[Back]
[Index]
[Next] 		Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat
National Air Intelligence Center NAIC-1031-0985-98

SRBMs

Prithvi Several countries are now producing and/or developing SRBM systems, while many other countries have purchased missiles or missile technologies from one or more of the missile producers. New SRBM systems, such as the Russian SS-X-26, are in development.

The Russian SS-lc Mod 1, also called the SCUD B. has been exported to more countries than any other type of guided ballistic missile and has proven to be a versatile and adaptable weapon. For example, the Iraqi SCUDs used during the Persian Gulf War had been modified to double their range. North Korea has produced its own version of the SCUD B. as well as the SCUD C, an extended-range version of the SCUD B.

Although the SCUD was originally designed as a tactical battlefield support weapon, many countries view it and other SRBM systems as strategic weapons to be used against urban areas. The Iraqis used extended- range SCUDs as strategic weapons during both the Iran-Iraq War and the Persian Gulf War. In the future, other countries could modify SCUDs to significantly improve their accuracy and use them against high-value military targets as well as cities.

The SCUD missile is typically carried on a four-axle transporter-erector-launcher SCUD Deployment

SS-21 The SS-21 is a very accurate missile that can be launched quickly after its launcher comes to a stop.

In 1995 and 1996, CSS-6 missiles were fired at target areas near the coast of Taiwan in a demonstration of Chinese military strength. CSS-X-7

SRBM Characteristics
Missile Producer Propellant Deployment
Mode		 Maximum
Range		 (miles)
SCUD B (SS-1c Mods)RussiaLiquidRoad-mobile185
SS-1c Mod 2RussiaLiquidRoad-mobile150+
SS-21 Mod 2RussiaSolidRoad-mobile47
SS-21 Mod 3RussiaSolidRoad-mobile75
SS-23Russia*SolidRoad-mobile185+
SS-X-26RussiaSolidRoad-mobile185+
CSS-6ChinaSolidRoad-mobile370
CSS-X-7ChinaSolidRoad-mobile185
CSS-8ChinaFirst stage: solid
Second stage: liquid		Road-mobile93
SCUD BNorth KoreaLiquidRoad-mobile185
SCUD CNorth KoreaLiquidRoad-mobile310
Prithvi IIndiaLiquidRoad-mobile93
Prithvi IIIndiaLiquidRoad-mobile155
Hatf-1PakistanSolidRoad-mobile50
New SRBM**PakistanSolidRoad-mobile350+
Vector**EgyptSolidRoad-mobile425+
Al HusseinIraqLiquidRoad-mobile350+
Al SamoudIraqLiquidRoad-mobile90+
* No SS-23 missiles are deployed in Russia; some remain in Bulgaria and Slovakia.
**Missile has not yet been flight-tested.

Note: All ranges are approximate.

SRBM Order of Battle - Selected Countries
CountryMissile
System 		No. of
Launchers
Afghanistan SCUD B Fewer than 50
Belarus SCUD B Fewer than 50
SS-21 Fewer than 100
Bulgaria SCUD B Fewer than 50
SS-23 Fewer than 50
ChinaCSS-6 Fewer than 50
CSS-X-7 Not yet deployed
Egypt SCUD B Fewer than 50
Vector Not yet deployed
India Prithvi Fewer than 50
Iran CSS-8 Fewer than 50
SCUD B Fewer than 50
SCUD C Fewer than 50
IraqAl Hussein Undetermined
Al Samoud Not yet deployed
Kazakhstan SCUD B Fewer than 50
SS-21 Fewer than 50
Libya SCUD B Fewer than 100
North Korea SCUD B Fewer than 50
SCUD C Fewer than 50
Pakistan Hatf-1 Undetermined
CSS-X-7 (M-11 ) Fewer than 50
Russia SCUD B More than 250
SS-1c Mod 2 Undetermined
SS-21 More than 200
SS-X-26 Not yet deployed
Slovakia SS-21 Fewer than 50
SS-23 Fewer than 50
Syria SCUD B Fewer than 50
SCUD C Fewer than 50
SS-21 Fewer than 50
Turkmenistan SCUD B Fewer than 50
Ukraine SCUD B Fewer than 100
SS-21 Fewer than 100
Vietnam SCUD B Fewer than 50
Yemen SCUD B Fewer than 50


[Back]
[Index]
[Next] 		Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat
National Air Intelligence Center NAIC-1031-0985-98