View source for Engineering:Tactical ballistic missile

{{Short description|Ballistic missile designed for short-range use on the battlefield}}

[[File:Atacms 02.jpg|thumb|right|The MGM-140 ATACMS tactical ballistic missile firing]]

A '''tactical ballistic missile''' ('''TBM'''), or '''battlefield range ballistic missile''' ('''BRBM'''), is a [[Physics:Ballistic missile|ballistic missile]] designed for short-range battlefield use.  Typically, [[Astronomy:Range (aeronautics)|range]] is less than {{convert|300|km|mi}}.{{according to who|date=April 2018}}  Tactical ballistic missiles are usually mobile to ensure survivability and quick deployment, as well as carrying a variety of [[Engineering:Warhead|warhead]]s to target enemy facilities, assembly areas, artillery, and other targets behind the front lines. Warheads can include conventional high explosive, [[Social:Chemical warfare|chemical]], [[Biology:Biological warfare|biological]], or nuclear warheads. Typically tactical nuclear weapons are limited in their total yield compared to strategic nuclear weapons.

==Design==
Tactical ballistic missiles fill the gap between conventional [[Engineering:Rocket artillery|rocket artillery]] and longer-range [[Engineering:Short-range ballistic missile|short-range ballistic missile]]s.  Tactical missiles can carry heavy payloads deep behind enemy lines in comparison to rockets or gun [[Engineering:Artillery|artillery]], while having better mobility and less expense than the more strategic theatre missiles.  Additionally, due to their mobility, tactical missiles are better suited to responding to developments on the battlefield.

For many nations, tactical missiles represent the upper limit of their land-based military equipment.  They can provide a powerful weapon for a very economical price, and in some cases are sought to help level the playing field against opponents who are superior in other areas of military technology.  Currently, tactical ballistic missile technology remains within reach for nations that may face difficulties in obtaining other advanced military technologies.

Ballistic missiles are still difficult to defeat on the battlefield.  Newer air defense systems have improved ability to intercept tactical missiles, but still can not reliably protect assets against ballistic missile threats.  This allows a moderate force of missiles to threaten a superior enemy by penetrating their air defenses better than with conventional aircraft, while providing a deeper strike than conventional artillery.

== Propulsion ==
Early large rockets and missiles were propelled by [[Engineering:Liquid-propellant rocket|liquid-propellant rocket engine]]s, as the first types developed. These were replaced as soon as possible by solid fuel rocket motors. Liquid propellants involve cryogenic ([[Physics:Liquid oxygen|liquid oxygen]]) or corrosive ([[Chemistry:Nitric acid|nitric acid]]) oxidisers. These must be loaded before launch, delaying the rocket's time into action. This delay was a problem for large strategic missiles, but especially so for tactical.

Missiles, particularly in the Soviet Union, switched to using storable liquid propellants such as IRFNA, inhibited nitric acid. These were still hazardous to handle, but could be stored pre-loaded in the missile. This also allowed the development of single vehicle [[Engineering:Transporter erector launcher|transporter erector launcher]]s (TEL), rather than the previous convoy of carriers, launchers, fuel vehicles and service vehicles.

Western missiles adopted solid propellants instead,{{efn-lr|The liquid-fuelled [[Engineering:MGM-52 Lance|MGM-52 Lance]] was one exception, remaining in service until the end of the [[History:Cold War|Cold War]].}} which were inherently storable, and later [[Organization:Warsaw Pact|Warsaw Pact]] missiles followed suit. Tactical missiles are now almost universally solid-fuelled, except for some states using indigenous derivatives of the original [[Engineering:Scud missile|Scud]] platform.

==Specific TBMs==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! !! NATO reporting name !! Propellant !! Range !! Introduction !! Withdrawal !! Origin !! Operators

|-
! [[Engineering:Al-Samoud 2|Al-Samoud 2]]
| ||[[Engineering:Liquid-propellant rocket|Liquid propelled]]
| <span style="display:none;" >0160</span> 180&nbsp;km || 2001 || 2003 ||  {{Flag|Iraq}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Al Hussein (missile)|Al-Hussein]]
| || [[Engineering:Liquid-propellant rocket|Liquid propelled]]
|600–650&nbsp;km||1987||1991|| {{Flag|Iraq}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Blue Water (missile)|Blue Water]]
| ||
| || 1960 ''(first flight)'' || ''cancelled'' 1962 || {{Flag|United Kingdom}} ||

|-
! MGM-140 ATACMS
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0300</span> 300&nbsp;km || 1986 || 2007 (program terminated, missile remains in service) ||  {{Flag|United States}} 
|{{unbulleted list|{{BHR}}|{{GRC}}|{{TWN}}|{{KOR}}|{{TUR}}|{{UAE}}|{{ROM}}|{{UKR}}}}

|-
! [[Engineering:MGM-52 Lance|MGM-52 Lance]]
| || [[Engineering:Liquid-propellant rocket|Liquid propelled]]
| <span style="display:none;" >0120</span> 120&nbsp;km || 1972 || 1992 ||  {{Flag|United States}} || {{unbulleted list|{{Flag|Belgium}} {{Flag|West Germany}} | {{Flag|Israel}} |{{Flag|Italy}} |{{Flag|Netherlands}}|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}}}
|-
! [[Engineering:PGM-11 Redstone|PGM-11 Redstone]]
| ||[[Engineering:Liquid-propellant rocket|Liquid propelled]]
| 92.5&nbsp;km-323&nbsp;km || 1958 || 1964 || {{Flag|USA}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Precision Strike Missile|Precision Strike Missile]]
| || 
| >500&nbsp;km || 2023 || || {{Flag|USA}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:MGM-18 Lacrosse|MGM-18 Lacrosse]]
| ||
| 19&nbsp;km || 1959 || 1964 || {{Flag|USA}} ||
|-
! WS-1
| ||
| <span style="display:none;" >0180</span> 60–180&nbsp;km || ≈1990 || ||  {{Flag|China}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Weishi Rockets|WS-2 / WS-3]]
| ||
| <span style="display:none;" >0180</span> 70–200&nbsp;km || ≈2004 || ||  {{Flag|China}} ||

|-
! DTI-1
| ||
| <span style="display:none;" >0180</span> 60–180&nbsp;km || || ||  {{Flag|Thailand}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Hrim-2|Hrim-2]]
| ||
| <span style="display:none;" >0180</span> 280–500&nbsp;km || || ||  {{Flag|Ukraine}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Shaurya (missile)|Shaurya]]
| || two-stage solid propelled
| 700-1900&nbsp;km || 2011 || || {{Flag|India}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Prahaar (missile)|Prahaar]]
| || Solid propelled
| 150&nbsp;km || 2011 || ||  {{Flag|India}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Prahaar (missile)#Pragati|Pragati]]
| || Solid propelled
| 170&nbsp;km || 2013 || ||  {{Flag|India}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Prahaar (missile)#Pranash|Pranash]]
| || Solid propelled
| 200&nbsp;km || TBD || || 
{{Flag|India}} 
|
|-

! [[Engineering:Pralay (missile)|Pralay]]
| || Solid propelled
| 150-500&nbsp;km || TBD || ||  {{Flag|India}} ||
|-

! [[Engineering:Ghaznavi (missile)|Ghaznavi (missile)]] 
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0320</span>290–320&nbsp;km || 2004 || ||  {{Flag|Pakistan}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Nasr (missile)|Nasr/Hatf IX]]
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0070</span>70&nbsp;km || 2013 || ||  {{Flag|Pakistan}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Abdali-I|Abdali/Hatf-II]]
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0180</span>180&nbsp;km || 2002 || ||  {{Flag|Pakistan}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Hatf-I|Hatf-I]]
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0100</span> 70&nbsp;km || 1990 || ||  {{Flag|Pakistan}} ||
|-
! [[Engineering:Hatf-I|Hatif-1A]]
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0100</span> 100&nbsp;km || 1990 || ||  {{Flag|Pakistan}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Hatf-I|Hatif-1B]]
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0100</span> 100&nbsp;km || 1990 || ||  {{Flag|Pakistan}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Sky Spear|Sky Spear]]
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0300</span> 120–300&nbsp;km || 2001 || || {{Flag|Taiwan}} ||

|-
! J-600T Yıldırım
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0900</span> 150–900&nbsp;km || 1998 || || {{Flag|Turkey}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:TOROS artillery rocket system|TOROS]]
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0160</span> 100–160&nbsp;km || || || {{Flag|Turkey}} ||
|-
![[Engineering:Bora (missile)|Bora]]
|
|[[Engineering:Liquid-propellant rocket|Liquid propelled]]
|<span style="display:none;">0120</span> 280–700&nbsp;km
|2017
|
|{{Flag|Turkey}}
|
|-
! T-300 Kasırga
| ||
| <span style="display:none;" >0120</span> 100–120&nbsp;km || || ||  {{Flag|Turkey}} ||
|-
! [[Engineering:R-11 Zemlya|R-11 Zemlya]]  || SS-1b Scud-A
| [[Engineering:Liquid-propellant rocket|Liquid propelled]]
| <span style="display:none;" >0700</span> 180&nbsp;km || 1958 || ||  {{Flag|USSR}} ||
|-
! [[Engineering:2K1 Mars|2K1 Mars]]  || FROG-2
| Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0700</span> 7–18&nbsp;km ||  || ||  {{Flag|USSR}} ||
|-
! [[Engineering:Scud|R-17/R-300 Elbrus]]  || SS-1c Scud-B SS-1d Scud-C SS-1e Scud-D 
| [[Engineering:Liquid-propellant rocket|Liquid propelled]]
| <span style="display:none;" >0700</span> 300–700&nbsp;km || 1964 || ||  {{Flag|USSR}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:OTR-21 Tochka|OTR-21 Tochka]] ||  SS-21 Scarab 
| Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0185</span> 70–185&nbsp;km || 1975 || ||  {{Flag|USSR}}
| {{unbulleted list|{{ARM}} |{{AZE}} |{{BLR}} |{{BUL}} |{{KAZ}} |{{PRK}} |{{RUS}}| {{UKR}} |{{SYR}} |{{YEM}} <br>'''Former''': |{{CZS}} |{{CZE}} |{{DDR}}| {{GER}} |{{LIT}}| {{POL}} |{{SVK}}|{{USSR}}}}
|-
! [[Engineering:OTR-23 Oka|OTR-23 Oka]] || SS-23 Spider
| Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0120</span> 500&nbsp;km || 1979 || 1987 ||  {{Flag|USSR}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:2K6 Luna|2K6 Luna]] || Frog-3, Frog-5 
|
| <span style="display:none;" >0050</span> 10–50&nbsp;km || 1960 || 1982 ||  {{Flag|USSR}}
| {{unbulleted list|{{AFG|1987}} |{{flag|Algeria}}| {{flag|Cuba}} |{{flag|East Germany}} |{{flag|Egypt}} |{{flag|Iraq}}| {{flag|Libya|1977}}| {{flag|North Korea}} |{{flag|Poland}} |{{flag|Romania}} |{{flag|Soviet Union}} |{{flag|Syria}} |{{flag|Yemen}} |{{flag|Yugoslavia}}}}

|-
! [[Engineering:9K52 Luna-M|9K52 Luna-M]] || Frog-7 
|
| <span style="display:none;" >0050</span> 70&nbsp;km  || 1964 || ||   {{Flag|USSR}}
| {{unbulleted list|{{ALG}} |{{AFG}} |{{BLR}}| {{EGY}} |{{flag|Libya}} |{{PRK}} |{{RUS}}| {{SYR}} |{{UKR}} |{{YEM}} <br>'''Former'''| {{BUL}}| {{CUB}} |{{CZS}}| {{DDR}} |{{HUN}}| {{IRQ}} |{{KUW}} |{{flag|Lebanon}}| {{POL}} |{{ROM}}| {{flag|South Yemen}}| {{USSR}} |{{YUG}}}}

|-
! [[Engineering:LORA (missile)|LORA]] 
| ||
| <span style="display:none;">0120</span> 400–800&nbsp;km || 2005 || ||  {{Flag|Israel}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:KN-02 Toksa|KN-02 Toksa]]
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0160</span> 120–160&nbsp;km || 2008 || ||  {{Flag|North Korea}} ||
|-
![[Engineering:KN-23|KN-23]]
|
|Solid propelled
|450&nbsp;km<ref>{{Cite web|title=KN-23|url=https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/kn-23/|access-date=2021-03-12|website=Missile Threat|language=en-US}}</ref>
|2018
|
|{{Flag|North Korea}}
|
|-
![[Engineering:KN-24|KN-24]]
|
|Solid propelled
|410&nbsp;km<ref>{{Cite web|title=KN-24|url=https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/kn-24/|access-date=2021-03-12|website=Missile Threat|language=en-US}}</ref>
|2019
|
|{{Flag|North Korea}}
|
|-
! [[Engineering:KN-25|KN-25]]
| ||
| <span style="display:none;" >0160</span> 380&nbsp;km || 2019 || ||  {{Flag|North Korea}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:9K720 Iskander|9K720 Iskander]] || SS-26 Stone
|Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0500</span> 400–500&nbsp;km || 2006 || ||  {{Flag|Russia}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Predator Hawk|Predator Hawk]] 
| ||
|<span style="display:none;">0120</span> 300–400km
| 2016 || ||  {{Flag|Israel}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Hyunmoo#Hyunmoo-1|Hyunmoo-1]] 
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0500</span> 180&nbsp;km || 1977 || ||  {{Flag|South Korea}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Hyunmoo#Hyunmoo-2|Hyunmoo-2A]] 
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0500</span> 300&nbsp;km || 2006 || ||  {{Flag|South Korea}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Ure (missile)|Ure-1]] 
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0500</span> 180&nbsp;km || 2022 || ||  {{Flag|South Korea}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:BRE (rocket)|BRE8 King Dragon/Fire Dragon]] 
| ||Solid propelled
| <span style="display:none;" >0500</span> 280–300&nbsp;km || 2014? || ||  {{Flag|China}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Burkan-1|Burkan-1]]
| ||
| <span style="display:none;" >0800</span> 800&nbsp;km ||2016|| || {{Flag|Yemen}} ||

|-
! al-Najm al-Thaqib-1
| ||
| <span style="display:none;" >045</span> 45&nbsp;km ||2015 || || {{Flag|Yemen}} ||

|-
! al-Najm al-Thaqib-2
| ||
| <span style="display:none;" >075</span> 75&nbsp;km ||2015 || || {{Flag|Yemen}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Fajr-5#Two-stage rocket|Fajr-5]]
| ||[[Chemistry:Solid-propellant rocket|Solid propelled]]
|| 180&nbsp;km || 1990s || ||  {{Flag|Iran}} || {{unbulleted list|{{SYR}}| {{YEM}} |{{IRQ}}| {{LBN}}}}

|-
! [[Engineering:Shahab-1|Shahab-1]]
| ||
|<span style="display:none;" >0350</span> 350&nbsp;km || 1987 || ~2016 || {{Flag|Iran}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Shahab-2|Shahab-2]]
| ||[[Engineering:Liquid-propellant rocket|liquid propelled]]
|| 500&nbsp;km || 1990 || 2016 || {{Flag|Iran}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Fateh-110|Fateh-110]]
| ||[[Chemistry:Solid-propellant rocket|Solid propelled]]
|| 300&nbsp;km || 2002 || || {{Flag|Iran}} || {{unbulleted list|{{SYR}}| {{LBN}}}}

|-
! [[Engineering:Fateh-313|Fateh-313]]
| ||[[Chemistry:Solid-propellant rocket|Solid propelled]]
||500&nbsp;km|| 2015 || || {{Flag|Iran}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Qiam 1|Qiam 1]]
| ||[[Engineering:Liquid-propellant rocket|Liquid propelled]]
||800&nbsp;km||2010|| || {{Flag|Iran}} || {{YEM}}

|-
! Zelzal-1
| ||[[Chemistry:Solid-propellant rocket|Solid propelled]]
||160&nbsp;km||1990|| || {{Flag|Iran}} ||

|-
! Zelzal-2
| ||[[Chemistry:Solid-propellant rocket|Solid propelled]]
||210&nbsp;km||1998|| || {{Flag|Iran}} || {{unbulleted list|{{SYR}} |{{YEM}}|{{LBN}}}}

|-
! Zelzal-3
| ||[[Chemistry:Solid-propellant rocket|Solid propelled]]
||200–250&nbsp;km||2007|| || {{Flag|Iran}} ||{{SYR}}

|-
! [[Engineering:Naze'at#Specifications|Naze'at 6-H]]
| ||[[Chemistry:Solid-propellant rocket|Solid propelled]]
||80–100&nbsp;km||1980's|| || {{Flag|Iran}} ||

|-
! [[Engineering:Naze'at#Specifications|Naze'at 10-H]]
| ||[[Chemistry:Solid-propellant rocket|Solid propelled]]
||100–130&nbsp;km||1980's|| || {{Flag|Iran}} ||
|-
! [[Engineering:Šumadija (multiple rocket launcher)|Jerina-1]]
| ||[[Chemistry:Solid-propellant rocket|Solid propelled]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.edepro.com/innovation/missiles/mlrs-400mm-jerina-1-j1- | title=EDePro, Engine Development and Production }}</ref>
| |285-300&nbsp;km||2017|| ||
{{Flag|Serbia}} 
|
|-
! [[Engineering:Šumadija (multiple rocket launcher)|Jerina-2]]
| ||Liquid propelled 
| |75&nbsp;km||2017|| ||
{{Flag|Serbia}}
|
|}

== See also ==
* [[Engineering:List of missiles|List of missiles]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist-lr}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Missile types}}

[[Category:Tactical ballistic missiles| ]]

{{Sourceattribution|Tactical ballistic missile}}