Scud Missile System

Full Specifications

Scud Missile: Soviet SRBM Legacy Weapon System

The Scud missile represents one of the most influential and widely proliferated tactical ballistic missiles in modern military history. Originally developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, this short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) gained international notoriety for its use in regional conflicts, including the Gulf War and Iran-Iraq War. Designed as a mobile, liquid-fueled system capable of delivering conventional, chemical, or nuclear payloads, the Scud provided Soviet and allied forces with a flexible strike capability against enemy troop concentrations, airfields, and infrastructure.

Manufacturer

The Scud series, particularly the R-17/R-300 Elbrus (SS-1c Scud-B), was developed and manufactured in the Soviet Union, primarily by the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant. While Russia has largely phased out the system, numerous variants and derivatives have been produced under license or reverse-engineered by countries including North Korea, Iran, and Iraq.

Speed and Range

The Scud-B achieves a maximum speed of Mach 5 during its terminal phase. It has an operational range of approximately 300 km with a 985 kg payload. Earlier Scud-A variants offered shorter ranges around 180 km, while extended modifications reached up to 600-700 km in some derivatives.

Cost/Price

Exact current pricing is difficult to determine due to the system’s age and black-market proliferation, but historical estimates for Scud systems and missiles range from several hundred thousand to a few million dollars per unit, depending on variant, condition, and support equipment. This relatively low cost contributed to its widespread adoption by state and non-state actors.

The Scud’s inertial guidance system offers limited accuracy (CEP of 450-900 meters), making it primarily an area-effect weapon. Its single-stage liquid propellant engine requires significant preparation time (around 1 hour) before launch from mobile TELs like the MAZ-543. Despite its obsolescence compared to modern precision-guided systems, the Scud remains a relevant threat in asymmetric warfare due to its simplicity and payload flexibility.