Soviet ballistic missiles, developed and adopted for service as early as the fifties, worried command and political leadership of Western countries today.Decades have passed, at launch sites long ago took the place of other, more modern, system, development of new, and the media continue to mention the word "Scud".
R-11 "Elbrus" was first successfully launched in 1953, the Soviet armed forces got it in 1957.By today's standards, it is a very simple device, the head portion is not separated, control devices placed between the oxidizer and fuel tanks.Accuracy of getting poor, which is partly offset by a powerful explosive charge and the fact that unburnt fuel to create additional striking effect.
soon this weapon received its NATO designation SS-conditioned 1, or "Scud".The missile was delivered to countries that at the turn of the 50s and 60s were regarded as friendly and even allied.Iran, Iraq, Egypt, North Korea, Syria, Libya, received the latest weapons at the time, were awarded a weighty argument in disputes with its neighbors.Both Yemen (North and South) shot each other by the Soviet R-17 and R-11.Moreover, the engineering staff trained again in the majority in the Soviet universities, have begun to modernize, improve and explore the possibilities of production organization similar to your own samples.
What is so terrible that the old and imperfect "Scud"?Rocket has become so popular in countries with high scientific and technical potential for two main reasons.
The first of these is characteristic of the entire Soviet military equipment simplicity and reliability.To understand the basic units of the device were able and North Korean communists and Iranian fundamentalists and Egyptian nationalists.But not this was the main reason.
Few in the world modern weapons that are so stealthy as "Scud".The missile is carried on the platform, find it difficult, and even more difficult to bring down.During "Operation Desert Storm" in spite of the overwhelming dominance of the US Air Force, they were unable to destroy the earth any of launchers.With the purpose of intercepting flying things were better, but not much.Complexes "Patriot" knocked about every fifth missile missile cordon passed the rest of Israel, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.Effective way to ensure the destruction of "Scud" does not currently exist.
to acquire missile technology seeking not only rogue states that claim to regional leadership but also terrorist organizations.After the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan government forces of the country have received several complexes "Elbrus".The Taliban seized the weapon.His fate is unknown, but as a well-known Chekhov's gun, missile R-17 may one day shoot.In which country is going to happen, who will press the button "start": Kurdish separatist fighter Al-Qaeda or Afghan mujahideen?
Application Russian army remaining "Scuds" expiring storage during the fighting in Chechnya showed tremendous reliability of the old Soviet equipment.There has been no failure.
