Rszo tornado instructions for use. The Smerch system will be enough to destroy a small city

Long-range multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) "Smerch" is designed to destroy any group targets on the distant approaches, the vulnerable elements of which are open and covered manpower, unarmored, lightly armored and armored vehicles motorized infantry and tank companies, artillery units, tactical missiles, anti-aircraft systems and helicopters in parking lots, destruction of command posts, communication centers and objects of the military-industrial structure.

MLRS "Smerch" was put into service in 1987 and is still rated as the most powerful in the world. The system was developed in the early 1980s by SNPP "Splav" (Tula) in cooperation with more than 20 other enterprises of the USSR. The design began under the leadership of the General Designer of the State Research and Production Enterprise "Splav" - A.N. Ganichev, and ended under the leadership of - G.A. Denezhkin.

A number of fundamentally new technical solutions embodied in the design of this system and the rocket, allows us to attribute it to a completely new generation of this kind. Having created the MLRS MLRS, the Americans came to the conclusion that the firing range of 30-40 km is the limit for the MLRS. Its further increase leads to too much dispersion of shells. The rockets developed for the Smerch MLRS have a unique design that provides a hit accuracy 2-3 times higher than that of foreign systems. rocket artillery.

MLRS 9K58 "Smerch" due to the long range and efficiency of hitting the target is close to tactical missile systems, therefore, along with them, it was tested and put into service in military unit 42202.
In 1989, a modernized MLRS 9A52-2 model was released.
Currently, the Smerch MLRS is in service with the armies of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kuwait and the United United Arab Emirates. Representatives of India and China showed interest in acquiring this system.
The composition of the MLRS "Smerch" includes the following weapons:
Combat vehicle (BM) 9K58;
Transport-loading vehicle 9T234-2;
rocket projectiles;
Educational and training aids 9F827;
A set of special arsenal equipment and tools 9Ф819;
Complex of means of automated fire control (KSAUO) 9S729M1 "Slepok-1";
Vehicle for topographic survey 1T12-2M;
Radio direction finding meteorological complex 1B44.

The launcher consists of an artillery unit and a four-axle chassis of a MAZ-543 off-road vehicle. The artillery unit is mounted in the stern of the wheeled chassis, and in front are the driver's cab (on the left in the direction of travel), the engine compartment and the crew cabin, which houses radio communications and fire control equipment.
MLRS provides combat and operational characteristics at any time of the day and year in the range of surface temperatures from +50 to -50C.

"Smerch" is a weapon of a new quality level, it has no analogues in terms of the range and effectiveness of fire, the area of ​​destruction of manpower and armored vehicles. If "Grad" covers an area of ​​4 hectares at a distance of 20 km, "Hurricane" - 29 hectares at a distance of 35 km, MLRS - 33 hectares at a distance of 30 km, then "Tornado" has a fantastic area of ​​destruction - 67 hectares (672 thousand square meters . m) with a salvo range of 20 to 70 km, in the short term - up to a hundred. Moreover, "Smerch" burns everything, even armored vehicles.

The 300-mm Smerch MLRS projectiles have a classic aerodynamic layout and are equipped with an efficient mixed-fuel solid-propellant engine. Distinctive feature projectiles is the presence of a flight control system that corrects the trajectory of movement in pitch and yaw. Due to the use of this system, the accuracy of the "Smerch" hits was increased by 2 times (does not exceed the value of 0.21% of the salvo range, that is, about 150 m, which brings it closer in accuracy to artillery pieces.), And the accuracy of fire - by 3 times. Correction is carried out by gas-dynamic rudders driven by gas high pressure from the onboard gas generator. In addition, the stabilization of the projectile in flight occurs due to its rotation around the longitudinal axis, provided by preliminary unwinding while moving along the tubular guide and supported in flight by installing the blades of the drop-down stabilizer at a certain angle to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.

Ammunition includes the following types of projectiles:
projectile 9M55F with a detachable monoblock high-explosive fragmentation warhead;
projectile 9M55K with a cassette warhead containing 72 fragmentation-type combat elements;
projectile 9M55K1 with a cluster warhead containing five self-aiming ammunition;
projectile 9M55K4 with cluster warhead for anti-tank mining of the area;
projectile 9M55K5 with cluster warhead with cumulative fragmentation warheads;
projectile 9M55S with thermobaric warhead;
projectile 9M528 with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead.

Shooting can be carried out by single shells or in one gulp. A full salvo of a combat vehicle is made in 38 seconds. The launch of projectiles is provided from the cockpit of a combat vehicle or using a remote control. The power of a volley of three Smerch MLRS installations is equal in its effectiveness to the “work” of two brigades armed with 9K79 Tochka-U missile systems. A volley of one vehicle covers an area of ​​672,000 square meters. A salvo of 12 9M55K missiles with cluster high-explosive fragmentation elements covers an area of ​​400,000 square meters. m.
For the corrected projectile "Smerch" it is also characteristic that out of its 800 kg warhead is 280 - this is the ideal ratio between the main engine and striking elements. There are 72 rounds of ammunition weighing 2 kg in the cassette. The angle of their meeting with the target (with the ground, trenches, enemy military equipment) is not like that of a conventional projectile - from 30 to 60 degrees, but due to a special device it is strictly vertical - 90 degrees. The cones of such "meteorites" easily make holes in the towers, the top coating of armored personnel carriers, combat vehicles, self-propelled guns, where the armor is not very thick, and the covers of tank transmissions.

Modernization of BM 9A52-2 in terms of the introduction of equipment combat control and communications (ABUS) and automated system guidance and fire control (ASUNO) made it possible to additionally provide:
automated high-speed reception (transmission) of information and its protection from unauthorized access, visual display of information on the scoreboard and its storage;
autonomous topographic location and BM orientation on the ground with display on an electronic map;
automated calculation of firing settings and flight mission data;
aimless guidance of a package of guides without leaving the crew from the cab.

An important contribution to improving the combat effectiveness of the MLRS "Smerch" was made by the automated fire control system "Vivarium", developed and produced by the Tomsk production association "Kontur". This system combines several command and staff vehicles at the disposal of the commander and chief of staff of the MLRS brigade, as well as commanders of divisions (up to three) and batteries (up to eighteen) subordinate to them. Each of these vehicles, based on the KamAZ-4310 vehicle, has an E-715-1.1 digital computer, displays, printers, communications equipment and encrypted communications equipment. The vehicles have autonomous power supply systems in position and on the move.

The equipment of command and staff vehicles of the Vivarium system provides information exchange with higher, subordinate and interacting control bodies, solves the problems of planning concentrated fire and fire on columns, prepares data for firing, collects and analyzes information about the state of artillery units.

Despite the development of aviation and the emergence of more and more advanced guided munitions, work on which is being carried out in many countries of the world, the value of cannon and rocket artillery is not becoming less. Moreover, the experience of local conflicts recent decades shows the high efficiency of the use of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). More and more countries are striving to acquire their own samples of such weapons. One of the most powerful salvo fire systems today is the Smerch MLRS, developed back in the USSR.

Smerch can send 300mm rockets up to 90km and combines the firepower of the legendary Katyusha with the range of tactical missiles. With one gulp, the installation covers an area almost equal to 70 hectares.

MLRS "Smerch" belongs to the third generation of multiple launch rocket systems. The installation was put into service in 1987, it is currently in operation in the Russian army, and it is also used by the armed forces of fifteen more countries.

One of the main disadvantages of the MLRS "Smerch" is its high cost. One rocket costs 2 million rubles (for 2005), the price of the complex is 22 million dollars.

History of creation

The famous BM-13 "Katyusha" and a number of post-war vehicles (BM-20, BM-24, BM-14-16), which were developed taking into account the experience of the recent war, belong to the first generation of Soviet multiple launch rocket systems. All of the above samples had one significant drawback - a low firing range, that is, they, in fact, were battlefield machines. This fact did not suit the military at all, so developments in this direction did not stop.

In 1963, the world's first MLRS of the second generation, the famous fighting machine BM-21 Grad, which is still used today by the Russian and many other armies of the world. To say that the BM-21 turned out well is to say nothing. In terms of simplicity, efficiency and manufacturability, this MLRS has no analogues today.

However, the Soviet military wanted a more powerful system that could destroy targets at considerable distances.

As early as the end of the 60s, the designers of the State Research and Production Enterprise "Splav" ("Tulgosniitochmash") began work on the creation of a MLRS of 300 mm caliber, which could hit the enemy at a distance of up to 70 km. In 1976, a decree of the USSR Council of Ministers appeared on the start of work on the creation of the Smerch multiple launch rocket system. About 20 enterprises of the USSR took part in this project.

most big problem when creating long-range MLRS, there is a significant spread of rockets. When the Americans were working on the creation of their MLRS MLRS, they came to the conclusion that it makes no sense to make an installation with a firing range of more than 40 kilometers, because it simply cannot hit its targets.

It should be noted that the United States paid little attention to the development of multiple launch rocket systems, considering them exclusively as battlefield weapons that should directly support their troops in attack or defense. "Smerch" in its characteristics is closer to tactical missile systems and a salvo of six installations is quite capable of stopping a division or destroying a small locality. We can safely say that the Smerch MLRS is the most destructive weapon ground forces except for nuclear. Sometimes the power of this complex is called redundant.

Soviet designers solved the problem of missiles scattering: they made an adjustable ammunition for the Smerch. This solution increased the accuracy of the complex by 2-3 times.

It is the rockets that are the main "highlight" of the "Tornado". Each missile has a control system that guides its flight on its active trajectory.

MLRS "Smerch" was put into service in 1987. During the operation, the machine was upgraded several times, which significantly improved its performance characteristics (TTX). Until 1990 (the Chinese WS-1 MLRS appeared this year), the Smerch was the most powerful combat vehicle of its class. To date, it remains the longest-range multiple launch rocket system in the world.

In 1989, a modification of the Smerch MLRS appeared with a 9A52-2 combat vehicle and a new transport-loading vehicle.

Since 1993, the Smerch MLRS has been actively advancing on the global arms market, and it must be said that there has always been an increased interest in this technique. These complexes are in service with many countries, including China and India.

Description

The Smerch multiple launch rocket system is designed to destroy almost any group of targets at distances from 20 to 90 km. These can be armored and unarmored equipment of the enemy, his manpower, communication centers, batteries of tactical missiles, command posts, enemy airfields. The range of hitting the target allows you to fire from such distances that make the "Smerch" invulnerable to enemy artillery.

The missile deflection is only 0.21% of its flight range, which gives an error of 150 meters at a distance of 70 km. This is a very high accuracy for such a weapon, it is achieved due to the high speed of rotation of the missile in flight, as well as thanks to its control system.

MLRS consists of the following elements:

• combat vehicle;
• 300 mm caliber rockets;
• transport-loading machine;
• direction-finding meteorological complex;
• vehicle for topographic survey;
• set of special equipment.

The combat vehicle consists of a cross-country vehicle: MAZ-79111, MAZ-543M, Tatra 816 (India) and an artillery component, which is located in the rear of the vehicle. Ahead is the driver's cabin, engine compartment and crew cabin, it houses the fire control system and communications equipment.

The loading vehicle is equipped with crane equipment and is capable of carrying 12 rockets.

The artillery unit consists of twelve tubular rails, a rotating base, lifting and turning mechanisms, as well as aiming and electrical equipment.

Each of the tubular guides is equipped with a U-shaped groove, which is needed to give rotary motion rocket projectile. The lifting and turning mechanism provides pickup in the vertical plane from 0 to 55° and a horizontal pickup sector of 60° (30° to the right and left of the longitudinal axis of the combat vehicle).

The combat vehicle is equipped with hydraulic stops, on which the rear of the vehicle is hung out during firing. This improves its accuracy.

Both the launcher and the loading vehicle are virtually identical. They are equipped with a twelve-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 525 liters. With. The wheel formula is 8 × 8, the first two pairs of wheels are swivel. On the highway, these cars can move at a speed of 60 km / h, they have high cross-country ability and can use any kind of road, overcome fords with a depth of one meter. The power reserve is 850 km.

The Smerch MLRS missiles are made according to the classical aerodynamic design with a detachable warhead. This design solution significantly reduces the visibility of the missile on radar screens, making them even deadlier.

Each missile is equipped with an inertial control system that corrects its flight in yaw and pitch on the active part of the trajectory. Correction is carried out with the help of gas-dynamic rudders located in front of the rocket. To ensure their work, a gas generator is installed on the rocket. In addition, the stabilization of the rocket is carried out due to its rotation, as well as stabilizers, which open immediately after the shot and are located at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rocket.

The rocket engine is solid-propellant, it runs on mixed fuel. The head part can be monoblock or with separable parts. The fire can be carried out both by single shots and in one gulp. Each rocket has a length of 7.5 meters and a weight of 800 kg, of which 280 kg falls on the warhead.

The warhead can contain up to 72 combat elements, which, due to a special mechanism, hit targets at an angle of 90 °, which significantly increases their effectiveness.

The Smerch multiple launch rocket system produces one salvo in 38 seconds. The launch is made from the cockpit or using a remote control. Preparation for a salvo after receiving the coordinates of the target takes three minutes. In a minute, the installation can leave fighting position, which makes it even less vulnerable to enemy return fire.

The loading process of the complex is extremely mechanized and takes about twenty minutes.

"Smerch" can use a wide variety of ammunition: high-explosive fragmentation, cluster, thermobaric. MLRS is capable of carrying out remote mining territories as anti-personnel mines, and anti-tank. There is an experienced ammunition with the Tipchak reconnaissance unmanned vehicle, which scans the area and transmits information over a distance of 70 km.

Ammunition with a flight range of 70 and 90 km has been developed for this complex. A few years ago, information appeared about the creation of a new high-explosive fragmentation munition with a flight range of 120 km and a warhead mass of 150 kg.

The modernization of the MLRS (the creation of combat vehicles 9A52-2) consisted in the installation of more advanced fire control and communications equipment. This made it possible to provide high speed receiving and transmitting data, protecting it from unauthorized access and more convenient display of information for crew members. Also, this equipment binds the combat vehicle to the terrain, calculates the firing settings and the flight task.

The automated FCS "Vivarium" combines several command and staff vehicles at the disposal of the brigade commander, its chief of staff, as well as division commanders. Each of these machines is equipped with computing equipment, communications and data encryption. Such command vehicles can collect information, process it and exchange data with other command and control bodies for planning and carrying out combat missions.

Another modification of this complex can be called the Kama MLRS, which was demonstrated to the general public in 2007. "Kama" has only six guides for 300-mm rockets, which are installed on a four-axle truck KamAZ. Combat and loading vehicle MLRS "Kama" were demonstrated in 2009.

The main goal of creating "Kama" experts call increasing the mobility of the complex by reducing its size and weight. There are also opinions that the new MLRS have good commercial prospects.

Currently, Splav specialists are working on the creation of the next generation multiple launch rocket system - Tornado. There is very little information about its characteristics, but this MLRS is likely to come even closer to tactical missile systems in terms of accuracy. Most likely, the Tornado MLRS will become two-caliber, that is, it will be able to solve the tasks that Hurricane and Smerch are performing today. Tornado firing automation will reach such a level that combat vehicles will be able to leave positions even before rockets hit the target.

Characteristics

Video about MLRS

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The rocket artillery presented today by the Tornado MLRS is a completely different kind of troops. New powerful weapon, created Russian designers and engineers, radically changes the idea of ​​the massive use of rocket artillery in the front line. The rocket launcher can now shoot not just at areas, but is precision weapons capable of inflicting irreparable damage to the enemy in a matter of seconds.

With an eye on history

Back in the years of the Second World War, it became known what destructive capabilities rocket artillery had. On the Soviet-German front, BM-13 multiple rocket launchers mounted on the chassis of a ZIS-6 truck appeared in the summer of 1941. Fire test of a new missile artillery system happened on July 14, 1941, during stubborn battles with the advancing German troops near the city of Orsha. As a result combat use, it turned out that the new soviet weapons produced a tremendous psychological effect. There was no need to talk about the high efficiency of rocket mortars, since rockets fired from ordinary metal guides did not give the necessary accuracy of hit. Despite the obvious flaws in the design of the installation, rocket artillery contributed to achieving victory over the enemy.

Only after the war, when completely different technologies appeared, did the USSR manage to create powerful multiple launch rocket systems capable of inflicting serious damage on the enemy, both in manpower and in material and technical terms. The first success came with the BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system, which for the first time showed its firepower during the Soviet-Chinese armed conflict on Far East, near Damansky Island. Having received excellent results from the work of Soviet rocket artillery, a decision was made in the Soviet Union to create more powerful multiple launch rocket systems. It was possible to increase power by increasing the caliber of rockets and improving accuracy when firing. Following the MLRS "Grad" into service Soviet army jet systems "Hurricane" and "Smerch" were adopted.

All three multiple launch rocket systems that appeared under the Soviet Union continue to be in service with the current Russian army. However, even such successful and successful developments have their limits of technical and technological resource. The main drawback that all of the listed reactive systems suffered from - low accuracy, has been overcome today. The best tactical and technical characteristics for rocket artillery today have a new MLRS "Tornado". This system can be safely called a weapon of the XXI century, formidable, powerful and high-tech.

Today, when it is already 2017, the new rocket launcher has passed state tests. There is no official information about the adoption of the new missile system into service yet. However, according to various sources new system continues to be produced in limited quantities. Today, on the scale of all the armed forces of the Russian Federation, there are only 30-40 new rocket systems, which can be included in separate rocket and artillery divisions. It was assumed that the new multiple launch rocket system would be able to completely replace the Grad, Uragan and Smerch MLRS in the troops by 2020, which in most cases have exhausted their technological resource.

The future of new weapons

Creating a new multiple launch rocket system, the designers decided to follow the path of unification of the main systems of the new weapon. It was planned to create two modifications at once:

• MLRS 9K51M "Tornado - G" to replace artillery missile systems "Grad";
• complex 9K515 "Tornado - S", to replace the combat missile systems "Smerch".

In the first case we are talking about rocket artillery equipped with 122-mm rockets. The second option involved the creation of a rocket launcher capable of firing rockets of 300 mm caliber.

The information that there is also a third version of the Uragan-U MLRS has not been confirmed. Probably, the confusion arose due to the similarity of the name with the Ural car brand, the modification of which was called the Tornado.

The main innovation that distinguishes the new weapon from old counterparts is the presence of the Kapustnik-BM automated fire control system (ASUNO). Besides missile system received a more advanced transport base. The installation is equipped with new unguided rockets with a caliber of 112 and 300 mm.

The maximum flight range of 300 mm caliber rockets is 120 km. This is much more than the data possessed by the missiles of the Smerch system. New unguided rockets can be equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation or cluster warhead. It is allowed to upgrade rocket engines of rockets, which will increase the flight range up to 200 km. During a full salvo, all 40 fired shells of the Tornado-G MLRS can cover an area of ​​65 hectares. A rocket and artillery battalion, respectively, can cover a 3-4 times larger area.

The system can fire in one salvo or single shots, which indicates the versatility of the system.

Design features

Like its predecessors, the new MLRS has tubular guides assembled into a single block. On the new car"Tornado-G" the number of guides was 30 pieces, two blocks of 12 launch tubes. For the Tornado-S system, the number of guides is 12 pieces, six pipes in two blocks. Significant changes have also taken place in terms of servicing the missile system. The crew of the MLRS "Tornado" was reduced to 2 people. The full automation of the process reduced the control time allotted for deployment, even with a poorly prepared position. It should be noted that the launcher received a new loading mechanism. Previously, the loading of the launch tubes was carried out using a crane, one rocket in each tube. The whole loading process could take 15-20 minutes.

In a modern installation, the process of loading by the crew is carried out in a matter of minutes. Reload speed for this weapon system is key. The shorter the time interval between salvos, the higher the probability of hitting targets with fire. Delay in reloading is fraught with vulnerability rocket launcher before retaliation.

The missile system is installed on the Ural truck chassis and on the MAZ-543M and Kamaz tractors, which have increased cross-country ability. Both variants have completely new guidance systems remote control, thanks to which the aiming of projectiles at the target is carried out inside the cockpit of the launcher. Manual aiming mode can be used only in exceptional cases. The main work of the operator is to control the position of the missile system in relation to the location of the target. Navigational satellite system GLONASS is a mandatory attribute of the new missile and artillery complex. Thanks to its presence, the accuracy of the rocket salvo has increased.

GLONASS own satellite navigation system, the development of which began in 1982, can significantly improve the accuracy of guidance modern systems weapons. To date, more than two dozen satellites deployed in orbit, together with relay satellites, provide high accuracy in determining coordinates. Contemporary missile weapon equipped with receivers that provide control over compliance with target designations.

Operating principle

Artillery missile system works according to the following principle. After obtaining the exact parameters of the target, it is bound to the coordinate system. The collection of such data is carried out by air and space reconnaissance, which has optical and radio technical means of data collection. Under the current conditions, combat training is underway personnel goal data collection methodology on your own, without attracting funds and components of the Military Space Forces of the Russian Federation.

The emphasis is on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for these purposes. By making a preliminary launch to the area where the drone’s target is located, the combat crew will be able to obtain the necessary information about the target and coordinates after a while. After receiving data about the goals, the necessary parameters are transmitted to each launcher who have already taken up a prelaunch position.

Further, fire control is carried out using the combat control and communications hardware complex, which replaced the conventional radio station, guidance and fire control systems. Both the first and second systems have a single computer-information base, with the help of which the integration of all computational processes regarding the ballistics of a flying missile is performed.

In other words, new modern electronic equipment makes it possible in a matter of minutes to accurately aim a missile at a target, prepare it for launch and control the flight of a rocket during an autonomous flight.

The electronics and the navigation complex adjust the rudders taking into account meteorological factors. As a result, the rocket during the flight retains all the target designation parameters set before the start.

With similar characteristics, the Russian new-generation Tornado multiple launch rocket system significantly outperforms its outdated Soviet counterparts, the BM-21 Grad and the Smerch MLRS. The domestic rocket-artillery system is not inferior to foreign analogues, which also have an automated loading mechanism and satellite control over the flights of live ammunition.

In the current conditions, work is underway to improve the combat unit of the MLRS. It is supposed to equip rockets with electronic filling used for reconnaissance purposes as a target designator. According to some reports, a missile system capable of firing cruise missiles can be deployed on the basis of the Tornado-S MLRS.

This term has other meanings, see Tornado (meanings).

9K58 "Smerch" (BM-30) is a multiple launch rocket system from the Katyusha family. The Smerch multiple launch rocket system was developed by the Splav municipal research and production enterprise (Tula).

In terms of power and range, "Smerch" still has no equal in the world. The missile deflection does not exceed 10-20 meters, such characteristics are comparable with precision missiles. Preparing for the Smerch battle after receiving target designation takes only three minutes. Full salvo - 30 eight seconds. And after a minute, the car is removed from its place, because the system is virtually invulnerable to enemy return fire.

Armament

Rocket 9M55K with a warhead with fragmentation submunitions. It contains 72 combat elements carrying 6912 ready-made heavy fragments designed to effectively destroy enemy light and unarmored vehicles, and 25920 ready-made light fragments created to defeat enemy manpower; a total of 32832 fragments. 16 projectiles contain 525,312 finished fragments, an average of one fragment per 1.28 m² of the affected area, which is 672,000 m²). Designed to defeat manpower and unarmored military equipment in places of their concentration, very effective in open areas, in the steppe and desert.

Rocket 9M55K

• Head part weight (9Н139) - 243 kg
• The weight of the combat element (9N235) - 1.75 kg
• The number of finished striking fragments - 96 by 4.5 g, 360 by 0.75 g
• Projectile self-destruction time - 110 s
• Short range - 20000 m

Rocket 9M55K1 with self-aiming submunitions. Cassette head part 9N142 carries 5 self-aiming warheads "Motiv-3M", equipped with dual-band infrared coordinators, looking for a target at an angle of 300. Any of them is capable of penetrating 70 mm armor at an angle of 300, in other words, hit any existing and promising armored vehicles. Impeccable for implementation in open areas, in the steppe and desert, implementation in the forest is almost impossible, implementation in the town is difficult. Designed to engage from above groupings of armored vehicles and tanks.

Rocket 9M55K1

• Rocket weight - 800 kg
• Rocket length - 7600 mm
• Head part weight (9Н152) - 243 kg
• The weight of the combat element (9N235) - 15 kg
• Dimensions of the combat element - 284x255x186 mm
• Weight of explosives in the combat element - 4.5 kg
• Self-destruction time of the combat element - 60 s
• Maximum range - 70000 m
• Range short - 25000 m

Rocket 9M55K4 with warhead for anti-tank mining of the area. Each projectile contains 25 anti-tank mines, in total, 300 anti-tank mines are installed in one salvo. Designed for operational remote setting of anti-tank minefields both in front of enemy military equipment units located at the line of attack, and in the area of ​​\u200b\u200btheir concentration.

Rocket 9M55K4

• Rocket weight - 800 kg
• Rocket length - 7600 mm
• Head part weight (9Н539) - 243 kg
• The number of combat units in the warhead (anti-tank mines) - 25
• Dimensions of the combat element - 33x84x84
• The weight of the combat element (anti-tank mine) - 4.85 kg
• The weight of explosives in the combat element (anti-tank mine) - 1.85 kg
• Projectile self-destruction time - 16-24 hours
• Maximum range - 70000 m
• Short range - 20000 m

Rocket 9M55K5 with warheads with cumulative fragmentation warheads. The cassette warhead contains 646 warheads weighing 240 g each, having a cylindrical shape (118x43x43 mm). Normally capable of penetrating up to 120 mm of homogeneous armor. Very effective against motorized infantry on the march in armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. In total, 16 shells contain 10336 warheads. Designed to destroy open and covered manpower and lightly armored military equipment.

Rocket 9M55K5

• Rocket weight - 800 kg
• Rocket length - 7600 mm
• Head part weight (9Н176) - 243 kg
• The weight of the combat element (9N235) - 240 g
• Maximum range - 70000 m
• Short range - 20000 m

Rocket projectile 9M55F with a detachable high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Designed to destroy manpower, unarmored and lightly armored military equipment in places of their concentration, destroy command posts, communication centers and objects of the military-industrial structure.

Rocket 9M55K

• Rocket weight - 810 kg
• Rocket length - 7600 mm
• The number of finished striking fragments - 110 to 50 g
• Maximum range - 70000 m
• Range short - 25000 m

Rocket 9M55S with a thermobaric warhead. The explosion of the 1st projectile makes the thermal field up to 25 m in diameter (depending on the terrain). The temperature of the field is above 10000С, the lifetime is more than 1.4 s. Designed to destroy manpower, open and sheltered in open-type fortifications and objects of unarmored and lightly armored military equipment. Very effective in the steppe and desert, a town located on a non-hilly area.

Rocket 9M55S

• Rocket weight - 800 kg
• Rocket length - 7600 mm
• Head part weight (index unknown) - 243 kg
• The weight of the explosive in the head part is 100 kg of consistency
• Maximum range - 70000 m
• Range short - 25000 m

Rocket projectile 9M528 with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Fuse contact, instant and slow action. Designed to destroy manpower, unarmored and lightly armored military equipment in places of their concentration, destroy command posts, communication centers and objects of the military-industrial structure.

Rocket 9M528

• Rocket weight - 815 kg
• Rocket length - 7600 mm
• Head part weight (index unknown) - 258 kg
• Weight of explosives in the head part - 95 kg
• The number of finished striking fragments - 880 to 50 g
• Range short - 25000 m

A reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) missile. Designed for reconnaissance for 20 minutes, and is virtually invulnerable, as it is small in size, and goes directly above the target, delivered directly to the rocket.

Rocket from UAV

• Rocket weight - 800 kg
• UAV weight - 42 kg
• Time of independent flight over the target - 30 min
• Flight altitude - 200-600 m
• Maximum range - 90000 m
• Short range - 20000 m

pros

Multifunctionality, maneuverability, the highest reliability, accuracy and power. A salvo from a brigade of 6 Tornadoes is capable of stopping the advance of an entire division or killing a small town.

Shortcomings

The cost and difficulty of using in local conflicts, where often the enemy operates in populated areas, the use of "Smerch" on which would lead to their complete destruction.

Spreading

According to Jane, in 2001 about 300 vehicles (50 brigades of 6 vehicles each) were in service with the Russian Federation, 94 were in service with Ukraine, and 48 with Belarus.

Export

The export value of the Smerch MLRS is about $12 million. The Smerch installations were exported to Algeria (1 unit), India, the United Arab Emirates (6 units), Kuwait (27 units). In 2008 significant export deliveries to India are foreseen.

Modernization

MLRS "Smerch" - 9A52-2: The firing range increased from 70 to 90 km, the combat crew decreased from 4 to 3 people, the automation of the system increased, namely, topographic location began to be carried out automatically via satellite systems.

Currently, the Splav enterprise is creating the latest generation MLRS - Tornado. It will become a two-caliber, combining on the same platform "Hurricane" and "Smerch". Automation of firing will reach such a level that the installation will be able to leave the position even before the projectile reaches the target. "Tornado" will be able to hit targets both in salvo and single high-precision missiles, and in fact, will become a universal tactical missile system.

At the MAKS-2007 Aviation and Space Salon, it is planned to show the latest batch-type launcher based on the KAMAZ four-axle all-wheel drive chassis with 6 missile guides instead of 12. The introduction of a special system allows dispersed crews to conduct coordinated fire. The main goal of modernization is to increase the mobility of the complex by reducing the weight and dimensions. It is understood that this will expand export opportunities.

Multiple launch rocket system "Smerch"

"Everything is subject to death." “67 hectares of death” ... “And the Russian Smerch will embrace everyone ... All this is about the Russian Smerch multiple launch rocket system (MLRS).

"Smerch" is a remarkably new weapon in the field of jet systems. "Smerch" was created in 1986, adopted by the Armed Forces in 1989.

MLRS - a combat vehicle (BM) with 12 guides (placed on a MAZ-543M high cross-country vehicle chassis, which provides a speed of movement of up to 60 km / h, a cruising range of fuel - 850 km); a transport-loading vehicle with a crane and a charger; rocket projectiles (RS) of high-explosive fragmentation, cluster with submunitions of fragmentation, cluster with self-aiming submunitions of the highest efficiency, allowing to conduct effective fight With modern tanks and other armored vehicles. Launches of the RS are provided from the BM cabin or using a remote control.

MLRS provides combat and operational properties at any time of the day and year in the range of surface temperatures from +50 to -50?

The Smerch is a weapon of a new high-quality level, it has no analogues in terms of range and effectiveness of fire, the area of ​​destruction of manpower and armored vehicles. If "Grad" covers an area of ​​4 hectares at a distance of 20 km, "Hurricane" - 29 hectares at a distance of 35 km, MLRS - 33 hectares at a distance of 30 km, then "Smerch" has a breathtaking area of ​​destruction - 67 hectares (672 thousand square meters). . m) with a salvo range of 20 to 70 km, in the short term - up to 100. At the same time, the Smerch burns everything, even armored vehicles.

Preparation for the battle of the MLRS after receiving target designation - only 3 minutes, a full salvo - 38 seconds. "Tornado" is invulnerable - a blow, and it instantly disappears.

The 12-barrel "Smerch" fires 300-mm projectiles. For the first time, the rocket has a control system unit on board. Unlike the past, behind the warhead of the rocket there is an additional engine, with the help of which its short flight to the target is adjusted in height and course. As a result, dispersion is reduced by a factor of three compared to an unguided projectile, and shooting accuracy doubles.

For the Smerch corrected projectile, it is also typical that out of its 800 kg, the warhead is 280 - this is an impeccable ratio between the main engine and the striking elements. There are 72 rounds of ammunition weighing 2 kg in the cassette. The angle of their meeting with the target (with the ground, trenches, enemy military equipment) is not like that of an ordinary projectile - from 30 to 60 degrees, but due to a special device it is strictly vertical - 90 degrees. The cones of such "meteors" simply make holes in the towers, the top coating of armored personnel carriers, combat vehicles, self-propelled guns, where the armor is not very thick, and the covers of tank transmissions. Terrible "Smerch"!

Experienced exercises in the Russian army, shooting conducted in December 1995 in Kuwait (in the eyes of all intelligence and military experts in the world), confirm this, as well as other properties of the Smerch.

The artillery of Russia and the world, along with other states, has introduced the most significant innovations - the transformation of a smooth-bore gun loaded from the muzzle into a rifled one loaded from the breech (lock). The use of streamlined projectiles and various types fuses with adjustable time setting; more powerful gunpowders, such as cordite, which appeared in Britain before the First World War; the development of rolling systems, which made it possible to increase the rate of fire and relieved the gun crew from the hard work of rolling into the firing position after each shot; connection in one assembly of the projectile, propellant charge and fuse; the use of shrapnel shells, after the explosion, scattering small steel particles in all directions.

Russian artillery, capable of firing large projectiles, sharply highlighted the problem of weapon durability. In 1854, during the Crimean War, Sir William Armstrong, a British hydraulic engineer, proposed the wrought iron gun barrel method of first twisting iron bars and then welding them together by forging. The gun barrel was additionally strengthened with wrought iron rings. Armstrong set up a business that made guns of several sizes. One of the most famous was his 12-pounder rifled gun with a 7.6 cm (3 in) bore and a screw lock mechanism.

Artillery of the Second World War (WWII), in particular Soviet Union, probably had the largest potential among European armies. At the same time, the Red Army experienced the purges of Commander-in-Chief Joseph Stalin and endured the difficult Winter War with Finland at the end of the decade. During this period the Soviet design bureaus took a conservative approach to technology.
The first modernization effort came with the improvement of the 76.2 mm M00/02 field gun in 1930, which included improved ammunition and the replacement of barrels for parts of the gun fleet, new version the guns were named M02/30. Six years later, the 76.2 mm M1936 field gun appeared, with a carriage from the 107 mm.

Heavy artilleryof all armies, and rather rare materials from the time of Hitler's blitzkrieg, whose army smoothly and without delay crossed the Polish border. The German army was the most modern and best equipped army in the world. Wehrmacht artillery operated in close cooperation with infantry and aviation, trying to quickly occupy the territory and deprive the Polish army of communication lines. The world shuddered upon learning of a new armed conflict in Europe.

Artillery of the USSR in the positional conduct of hostilities on the Western Front in the last war and the horror in the trenches of the military leaders of some countries created new priorities in the tactics of using artillery. They believed that in the second global conflict of the 20th century, mobile firepower and accuracy of fire.