Tornado (MLRS)

MLRS complex: ^[7]

• combat vehicle (BM) 9K58;
• transport and loading machine 9T234−2;
• rockets;
• educational means 9F827;
• a set of special arsenal equipment and tools 9F819;
• a set of automated fire control tools (KSAUO) 9S729M1 "Slap-1";
• vehicle for topographic survey 1T12−2M;
• radio direction finding meteorological complex 1B44.

The Smerch multiple launch rocket system was developed in the USSR by the specialists of TulgosNIIITochmash (later the NPO Splav, and now the NPO Splav JSC, the city of Tula) under the leadership of the chief designer Gennady Alekseevich Denezhkin , as well as related enterprises. Before the development in 1990, China WS-1 ^[8] was the most long-range system.

The artillery unit is mounted on a modified chassis of a MAZ-79111 or MAZ-543M truck. For India, a variant of a combat vehicle based on a Tatra 816 6ZVR8T10x10.1 R / 41T off-road truck was created.

Preparation of “Tornado” for battle after receiving target designation takes three minutes; a full salvo is made within 38 seconds. After firing, the battery is ready to march in one minute, which allows you to quickly get out of the enemy’s retaliatory strike.

• 9M55K - 300-mm missile with a cluster head unit (warhead) 9N139 with fragmentation warheads (RBE) 9N235 . Contains 72 warheads (BE), carrying 96 ready-made heavy fragments, designed to destroy unarmored vehicles, and 360 ready-made light fragments, designed to destroy enemy personnel in places of their concentration; total - up to 32,832 fragments. The area of ​​damage to the element is 300-100 m². Penetration at a distance of 10 m 5-7 mm, at a distance of 100 m - 1-3 mm. 12 shells contain 393,984 finished fragments. Most effective in open areas, in the steppe and desert. Serial production of 9M55K (and 9M55K-IN - with inert equipment BE) began in 1987. Delivered to Algeria and India.
• 9M55K1 - a missile with a cluster warhead (warhead) 9N142 with self- aiming warheads (SPBE). A cassette warhead carries 5 SPBE Motiv-3M (9N349) ^[9] equipped with dual-band infrared coordinators looking for a target at an angle of 30 °. Each of them is capable of piercing armor of 70 mm at an angle of 30 ° from a height of 100 meters ^[10] . Suitable for use in open areas, in the steppe and desert, it is almost impossible to use in the forest, it is difficult to use in the city. Designed to defeat the top groups of armored vehicles and tanks. The tests were completed in 1994 and adopted in 1996. By order of the Minister of Defense No. 372 of October 13, 1996, the 9M55K1 shell was adopted by the Russian army. Delivered to Algeria.
• 9M55K4 - rocket with KGCh 9N539 for anti-tank mining of the terrain. Each shell contains 25 anti-tank mines “ PTM-3 ” with an electronic proximity fuse, in just one volley of the installation - 300 anti-tank mines. It is intended for the operational remote-controlled deployment of anti-tank minefields in front of enemy combat equipment units located at the attack line, or in the area of ​​their concentration.
• 9M55K5 - missile with KGCh ' 9N176 with cumulative-fragmentation warheads (KOBE). The cartridge warhead contains 646 combat elements with a length of 118 mm, or 588 elements with a length of 128 mm, weighing 240 g, having a cylindrical shape. Elements 118 mm long can normally penetrate up to 120 mm homogeneous armor, 128 mm long - up to 160 mm. It is most effective against motorized infantry on the march, located in the APC and BMP . In total, 12 shells contain 7,752 or 7,056 combat elements. Designed to defeat open and sheltered manpower and lightly armored military equipment.
• 9M55F - missile with detachable high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Designed to destroy manpower, unarmored and lightly armored military equipment in places of their concentration, for the destruction of command posts, communication centers and infrastructure. It was adopted by the Russian Army in 1992, and since 1999 it has been in serial production. Delivered to India.
• 9M55S - rocket with thermobaric warhead 9M216 "Excitement" . An explosion of one shell creates a thermal field with a diameter of at least 25 m (depending on the terrain). The field temperature is above +1000 ° C, the lifetime is not less than 1.4 s ^[11] . Designed to engage manpower, open and sheltered in open type fortifications and objects of unarmored and lightly armored military equipment. It is most effective in the steppe and desert, a city located on a non-hilly area. Ammunition tests were completed in 2004. By Order of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1288 of October 7, 2004, 9M55C was adopted by the Russian Army.
• 9M528 - a missile with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Contact fuse, instant and delayed action. Designed to destroy manpower, unarmored and lightly armored military equipment in the places of their concentration, the destruction of command posts, communication centers and infrastructure.
• 9M534 - an experimental missile with a small-sized reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the " Tipchak " type. Designed to conduct operational reconnaissance of targets for twenty minutes. In the target area, the UAV descends by parachute, scanning the situation and transmitting information on the coordinates of the reconnaissance targets to the control complex at a distance of up to 70 km, for prompt decision making on destruction to the reconnaissance object.
• 9M542 - an adjustable missile with a detachable high-explosive or cluster munition with a firing range of up to 120 km ^[12] .

The main performance characteristics of the above rocket-propelled munitions (except 9M542 ):

Ammunition Development

• In 2012, a passport and an advertising passport for a 9M542 extended-range adjustable projectile designed for a foreign customer were approved. The minimum range is 40 km, the maximum range is 120 km. The length is 7600 mm, the total mass is 820 kg, the mass of the warhead is 150 kg, the mass of the explosive is 70 kg, 500 pieces of ready-made fragments weighing 50 g are equipped with equipment. In 2016, it was announced that these shells were equipped with Tornado-S MLRS ^[12] .
• In 2017, there were reports that the Thunder drone, integrated into the Smerch multiple launch rocket launcher (MLRS) missile, will be used for reconnaissance purposes. In January 2019, according to press reports, a turbojet engine (commissioned by NPO Splav) was created for the new Russian UAV Grom, which is embedded in the Smerch multiple launch rocket system missile, as part of the development work. ^[15] Nikolay Makarovets, the chief designer of the Splav NPO (part of Rostec), told reporters that, at present, the manufacturer is awaiting a state order for its delivery to the troops.

•   Azerbaijan - 30 units 9A52, as of 2016 ^[16]
•   Armenia - a certain amount of 9A52, as of 2016 ^[17]
•   Algeria - 18 units 9A52, as of 2016 ^[18]
•   Belarus :
  • Collective Defense Forces - 36 units 9A52, as of 2016 ^[19]
•   Venezuela - 12 units 9A52, as of 2016 ^[20]
•   Georgia - 3 Smerch complexes delivered from Ukraine ^[21]
•   India - 28 units of 9A52, as of 2016 ^[22]
•   Kazakhstan - 6 BM-30 units, as of 2016 ^[23]
•   China - makes a copy of the MLRS on its chassis. Information for 2007 ^[24] .
•   Kuwait - 27 units of 9A52, as of 2016 ^[25]
•   UAE - 6 units 9A52, as of 2016 ^[26]
•   Peru - according to OAO Motovilikhinskiye Zavody ^[27] , 10 Smerch MLRSs were delivered. According to other information, 25 MLRS delivered in 1998 from the Republic of Belarus, (possibly re-export from Russia) ^{[28] [29]}
•   Russia - 100 units of 9A52, as of 2016 ^[30]
  • 79th Guards Jet Artillery Brigade
•   Syria - some 9A52, as of 2016 ^[31]
•   Turkmenistan - 6 units 9A52, as of 2018 ^[32]
•   Ukraine - 75 units of 9A52, as of 2016 ^[33]

The export value of the Smerch-M MLRS is about 12.5 million US dollars ^[34] .

According to A. Khramchikhin , the Chinese MLRS ( A-100 , and especially PHL-03) are non-licensed copies of “Smerch” ^[35] . This is consistent with the trend described in the book ^[36] .

MLRS "Smerch" was used by the Russian Armed Forces during the second war in Chechnya ^{[37] [38]} .

MLRS "Smerch" was widely used during the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine ^{[39] [40] [41] [42]} .

MLRS "Smerch" was used by the Syrian army during the civil war in Syria , in particular during the liberation of Palmyra ^[43] . Also, according to some reports, “Smerch” was used by the Russian armed forces ^[44] .

It was used by the Azerbaijani army during the 4-day war in 2016.

The long-range multiple launch rocket system is designed to destroy virtually any group targets at distant approaches. Due to its range and effectiveness, the 9K58 MLRS is close to tactical missile systems. The accuracy of the complex is close to artillery. The accuracy of the hit is 2-3 times higher than the analogues ^[38] . A volley of six BM batteries is capable of stopping the advance of the motorized rifle division ^[45] .

9K58 on the MAZ-543M chassis

MLRS 9K58 "Smerch" on the MAZ-543M chassis

The firing range increased from 70 to 90 km, the combat crew decreased from four to three people, the automation of the system increased, in particular, the topographic location began to be carried out automatically through satellite systems. Adopted in 1989. The lesion area is 67.2 ha ^[38] . Preparation time for a volley 3 minutes, reload 13 minutes ^[46] .

9K58 Kama

MLRS 9K58 "Kama" on the KamAZ-6350 chassis

At the MAKS-2007 Aviation and Space Salon, a prototype 9A52-4 combat vehicle was shown for the first time with a six-barrel package of guides as part of an artillery unit mounted on the basis of a KAMAZ four-axle all-wheel drive chassis. The use of such a system allows dispersed calculations to conduct a coordinated fire. The main goal of the modernization is to increase the mobility of the complex by reducing weight and dimensions. It is assumed that this will expand export opportunities. A new version of a prototype combat vehicle, as well as a prototype of a transport-loading vehicle, were demonstrated in 2009 at the REA-2009 arms exhibition in Nizhny Tagil (Sverdlovsk Region).

9K515 Tornado-C

MLRS 9K515 Tornado-C . A new generation MLRS of the Tornado series was created at the Splav enterprise.

Tornado-C is a deep modernization of the 9K58 Tornado. Designed to defeat group targets (manpower, unarmored, lightly armored and armored vehicles) at far approaches, tactical missiles, anti-aircraft systems, helicopters in parking lots, command posts, communication centers, and military-industrial infrastructure.

The 9A54 combat vehicle is equipped with on-board control and communications equipment (ABUS), an automated guidance and fire control system (ASUNO), and ground-based equipment for consumers of satellite navigation systems (NAP SNA), which allows you to: automatically receive and transmit information with protection against unauthorized access, display information on the scoreboard and store it; autonomously carry out topographic, navigation and orientation of the combat vehicle on the ground with display on an electronic map; automatically direct the launch guide package without leaving the crew from the cockpit with the possibility of manual guidance if necessary (to protect personnel from powder gases during firing, compressed air is supplied from the cylinders to the cockpit).

Equipped with a system of autonomous correction of the trajectory of rockets at the angles of pitch and yaw , carried out by the signals of the control system of gas-dynamic devices (adjustable ammunition) ^{[47] [48] [49]} . The stabilization of shells occurs due to their twisting along the launch guides, and maintaining in flight with the open plumage blades. When firing in volley, the dispersion of shells does not exceed 0.3% of the firing range. To ensure target designation, an UAV can be used (also launched from a combat vehicle - 9M534 missile). Missiles can be equipped with a warhead of a monoblock or cluster type. A salvo of one combat vehicle with 300 mm rockets equipped with a cluster head with 72 cumulative-fragmentation elements affects an area of ​​up to 67.2 hectares . Firing range up to 120 km, in the future with the possibility of increasing to 200 km.

The time of folding and leaving the firing position by a combat vehicle of the BM 9A54 complex after a volley is about 1 minute. The crew of the combat vehicle has been reduced to 3 people.

It can hit targets both in one gulp and single high-precision missiles, and in fact, has become a universal tactical missile system. Tornado-S can also use adjustable ammunition ^{[12] [50]} .

The composition of the MLRS 9K515 "Tornado-S" :

• combat vehicle (BM) 9A54;
• transport and loading machine (TZM) 9T255;
• a training complex, means of an automatic fire control system (ASUNO), a topographic referencing vehicle (topographic surveyor) and a meteorological machine.

Разработчик: АО НПО «Сплав» (г. Тула), ЗАО «СКБ» ПАО « Мотовилихинские заводы » (г. Пермь). Изготовитель (капитальный ремонт и модернизация) БМ и ТЗМ: ПАО «Мотовилихинские заводы» (г. Пермь).

На вооружение начало поступать с конца 2016 года ^{[51] [52]} . В ноябре 2016 г. были проведены испытания на полигоне Капустин Яр ^[53] .

Варианты боевых машин

• 9А52 — базовый вариант на шасси МАЗ-79111
• 9А52Б — боевая машина автоматизированной системы управления формированиями РСЗО 9К58Б
• 9А52-2 — боевая машина на шасси МАЗ-543М комплекса РСЗО 9К58
• 9А52-2К — командирская боевая машина на шасси МАЗ-543М модернизированного комплекса РСЗО 9К58
• 9А52-2Т — боевая машина на шасси Tatra модернизированного комплекса РСЗО 9К58
• 9А52-4 — облегчённая боевая машина РСЗО «Кама» на шасси КамАЗ
• 9А53 — боевая машина комплекса РСЗО 9К512 « Ураган-1М » с установленным транспортно-пусковым контейнером с 300-мм реактивными снарядами.
• 9А54 — боевая машина модернизированной системы 9К515 «Торнадо-С»

Варианты транспортно-заряжающих машин

• 9Т234 — транспортно-заряжающая машина БМ 9А52 на шасси МАЗ-79112
• 9Т234-2 — транспортно-заряжающая машина БМ 9А52-2 на шасси МАЗ-543А ^[54]
• 9Т234-2Т — транспортно-заряжающая машина БМ 9А52-2Т на шасси Tatra
• 9Т234-4 — транспортно-заряжающая машина БМ 9А52-4 на шасси КамАЗ
• 9Т255 — транспортно-заряжающая машина БМ 9А54

По заключению экспертов IISS в справочнике MilitaryBalance 2017 РСЗО Смерч-М и его улучшенная версия Торнадо-C превосходит по дальности РСЗО НАТО производства США. ^[four]

• Демонстрационный показ 9А52-4 «Кама» на выставке « Технологии в машиностроении 2012 »
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• 9К58 «Смерч» на выставке МВСВ-2008 — экспозиция Минобороны РФ
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• Ольха (ракетный комплекс)
• M270 MLRS
• LAR-160
• WS-2
• A-100

Footnotes

• Gurov S. V. The multiple launch rocket system 9K58 "Tornado" // Multiple launch rocket systems. Overview. Ed. 2, electronic, periodic use. and additional .. - Tula: FSUE GNPP "Alloy", 2010. - P. 206 .

• “Tornado to the Enemy” - release of the program “Military Acceptance” dated 04/18/2016. TV channel “STAR”