View source for Tactical ballistic missile

{{Short description|Ballistic missile designed for short-range use on the battlefield}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{one source|date=April 2020}}
{{distinguish|Theatre ballistic missile}}
[[File:M57A1 Army Tactical Missile System missile.jpg|thumb|The [[MGM-140 ATACMS]] tactical ballistic missile firing]]
A '''tactical ballistic missile''' ('''TBM'''), or '''battlefield range ballistic missile''' ('''BRBM'''), is a [[ballistic missile]] designed for short-range battlefield use.  Typically, [[range (aeronautics)|range]] is less than {{convert|1000|km|mi}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davenpot |first=Kesley |date= |title=Worldwide Ballistic Missile Inventories |url=https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/worldwide-ballistic-missile-inventories |url-status= |access-date=May 21, 2025 |website=[[Arms Control Association]]}}</ref> Tactical ballistic missiles are usually mobile to ensure survivability and quick deployment, as well as carrying a variety of [[warhead]]s to target enemy facilities, assembly areas, artillery, and other targets behind the front lines. Warheads can include conventional high explosive, [[Chemical warfare|chemical]], [[Biological warfare|biological]], or [[nuclear warhead]]s. Typically [[tactical nuclear weapon]]s are limited in their total yield compared to [[strategic nuclear weapons]].

==Design==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2018}}
Tactical ballistic missiles fill the gap between conventional [[rocket artillery]] and longer-range [[short-range ballistic missile]]s.  Tactical missiles can carry heavy payloads deep behind enemy lines in comparison to rockets or gun [[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 ==
[[File:CombatLaunching2018-20.jpg|thumb|An [[Iskander-M]] solid-propelled rocket being launched in an 2018 exercise.]]
Early large rockets and missiles were propelled by [[liquid-propellant rocket|liquid-propellant rocket engine]]s, as the first types developed. These were replaced as soon as possible by [[solid fuel rocket motor]]s. Liquid propellants involve [[cryogenic]] ([[liquid oxygen]]) or corrosive ([[nitric acid]]) [[oxidiser]]s. 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 [[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 [[MGM-52 Lance]] was one exception, remaining in service until the end of the [[Cold War]].}} which were inherently storable, and later [[Warsaw Pact]] missiles followed suit. Tactical missiles are now almost universally solid-fuelled, except for some states using indigenous derivatives of the original [[Scud missile|Scud]] platform.

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

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

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

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

|-
! [[MGM-140 ATACMS]]
| || Solid 
| <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}}|{{MAR}}}}

|-
! [[MGM-52 Lance]]
| || Liquid 
| <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}}}}
|-
! [[PGM-11 Redstone]]
| || Liquid
| 92.5&nbsp;km-323&nbsp;km || 1958 || 1964 || {{Flag|USA}} ||

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

|-
! [[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}} ||

|-
! [[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}} ||

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

|-
! [[TOROS artillery rocket system|TOROS]]
| || Solid 
| <span style="display:none;" >0160</span> 100–160&nbsp;km || || || {{Flag|Turkey}} ||

|-
![[Bora (missile)|Bora]]
| || Solid 
|<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}} ||
|-
! [[R-11 Zemlya]]  || SS-1b [[Scud]]-A
| Liquid  
| <span style="display:none;" >0700</span> 180&nbsp;km || 1958 || ||  {{Flag|USSR}} ||
|-
! [[2K1 Mars]]  || FROG-2
| Solid 
| <span style="display:none;" >0700</span> 7–18&nbsp;km ||  || ||  {{Flag|USSR}} ||
|-
! [[R-17 Elbrus|R-17/R-300 Elbrus]]  || SS-1c Scud-B SS-1d Scud-C SS-1e Scud-D 
| Liquid 
| <span style="display:none;" >0700</span> 300–700&nbsp;km || 1964 || ||  {{Flag|USSR}} ||

|-
! [[OTR-21 Tochka]] ||  SS-21 Scarab 
| Solid 
| <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}}}}

|-
! [[OTR-23 Oka]] || SS-23 Spider
| Solid 
| <span style="display:none;" >0120</span> 500&nbsp;km || 1979 || 1987 ||  {{Flag|USSR}} ||

|-
! [[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}}}}

|-
! [[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}}}}

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

|-
! [[KN-02 Toksa|Hwasong-11]] (KN-02)
| || Solid 
| <span style="display:none;" >0160</span> 120–160&nbsp;km || 2008 || ||  {{Flag|North Korea}}||{{SYR}}
|-
![[Hwasong-11A]] (KN-23)
|
| Solid 
|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}}
|
|-
![[Hwasong-11B]] (KN-24)
|
| Solid 
|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}}
|
|-
![[Hwasong-11D]]
|
| Solid 
|100–300 km
|2022
|
|{{Flag|North Korea}}
|
|-
! [[KN-25]]
| ||
| <span style="display:none;" >0160</span> 380&nbsp;km || 2019 || ||  {{Flag|North Korea}} ||

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

|-
! [[Shahab-2]]
| || Liquid 
|| 500&nbsp;km || 1990 || 2016 || {{Flag|Iran}} ||{{SYR}}

|-
! [[Fateh-110]]
| || Solid 
|| 300&nbsp;km || 2002 || || {{Flag|Iran}} || {{unbulleted list|{{SYR}}| {{LBN}}}}

|-
! [[Fateh-313]]
| || Solid 
||500&nbsp;km|| 2015 || || {{Flag|Iran}} ||{{SYR}}

|-
! [[Qiam 1]]
| || Liquid  
||800&nbsp;km||2010|| || {{Flag|Iran}} || {{YEM}}

|-
! [[Zelzal-1]]
| || Solid 
||160&nbsp;km||1990|| || {{Flag|Iran}} ||{{SYR}}

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

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

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

|-
! [[Naze'at#Specifications|Naze'at 10-H]]
| || Solid 
||100–130&nbsp;km||1980's|| || {{Flag|Iran}} ||
|-
! [[Šumadija_(multiple_rocket_launcher)|Jerina-1]]
| || Solid<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}} 
|

|-
! [[Šumadija_(multiple_rocket_launcher)|Jerina-2]]
| || Liquid  
| |75&nbsp;km||2017|| ||
{{Flag|Serbia}}
|

|}

== See also ==
* [[List of missiles]]

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

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Missile types}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tactical ballistic missiles| ]]