Fractional Orbital Bombardment System

missile

Also known as: FOBS

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June 26, 2026

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The Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) was a missile technology introduced by the Soviet Union in 1967. It involved a low-trajectory launch that achieved only a partial Earth orbit, making it difficult to determine the target. This method was designed to deliver nuclear warheads, as its accuracy was questionable due to shallow reentry angles.1

FOBS was developed alongside multiple reentry vehicles (MRVs), which allowed a single missile to carry several warheads. While MRVs increased the probability of hitting a target or striking multiple targets within a narrow area, FOBS aimed to obscure the intended target by launching in the opposite direction of the target and achieving a partial orbit.1

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rocket and missile system
Multiple warheads
…reentry vehicles (MRVs), and the Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS). The Soviets introduced both of these capabilities with the SS-9 Scarp, the first “heavy” missile, beginning in 1967. FOBS was based on a low-trajectory launch that would be fired in the opposite direction from the target and would achieve only…
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…reentry vehicles (MRVs), and the Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS). The Soviets introduced both of these capabilities with the SS-9 Scarp, the first “heavy” missile, beginning in 1967. FOBS was based on a low-trajectory launch that would be fired in the opposite direction from the target and would achieve only…
Read More