R-17 VTO/SS-1e (Scud-D)

July 2017 by Jacob Gleasun

Facts

Russian/NATO Designation R-17 VTO/SS-1e Scud D
Missile Variants Scud-A, Scud-B, Scud-C
Mobility and Role Short-Range Ballistic Missile
Designer/Producer Makeyev OKB
Range 300 km
Warhead Type Conventional, Nuclear, Chemical
Yield 985 kg (Conventional); 5-80 kt (nuclear)
Guidance System/Accuracy Inertial and Digital Scene Matching/50 CEP
Stages/Propellant 1/Liquid
IOC/Retirement 1980’s/Still Active
Status/Number of Units Operational/Unknown
Launch Vehicles Transport-Erector-Launcher (TEL)

Overview

The SS-1e Scud-D was developed by Makeyev OKB as an improved version on the previous generation of Scuds. Unlike the Scud-C, it can carry a nuclear payload as well as a conventional or chemical payload. Its improved guidance system with digital scene matching allowed for it to have a greatly improved Circular Error Probably of 50 meters.[1] The Scud-D is a single stage liquid fueled short-range ballistic missile which can be fired from a Transport-Erector-Launcher giving it great mobility.

Strategic Implications

The Scud-D greatly improved on the poor accuracy of the Scud-C while maintaining much of its other attributes.[2] However, by the early 1980’s when the Scud-D was ready to be deployed, the Soviet-made OTR-21 Tochka had been chosen to replace all Soviet Scud missiles.[3] This decision is partially responsible for the Scud-D not proliferating across the world to the same extent as the previous generations; particularly the Scud-B. Despite this, other states such as North Korea and Iran could not overlook adopting their own versions of the Scud-D because of the missile’s improvements over other Scud variants.[4]


Sources:

[1] https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/scud/

[2] https://fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/theater/r-11.htm

[3] https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/scud/

[4] https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/missile-threat-and-proliferation/todays-missile-threat/north-korea/scud-er/

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