Iraqi homemade Al-Samoud SRM
(Saddam Hussein's tactical LP surface-to-surface missile)

Norbert Brügge, Germany

Update: 29.08.2011

In 1993, Iraq began developing liquid-propellant ballistic missiles with a declared range of 150 kilometres. A number of static tests of missile engines were conducted. In October 1997, Iraq carried out its first declared flight test of a Al-Samoud (I) missile.
Al-Samoud was based on elements of the Soviet S-75M "Volchov" surface-to-air missile (SAM). Iraqi homemade Al-Samoud-II evolved from original Al-Samoud (I) liquid-engine missile, which had a smaller diameter and less range than the Al-Samoud-II. The Al-Samoud-II diameter was increased to 760 mm from the 500 mm of the original Al-Samoud. The Al-Samoud-II missile program, begun in 2001. Thrust regulators, gas generators and air pressure regulators are among other S-75M (SAM) components, to be incorporated into the Al-Samoud SRM. S-75M autopilots and other guidance and control items, such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, inertial equipment and software were also imported or developed for use with the Al-Samoud system.

Al-Samoud-II is a liquid fuel rocket with an oxidizer such as red fuming Nitric Acid mix (AK-20K) and fuel such as hydrocarbons (TG-02). The rocket motor of the Al-Samoud  is a origin of the Isayev  S2.720 motor used in the second stage of the Soviet S-75M "Volchov".

The Isayev S2.720 liquid propellant engine burns a hypergolic propellant mix. The oxidizer is either AK-20K fuming Nitric Acid melange depending on the motor variant, comprising ~80% Nitric Acid and ~20% N2O4 with an inhibitor additive. The fuel is TG-02, comprising 50% Isomeric Xylidine, 48.5% Triethylamine and 1.5% Diethylamine. The  S2.720 engine produce a thrust rate about  3,500 kp (7.700 lbf) thrust.



               Al-Samoud (I)                                Al-Samoud-II

20 documented flight tests of Al-Samoud-II
 

 

 Fuel (TG-02) Oxidizer (AK-20K) Total Mix Burn time
Vol. (l) = Vol. (kg) Vol. (l) = Vol. (kg) (kg) (kg)  (sec)

24.08.2001

 344 293.78 555 959.60 1,253.37 3.27  

26.09.2001

 357 304.88 613.5 1,060.74 1,365.62 3.48  

11.10.2001

 381 325.37 612 1,058.15 1,383.52 3.25  

06.11.2001

 376 321.10 611.5 1,057.28 1,378.39 3.29  

07.11.2001

 375 320.25 604.5 1,045.18 1,365.43 3.26  

29.12.2001

 369 315.13 600 1,037.40 1,352.53 3.29  

09.01.2002

 370 315.98 600 1,037.40 1,353.38 3.28  

10.01.2002

 367 313.42 596 1,030.48 1,343.90 3.29  

31.01.2002

 367 313.42 600.5 1,038.26 1,351.68 3.31  

14.03.2002

 370 315.98 598 1,033.94 1,349.92 3.27  

11.04.2002

 370 315.98 604 1,044.32 1,360.30 3.31  

10.05.2002

 398 339.89 632 1,092.73 1,432.62 3.21  

06.06.2002

 386 329.64 636 1,099.64 1,429.29 3.34  

17.06.2002

 387 330.50 632 1,092.73 1,423.23 3.31  

18.07.2002

 376 321.10 612 1,058.15 1,379.25 3.30  

23.07.2002

 376 321.10 620 1,071.98 1,393.08 3.34  

25.08.2002

 375 320.25 607 1,049,50 1,369.75 3.28 80

25.08.2002

 375 320.25 614 1,061.61 1,381.86 3.31 82.4

30.10.2002

 375 320.25 612 1,058.15 1,378.40 3.30 92

16.11.2002

 374 319.40 612 1,058.15 1,377.54 3.31  

 

   

Al- Samoud-II launch









S2.720 engine test



Al-Samoud test stand

  

Missile Engine Thrust s.l. Isp s.l. Thrust vac Isp vac Propellant Burn time Flow rate Total Imp (vac)
kN N*s/kg kN N*s/kg - tons sec t/sec MN*sec
Al-Samoud (short) S2.720 34.3 2285 38.5 2569

TG-02/AK-20K

 0.825 55 0.0150 2.12
Al-Samoud (long) S2.720 34.3 2285 38.5 2569

TG-02/AK-20K

 1.020 68 0.0150 2.62
Al-Samoud-II S2.720 34.3 2285 38.5 2569

TG-02/AK-20K

 1.380 82 0.0150 3.55

Vernier

4.16

4.72

 0.0018



Rear of Al-Samoud-II



Nozzle of the Isayev S2.720 engine

 
Damaged Iraqi  S-75M "Volchov" engines S2.720

   
               Al-Samoud-II                              SRBM Project with four engines
 

 Al-Samound (I)


        

 

33 documented flight tests of Al-Samoud (I)

 

 Fuel (TG-02) Oxidizer (AK-20K) Total Mix Burn time
Vol. (l) = Vol. (kg) Vol. (l) = Vol. (kg) (kg) (kg)  (sec)
Short vehicle
24.10.1997 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
20.02.1998 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
21.02.1998 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
22.02.1998 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
01.05.1998 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
01.06.1998 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
01.05.1999 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
30.08.1999 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
23.12.1999 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
28.12.1999 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
17.02.2000 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
12.03.2000 210 179.34 360 622.44 801.78 3.47  
25.04.2000 212 181.05 365 631.09 812.13 3.49  
23.05.2000 212 181.05 365 631.09 812.13 3.49  
Long vehicle
13.11.2000 281 239.97 453 783.24 1023.21 3.26  
20.11.2000 279 238.27 452 781.51 1019.77 3.28  
12.12.2000 286 244.24 461 797.07 1041.31 3.26  
13.01.2000 286 244.24 463 800.53 1044.77 3.28  
21.01.2001 278 237.41 452 781.51 1018.92 3.29 68
12.02.2001 278 237.41 452 781.51 1018.92 3.29  
16.02.2001 279 238.27 450 778.05 1016.32 3.27  
20.03.2001 279 238.27 452 781.51 1019.77 3.28  
28.03.2001 279 238.27 452 781.51 1019.77 3.28  
28.05.2001 280 239.12 460 795.34 1034.46 3.33  
Long (or short) vehicle
29.05.2001 240 204.96 355 613.80 818.76 2.99  
11.07.2001 230 196.42 376 650.10 846.52 3.31  
12.07.2001 230 196.42 376 650.10 846.52 3.31  
17.07.2001 230 196.42 376 650.10 846.52 3.31  
20.08.2001 230 196.42 376 650.10 846.52 3.31  
20.08.2001 230 196.42 375 648.38 844.80 3.30 56
20.08.2001 217 185.32 357 617.25 802.57 3.33  
24.09.2001 217 185.32 355 613.80 799.11 3.31  
26.09.2001 217 185.32 358 618.98 804.30 3.34