| Country: |
Russian Federation |
| Alternate Name: |
R-65/Luna M |
| Class: |
BSRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Length: |
9.40 m |
| Diameter: |
0.54 m |
| Launch Weight: |
2485 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 200 to 457 kg |
| Warhead: |
Nuclear 3-200 kT, HE, chemical, submunitions |
| Propulsion: |
Single-stage solid |
| Range: |
68 km |
| Status: |
Operational |
| In Service: |
1965 |
Details
The FROG-7 is a short-range, road mobile, solid propellant unguided rocket designed for use on the battlefield. The name “FROG” comes from NATO, which designated it early on as the Free-Rocket-Over-Ground. The FROG was initially developed in the 1950s and at least six versions were released before the system was replaced by the SS-21. However, it is believed some Russian FROG-7 missiles remain in service.
The FROG rockets are tactical weapons, typically nuclear. They were designed to be deployed against military targets during a European conflict. During a Soviet-NATO military conflict, the losing side would likely resort to using tactical nuclear weapons to turn the tide of the war. In this scenario, the Soviet Union would launch nuclear-armed FROGs against NATO troop concentrations. This would enable the Soviets to both inflict damage to NATO forces and irradiate territory opposing troops would have to cross.
The FROG is an unguided missile, essentially a long-range artillery system. The angle and direction of the launch are the primary determinant of where the rocket will land. The accuracy of the launch depends upon the ability of the rocket to fly straight. As the early rocket systems were unstable, they possessed extremely poor accuracy and required nuclear warheads to compensate. The main drawback of the FROG is that its range is insufficient to effectively engage strategic targets, as conventional forces would most likely intercept the launchers before they could move within range. However, the mobile launchers allow the system to keep up with frontline infantry units.
The FROG-1 had a range of 25 km (16 miles) and deployed a 1,200 kg warhead. This warhead was equipped with a single nuclear warhead, likely with a yield in the range of 30-50 kT. It was 10.37 m long with a diameter of 0.61 m and a launch weight of 4,930 kg. It was launched from a tracked tank chassis. The FROG-2 had a range of 18 km (11 miles) and deployed a 565 kg warhead. This warhead was equipped with a single low yield nuclear warhead. It was 9.04 m long with a diameter of 0.32 m and a launch weight of 1,760 kg. It was launched from a modified light tank chassis.
The FROG-3 had a range of 45 km (28 miles) and deployed a small 358 kg warhead. This warhead was equipped with a single high explosive warhead. It was 9.1 m long with a diameter of 0.42 m and a launch weight of 2,175 kg. The FROG-5 had a range of 32 km (20 miles) and deployed a 503 kg warhead. This warhead was equipped with a single nuclear warhead, which is believed to be equipped with a selectable yield varying from 20 to 100 kT. It was 10.6 m long with a diameter of 0.54 m and a launch weight of 2,287 kg.
The FROG-7 is the latest version and entered the Soviet armed forces in 1965. It has a range of 68 km (42 miles) and deploys a single warhead with at least six alternative payloads. The AA-22 and the AA-38 nuclear warheads both provide three yields between 3 and 20 kT, while the AA-53 offers four yields between 5 and 200 kT. It is also capable of carrying HE, submunitions, and chemical warheads (with up to 216 kg of VX nerve gas). The FROG-7 missile is 9.4 m long with a diameter of 0.54 m. Its launch weight varies depending on the payload, ranging from 2,450 kg to 2,485 kg. It is launched from a tracked tank chassis.
The FROG-7 was extensively deployed throughout the many Soviet satellite states and is believed to have been produced in Russia until 1972. Reports from 1994 indicate that roughly 350 mobile launchers and 1,450 FROG-7 missiles remain in service. The rocket has been extensively exported and is now in the possession of a large number of countries. It is known to have been exported to Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Cuba, Egypt, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Serbia, Syria and Yemen. Egypt exported some to North Korea, which reverse engineered and produced them from 1979 to 1983.
It is believed that the FROG-7 rocket was used by Egypt and Syria in 1973, against Iran by Iraq in 1980, by Iraq in the Gulf War of 1991, in Afghanistan from 1984 to 1999, during the civil war in Yemen in 1994, by Serbian forces in 1993-94, and by Russians in Chechnya from 1996 to 1999. Some rockets probably remain in storage and could be used by any of the countries to whom they were sold or issued.(1)
Footnotes
- Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems, Issue 50, ed. Duncan Lennox, (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2009), 157-158.
Report: North Korea Could Market Frog Missile
May 12, 2005 :: Geostrategy-Direct :: News
North Korea may be planning to offer for export to the Middle East an upgraded—but nevertheless simple—missile which North Korea is believed to have recently tested, on May 1.
The FROG-7 missile is of Soviet-origin. North Korea is believed to have increased its range and accuracy, possibly tripling its previous range of 70km, according to Geostrategy-Direct. The source of the report of a planned sale, however, is unclear.
The significance of a FROG missile sale would be relatively minor given North Korea’s willingness to proliferate more advanced systems and technologies. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: North Korea, Proliferation
» Missile details: FROG-7B
North Korea Tests Short Range Missile
May 1, 2005 :: New York Times :: News
North Korea on Sunday, May 1, conducted a successful test of a short range missile which traveled some 65 miles (104km) into the Sea of Japan.
Andrew Card, the White House chief of staff, confirmed the missile launch but played down its military significance: “The North Koreans have tested their missiles before.” As to their motivation, he said, “I think they’re looking to kind of be bullies in the world.” Vice Admiral Lowell E. Jacoby, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, warned on Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee that North Korea has the ability to deliver a nuclear-armed long range missile to American territory. The short range missile may have been a land-to-ship missile.
Despite its moratorium on missile tests—which it recently repudiated—North Korea has intermittently tested short-range missiles off its east coast, including a launching in February 2003, according to the New York Times.
Update: On May 3, the South Korean JoonAng Daily reports that South Korean military officials report that an analysis of the North’s test reveals upgrades to short range rockets, both in terms of guidance systems and range. “Tracking the trajectory of the missile, it appeared to be a ballistic missile, not a cruise missile such as Silkworm,” said one military official quoted by the paper, adding that the missile appeared to be equipped with a guidance system using an inertial navigation system to increase its accuracy; “If the North Koreans upgraded their FROG-7 rockets to ground-to-ground missiles with ranges of 100 to 200 kilometers (62 to 124 miles), the U.S. military bases to be relocated to Pyeongtaek by 2008 will fall under their range.” An excerpt from JoonAng Daily about the older FROG-7 Soviet missile, from which the South Korean missile tested may be derived: (More »»»)
» May 2, 2005: Possible failed launch on April 29
» March 3, 2005: North Korea says no longer bound by missile moratorium
» May 3, 2005: South Korean Military says test was of newer, Russian-derived missile
» More stories on: North Korea, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: FROG-7B
