MKB Fakel was founded in 1953 under the designation OKB-2[1] to facilitate development of guided surface-to-air missiles in response to a growing threat of US air attack[citation needed] on the Soviet Union and its allies.

On May 1, 1960, American high altitude reconnaissance aircraft Lockheed U-2 was shot down near Sverdlovsk by Fakel's 11D missile (S-75) while flying over Soviet territory.

Overall, missiles developed by MKB "Fakel" were employed in more than 30 countries, including Cuba, China, Vietnam and destroyed more than 2,500 of enemy aircraft.

The bureau has designed the following tactical and strategic surface-to-air missiles, as well as exoatmospheric anti-ballistic missile interceptors:[4] Since its foundation on November 20, 1953 and for 38 years, the Fakel ICD has been led by an outstanding engineer, scientist, academician, founder of the school of anti-aircraft rocket engineering Pyotr Dmitrievich Grushin.

Later, the company was headed by Vladimir Grigoryevich Svetlov, Gennady Viktorovich Kozhin, Sergey Borisovich Levochkin.