Image source: vestnik-rm.ru
Last year, it was 40 years since the adoption of the OTR-23 "Oka" missile system, also known by the NATO designation SS-23 Spider - "Spider", into service with the Soviet Army.
However, they did not remember much about this anniversary. Although even now, many of the characteristics of weapons capable of hitting targets at distances up to 400 km are impressive. For example, its high accuracy and the fact that the warhead, which has a reduced radar visibility, could accelerate to a speed exceeding 10 thousand km/h at the final stage of the trajectory.
This ability, as well as special devices in the form of false targets, significantly reduced the probability of its interception by air defense means of a likely enemy.
It is particularly worth mentioning the BAZ-6944 wheeled chassis, which had excellent mobility characteristics and could overcome water obstacles afloat.
As you know, the OTR-23 " Oka "did not fall under the requirements of the contract with the Americans, since they had a range of less than 500 km, but at the top they decided to present a" gift "to the so-called" partners " and let these complexes go under the knife. There was a lot of talk about this at the time.
However, it was practically not mentioned that the "Spiders" were in service with Bulgaria and Slovakia until the beginning of 2000, where they could be studied without problems by NATO specialists.
Lev Romanov
