 of the CSS-8 (M-7) from China in the late 1980s. [1] Iran later renamed the system Tondar-69. The missile has a range of 150km (93 miles) and carries a payload of 190kg. This missile is also capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The CSS-8 (M-7) is designed to launch from a tracked launcher vehicle; thus, as a road mobile system, the CSS-8 (M-7) can be launched from any location. [2] Although the CSS-8 (M-7) entered into service in 1992, it may soon become obsolete as less than 100 of the missiles are in operation since only 20 tracked launcher vehicles are in service. [3] Furthermore, the system is reported to have poor accuracy.

css-8 m7Strategic Implications

Given the CSS-8 (M-7) short range (150km) and poor accuracy, it poses a limited threat to the Middle East.


[1] Missile Threat. “Tondar 69 Missile Threat.” Last modified November 3, 2012. http://missilethreat.com/missiles/tondar-69/.

[2] Andrew Feicker. “Iran’s Ballistic Missile Capabilities.” Congressional Research Service (2004): pg 1-2. Accessed April 10, 2014. http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/39332.pdf.

[3] Missile Threat, 2012.

Missile Threat and Proliferation

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