Soviet multiple rocket launchers. Multiple launch rocket systems of Russia and foreign countries (rating)

Modern multiple launch rocket systems

Modern multiple launch rocket systems are not just the most common and best-selling, but also the most powerful weapons.

As the general designer of Tornado-S and Tornado-G, Vitaly Khomenok, said, a full salvo of these machines is comparable and is the second in terms of results after the use of nuclear weapons.

In terms of the size of the affected area and the scale of destruction, nuclear weapons are the only one of their kind, however, if the task is to wipe out an enemy fortified area from the face of the Earth or destroy an entire unit of enemy armored vehicles at once, then rocket artillery is the real queen of war.

The power of the explosive in the rocket is still classified, but it is known that a full salvo of Tornado-S and Smerch is several tons of explosive. A full salvo covers an area of 67.6 hectares, where after its use there is practically nothing left capable of resisting.

67 hectares is about a hundred football fields. To clear this entire territory, only one salvo of the Tornado-S complex is needed.

Military personnel around the world are very familiar with the Grad, a multiple launch rocket system that appeared in our country in 1964. It really happened terrible weapon, which none of the potential opponents could do anything to oppose. Everyone knows that any weapon has a certain resource. And since the Grad system has been on combat duty for over four decades, the time has come to find a replacement for it. The honor of becoming one went to the new Tornado multiple launch rocket system, developed in Russia.

For the first time, the Grad multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) demonstrated its effectiveness during conflicts with the Chinese on Damansky Island in 1969. Then several salvos simply turned the entire area of the island into a carefully plowed field. And not a single one of the Chinese who were sent to capture the Soviet island survived. However, it is still unknown how many people the Chinese lost there. Military historians suggest that the number of losses reaches 3 thousand soldiers and officers.

However, everyone understands that even such a perfect weapon as the Grad has a certain resource. And since the system has been on combat duty for over four decades, the time has come to find a replacement for it. During this time, other MLRS were developed in Russia, which include Uragan and Smerch. These systems, together with the Grad system, are on combat duty. Now, to replace these MLRS, Russia has developed a new multiple launch rocket system, the Tornado.

“Tornado-G” is an improvement of “Grad”, “Tornado-S” of “Smerch”, and “Tornado-U”, respectively, of “Hurricane”.

The entire complex consists of three machines. Combat - with a launcher. Transport-loader, which transports shells and loads them into a combat vehicle. And the third is a team one. It is from this that fire control comes.

Unlike its predecessors (Grad, Uragan, Smerch), Tornado has a satellite guidance system, thanks to which the probability of a miss will be significantly reduced.

The new missile systems take into account all the shortcomings inherent in similar technology of the previous generation. In particular, the following parameters have been improved:

The maximum firing range is 200 km (versus 90 – 120).

The time to leave a position after a salvo has been reduced almost five times. At maximum firing range, the multiple launch rocket system - --- Tornado will be able to leave the position before the shells reach the target.

The range of used projectiles has been significantly expanded.

Numerous added electronic systems control, guidance and navigation. The crew of the vehicle was reduced from three people to two.

An automated fire control system (AFCS) developed at the All-Russian Research Institute "Signal" was installed.

Automatic fire control.

An important indicator is that, in comparison with the Smerch, the Tornado-C multiple launch rocket system has a firing range three times greater than that of its predecessor. Each of the projectiles is now equipped with a flight control system. This significantly reduces the chance of a miss. In this case, the shells can have the most different fillings: cumulative, fragmentation, self-aiming combat elements, anti-tank mines and even unmanned aerial vehicles.

This allows you to achieve even more goals that can be set for him. As practice shows, a few minutes after the multiple launch rocket system fires a series of shots at the target, its location is subjected to a powerful bombardment, which leaves virtually no chance of survival for either the vehicle or its crew. That is why the Tornado can leave a position even before the first of the fired shells touches the ground.

When the last shell explodes, destroying the target, the complex itself may already be several kilometers from the place from which the shooting took place. All this makes the Tornado a truly formidable weapon that has virtually no equal. The new 122 mm MLRS "Tornado-G" is 2.5 - 3 times more effective than the MLRS "Grad" in its combat effectiveness. And the modified 300-mm Tornado-S MLRS will be 3-4 times more efficient than the Smerch MLRS.

Lieutenant General Sergei Bogatinov believes that it is the Tornado-S, together with the Iskander-M tactical missile systems, that can become the main systems that will arm the Russian missile forces and artillery.

More than 40 Tornado-S and Tornado-G multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) will enter service with units of the Western Military District this year. These types of equipment will be part of the artillery formation and motorized rifle units stationed in the Moscow and Tver regions. This was reported by the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

A couple of weeks ago, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov was in the Perm Territory on a working visit. In the regional capital, he visited PJSC Motovilikha Plants and held a meeting on the implementation of the state defense order. According to the press service of the regional government, following the meeting, Yuri Borisov announced that the Russian Ministry of Defense will purchase about 700 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) by 2020.

A few years ago, the Arms of Russia news agency proposed ratings of military weapons and equipment for consideration, in which foreign and domestic weapons were participating.

An assessment of MLRS from different manufacturing countries was carried out. The comparison took place according to the following parameters:

object power: caliber, range, area of effect of one salvo, time spent on firing a salvo;
object mobility: movement speed, range, full recharge time;
operation of the object: weight in combat readiness, number of combat and technical personnel, ammunition and ammunition.

The scores for each characteristic were given in total, the total score of the relay protection systems. In addition to the above, the time characteristics of production, operation and application were taken into account.

Spanish "Teruel-3";
Israeli "LAROM";
Indian "Pinaka";
Israeli "LAR-160";
Belarusian “BM-21A BelGrad”;
Chinese "Type 90";
German "LARS-2";
Chinese "WM-80";
Polish "WR-40 Langusta";
Domestic "9R51 Grad";
Czech "RM-70";
Turkish "T-122 Roketsan";
Domestic "Tornado";
Chinese "Type 82";
American "MLRS";
Domestic “BM 9A52-4 Smerch”;
Chinese "Type 89";
Domestic "Smerch";
American "HIMARS";
Chinese "WS-1B";
Ukrainian "BM-21U Grad-M";
Domestic "9K57 Hurricane";
South African "Bataleur";
Domestic "9A52-2T Smerch";
Chinese "A-100".

Main characteristics of the Tornado multiple launch rocket system:

122 mm ammunition;
affected salvo area - 840 thousand sq.m;
travel speed - 60 km/h;
range - up to 650 kilometers;
the time required for the next salvo is 180 seconds;
ammunition - three salvos.

The main developer is the Splav enterprise. Modifications - “Tornado-S” and “Tornado-G”. The systems were created to replace the Uragan, Smerch and Grad systems in service. Advantages - equipped with universal containers with the ability to replace guides for the required caliber of ammunition. Ammunition options are 330 mm “Smerch” caliber, 220 mm “Hurricane” caliber, 122 mm “Grad” caliber.

Wheeled chassis - KamAZ or Ural.

It is expected that Tornado-S will soon have a stronger chassis.

MLRS "Tornado" is a new generation of MLRS. The system can begin moving immediately after firing a salvo, without waiting for the results of hitting the target; the firing automation is performed at the highest level.

Main characteristics of the 9K51 Grad multiple launch rocket system:

122 mm ammunition;
total number guides – 40 units;
range – up to 21 kilometers;
affected salvo area - 40 thousand sq.m;
the time required to fire a salvo is 20 seconds;
travel speed - 85 km/h;
range - up to 1.4 thousand kilometers;
ammunition - three salvos.

"9K51 Grad" is designed to destroy enemy personnel, military equipment enemy to lightly armored, performing tasks to clear the territory and provide fire support offensive operations, deterring enemy offensive operations.

Made on the Ural-4320 and Ural-375 chassis.

She has taken part in military conflicts since 1964.

It was supplied to many friendly countries of the Soviet Union.

Main characteristics of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system

227 mm ammunition;
total number of guides – 6 units;
range – up to 80 kilometers;
affected salvo area - 67 thousand sq.m;
the time required to fire a salvo is 38 seconds;
travel speed - 85 km/h;
range - up to 600 kilometers;
the time required for the next salvo is 420 seconds;
standard calculation – three people;
ammunition - three salvos.
weight in combat readiness is almost 5.5 tons.

High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is a development of the American company Lockheed Martin. The system is designed as a RAS for operational and tactical purposes. The development of HIMARS began in 1996. The FMTV vehicle chassis carries 6 MLRS missiles and 1 ATACMS missile. Can use any ammunition from all United States MLRS.

Used in military conflicts (Operations Moshtarak and ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Main characteristics of the WS-1B system

320 mm caliber ammunition;
total number of guides – 4 units;
range – up to 100 kilometers;
affected salvo area - 45 thousand sq.m;
the time required to fire a salvo is 15 seconds;
travel speed - 60 km/h;
range - up to 900 kilometers;
the time required for the next salvo is 1200 seconds;
standard calculation – six people;
ammunition - three salvos.
weight in combat readiness is just over 5 tons.

The WS-1B system is designed to disable critical facilities, these can be military bases, concentration areas, missile launch sites, airfields, important logistics hubs, industrial and administrative centers.

MLRS WeiShi-1B – modernization of the main WS-1 system. Chinese army units still do not use this MLRS. WeiShi-1B is offered for sale on the arms market, sales are handled by the Chinese corporation CPMIEC.

In 1997, Turkey purchased from China one battery of the WS-1 system, which contained 5 vehicles with MLRS. Türkiye, with the support of China, organized its own production and supplied five more batteries of modernized MLRS to army units. The Turkish system gets its own name - “Kasirga”. Today, Türkiye produces the WS-1B system under license. This system received its own name "Jaguar".

Main characteristics of the multiple launch rocket system system Pinaka

214 mm ammunition;
total number of guides – 12 units;
range – up to 40 kilometers;
affected salvo area - 130 thousand sq.m;
the time required to fire a salvo is 44 seconds;
travel speed - 80 km/h;
range - up to 850 kilometers;
the time required for the next salvo is 900 seconds;
standard calculation – four people;
ammunition - three salvos.
weight in combat readiness is almost 6 tons.

The Indian "Pinaka" is designed as an all-weather RZO system. Designed to destroy enemy personnel and enemy military equipment, including lightly armored ones. It is possible to carry out tasks to clear the territory and provide fire support for offensive operations and deter the enemy’s offensive operations. Can install remotely minefields for enemy infantry and tank units.

Used in the military conflict between India and Pakistan in 1999.

INTRODUCTION

Multiple launch rocket systems

Russia's priority in creating multiple launch rocket systems (PC30/MLRS) is beyond doubt among experts. In addition to the Katyusha salvo that stunned the Nazi army near Orsha, there is also official document, confirming this priority. This is a patent issued in 1938 to three designers - Gvai, Kostikov and Kleimenov for a multi-barrel installation for firing rocket charges.

They were the first to achieve a high level of uncontrollable combat effectiveness for that time. missile weapons, and they did this through its salvo use. In the 40s, single rockets could not compete with canned artillery shells in terms of accuracy and accuracy of fire. The firing of a combat multi-barreled installation (the BM-13 had 16 guides), which fired a salvo in 7-10 seconds, gave quite satisfactory results.

During the war years, the USSR developed a whole series of rocket-propelled mortars (as MLRS were called). Among them, in addition to the already mentioned Katyusha (BM-13), there were BM-8-36, BM-8-24, BM-13-N, BM-31-12, BM-13SN. The Guards mortar units armed with them made a huge contribution to achieving victory over Germany.

In the post-war period, work on jet systems continued. In the 50s, two systems were created: BM-14 (caliber 140 mm, range 9.8 km) and BM-24 (caliber 140 mm and range 16.8 km). Their turbojet shells rotated to increase accuracy in flight. It should be noted that at the end of the 50s, most foreign experts were very skeptical about the future prospects of the MLRS. In their opinion, the level of combat effectiveness of the weapon achieved by that time was marginal and could not provide it with a leading place in the system of missile and artillery weapons of the ground forces.

However, in our country, work continued on the creation of MLRS. As a result, in 1963, the Grad MLRS was adopted by the Soviet Army. A number of revolutionary technical solutions, first used on the Grad, have become classics and are one way or another repeated in all systems existing in the world. This primarily applies to the design of the missile itself. Its body is made not by turning from a steel blank, but using technology borrowed from liner production - rolling or drawing from a steel sheet. Secondly, the projectiles have folding tails, and the stabilizers are installed in such a way that they ensure rotation of the projectile in flight. Primary twisting occurs while still moving in the launch tube due to the movement of the guide pin along the groove.

The Grad system was widely introduced into the ground forces. In addition to the 40-barrel installation on the chassis of the Ural-375 vehicle, a number of modifications were developed for various options combat use: "Grad-V" : for airborne troops, "Grad-M" - for landing ships Navy, "Grad-P" - for use by units waging guerrilla warfare. In 1974, to ensure higher maneuverability during joint operations with armored units, the Grad-1 system appeared - a 36-barreled 122-mm installation on a tracked chassis.

The high combat effectiveness demonstrated by the Grad MLRS in a number of local wars and conflicts attracted the attention of military specialists in many countries to it. Currently, in their opinion jet systems multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) are effective means increasing the firepower of ground forces. Some countries mastered production by purchasing licenses, others purchased the system from the Soviet Union. Someone simply copied it and began not only making it, but also selling it. Thus, at the IDEX-93 exhibition, similar systems were practically demonstrated by a number of countries, including South Africa, China, Pakistan, Iran, and Egypt. The similarity between these “developments” and “Grad” was very noticeable.

In the 60s, a number of changes occurred in military theory and practice, which led to a revision of the requirements for the combat effectiveness of weapons. In connection with the increase in troop mobility, the tactical depth at which decisions are made combat missions, and the areas where targets are concentrated have increased significantly. "Grad" was no longer able to ensure the possibility of delivering pre-emptive strikes against the enemy throughout the depth of his tactical formations.

This was only possible with a new weapon born on Tula soil - the 220-mm Uragan army multiple launch rocket system, adopted for service in the early 70s. Its tactical and technical data are impressive even today: at ranges from 10 to 35 km, a salvo of one launcher (16 barrels) covers an area of over 42 hectares. When creating this system, specialists solved a number of scientific problems. Thus, they were the first in the world to design an original cassette warhead, and developed combat elements for it. Many new innovations were introduced into the design of combat and transport-loading vehicles, where the ZIL-135LM chassis is used as a base.

Unlike the Grad, the Hurricane is a more universal system. This is determined not only by the greater firing range, but also by the expanded range of ammunition used. In addition to the usual high-explosive fragmentation warheads, cassette warheads for various purposes have been developed for it. Among them: incendiary, high-explosive fragmentation with above-ground detonation, as well as combat elements for remote mining of areas.

The latest development adopted by the Russian army, the Prima system is a logical development of the Grad system. The new MLRS compared to the previous one has 7-8 times large area defeat and 4-5 times less time spent in a combat position at the same firing range. The increase in combat potential was achieved through the following innovations: increasing the number of launch tubes on a combat vehicle to 50, and much more effective Prima projectiles.

This system can fire all types of Grad projectiles, as well as several types of completely new high-efficiency ammunition. So, high-explosive fragmentation projectile"Prima" has a detachable warhead, on which a fuse is installed not of contact, but of remote-contact action. At the final section of the trajectory, the warhead meets the ground almost vertically. In this design, the Prima MLRS high-explosive fragmentation projectile ensures a circular dispersion of the striking elements and increases the area of continuous damage.

Work to improve the combat capabilities of multiple launch rocket systems in Russia continues. According to domestic military experts, this class of artillery weapons perfectly corresponds to the new military doctrine of Russia, and any other state seeking to create a mobile and effective Armed Forces with a small number of professional military personnel. There are few examples of military equipment, the few crews of which would control such a formidable striking power. When solving combat missions in the immediate operational depth, the MLRS has no competitors.

Each type of missile and artillery weapons Ground Forces has its own tasks. The destruction of individual remote objects of special importance (warehouses, control posts, missile launchers and a number of others) is the job of guided missiles. The fight, for example, with tank groups, troops dispersed over large areas, the destruction of front-line runways, and remote mining of terrain is the task of the MLRS.

The Russian press notes that new modifications and samples of these weapons will have a number of new properties that make them even more effective. According to experts, further improvement of rocket systems consists of the following: firstly, the creation of homing and self-aiming submunitions; secondly, pairing the MLRS with modern systems reconnaissance, target designation and combat control. In this combination, they will become reconnaissance and strike systems capable of hitting even small targets within their reach. Thirdly, due to the use of more energy-intensive fuel and some new design solutions, in the near future the firing range will be increased to 100 km, without a significant decrease in accuracy and increase in dispersion. Fourthly, reserves for reducing the number of personnel in MLRS units have not been completely exhausted. Automating the operations of loading the launcher and carrying out the necessary preparatory operations at the combat position will not only reduce the number of members of the combat crew, but will also reduce the time for collapsing and deploying the system, which will have a better impact on its survivability. And finally, expanding the range of ammunition used will significantly expand the range of tasks solved by the MLRS.

Currently, about 3 thousand Grad installations are in service with foreign countries. SNPP Splav together with related enterprises offers interested foreign customers several options for modernizing this system

1998 was a significant year for the lead developer Russian systems multiple rocket launcher (MLRS) - State Research and Production Enterprise Splav and OJSC Motovilikha Plants. It is 80 years since the birth of the outstanding MLRS designer Alexander Nikitovich Ganichev and 35 years since the adoption of his brainchild - the Grad system. These anniversary events were widely celebrated in Tula and St. Petersburg. The anniversary gift was the appearance of the improved Grad and Smerch systems. During their creation, a new organizational technology for interaction between enterprises was implemented: SNPP Splav with related enterprises develops weapons and transforms ideas into specific samples, and the State Company Rosvooruzheniye ensures the promotion of these weapons to the foreign market.

"Grad" is the most famous military development of the USSR after the AK-47, only the Su and MiG will argue here. Multiple launch rocket systems are a separate chapter in the history of wars. Read about the Grad MLRS - the pinnacle of engineering, a deadly machine and a museum exhibit.

Before "Grad"

"Katyusha", or, as it is correctly called, the BM-13 rocket launcher, played such a significant role in the finals of World War II that the ruling elite of the USSR immediately after the end of the war gave the engineers the order to develop the direction in every possible way rocket artillery.

What was so good about Katyusha and what made the cars that replaced it so good? The idea is as follows: take a truck capable of overcoming rough terrain, and put an artillery unit on its chassis, consisting of a movable package of tubular guides stuffed with rockets.

The effect of a projectile can be different, but the most common is high-explosive fragmentation. The firing range is kilometers and tens of kilometers. The speed of the vehicle is the same as that of a regular truck. Getting into combat mode in a matter of minutes. It is not surprising that such installations quickly became valuable components of the divisional and regimental artillery of the USSR army.

The first post-war attempt to develop the ideas of the Katyusha was the BM-14, that is, “combat vehicle, model 14.” Surprisingly, its creation was based on the experience of the defeated enemy, in particular, the first projectile for the BM-14 was created with an eye on the German turbojet mine. The main type of ammunition in the BM-14 was the M-14-OF turbojet high-explosive fragmentation projectile with a head fuse.

The projectiles were loaded into a package of 16 tubular guides, and in flight they were stabilized due to their own rotation caused by the outflow of powder gases through holes inclined at 22° to the longitudinal axis. The artillery unit consisted of 16 smooth-bore pipes with a diameter of 140.3 mm and a length of 1,370 mm and located in two rows on a turntable.

The BM-14 was put into service in 1952 and was modernized several times after that. For example, the ZIS-151 was first used as a chassis, then the ZIS-157, and in the mid-60s the ZIL-130. Over time, the artillery unit was lightened by as much as 3 tons, using a rigid welded box, which formed a movable cradle, instead of a bulky truss.

Until the second half of the 1960s, this vehicle was used in regiments of rifle and motorized rifle divisions, exported to the Warsaw Pact countries, as well as to Algeria, Angola, Vietnam, Egypt, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Cuba, Syria and Somalia, but already in the 1960s m began to prepare a replacement - BM-21, which received its own name "Grad".

Grad shells

You are reading this text on an automotive website, but you need to understand that the essence of the multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) is not at all in the car. And not even in an artillery mount mounted on a car. The point is the rocket. It is he who is capable of flying tens of kilometers and bringing down roaring fire and screeching metal onto the enemy’s head, sowing destruction, horror and death. This is cruel and scary, but such is war, and it was for war - already the third world war - that the "Grad" was designed.

The first and main ammunition for the Grad was the 9M22 (aka M-21-OF) projectile with a caliber of 122 mm, and it set the trend for the creation of all subsequent similar projectiles. At the instigation of the chief designer A.N. Ganichev from the Tula NII-147 (now the Splav State Research and Production Enterprise), who acted as the lead developer of the entire Grad system, the projectile body was not made from a steel blank, as before, but was proposed to be produced by rolling and drawing steel sheet, as in the manufacture of artillery shells.

Another feature of the 9M22 projectile was that the stabilizer blades were foldable and were held in the resting position by a special ring, without exceeding the dimensions of the projectile. In flight, the blades open and provide stabilizing rotation, since they are located at an angle of 1° to the longitudinal axis of the projectile, and the initial rotation is set by the movement of the projectile guide pin along the screw groove of the barrel. The projectile is almost three meters long (2,870 mm) and weighs 66 kg, of which 20.45 kg is rocket powder charge, and 6.4 kg is an explosive.

When fired, the powder charge is ignited by a igniter, which is supplied with a spark from the control system. The projectile flies out of the guide at a speed of 50 m/s and then accelerates to 715 m/s. At a distance of only 150-450 m from the artillery installation, the head impact fuse is cocked in the shell. It can be set to fire instantaneously, to respond slowly, or to respond quickly.

"Grad" loaded with such shells is capable of hitting a target at a distance of 20.4 km. The minimum firing distance at which acceptable range dispersion is maintained is 3 km, although in principle it is possible to shoot at one and a half thousand meters or even less - for example, in Afghanistan, artillery units of the Soviet army fired across squares, using small angles for the first time on the Grad elevations and direct fire.

The 9M22 (M-21-OF) projectile was 1.7 times superior to the previous generation of M-14-OF projectiles in terms of high-explosive action and was 2 times more effective in terms of fragmentation. With its help, they destroy enemy personnel, as well as unarmored and lightly armored vehicles, artillery and mortar batteries, command posts and “other targets in shallow tactical depth.”

Subsequently, several dozen types of shells were fired for the Grad, including not only high-explosive fragmentation shells, but also incendiary, chemical, radio interference, guided, and also cassette shells, now banned in many countries, which have a simply terrifying destructive effect.

Artillery unit and chassis

The shells are loaded into a package of 40 tubular guides, 10 in each row. Each pipe carries one projectile and is 3 m long, with an internal diameter of 122.4 mm. The pipe package can be aimed at the target electrically or manually. The angle of elevation (maximum - 55°) and horizontal fire (102° to the left and 70° to the left) is set using gears at the base of the artillery unit.

Data for targeting the target is prepared by a separate guidance vehicle IBI10 "Bereza" based on the GAZ-66. Sights on the "Grad" installation - mechanical sight, panorama and collimator. To stabilize the installation when firing, a torsion balancing mechanism is provided. The Grad MLRS salvo lasts 20 seconds. During this time, the installation fires all 40 missiles.

The Grad chassis is the most understandable part of the Grad for “civilian” motorists, although it had quite a few variations. Initially, the Grad was based on the chassis of a Ural-375D off-road truck with 180 horsepower gasoline engine ZIL-375, and after modernization the vehicle was named Ural-4320 and is equipped with V8 diesel engines of the KAMAZ-740, YaMZ-236NE2 or YaMZ-238 models with power from 210 to 230 hp. For work in conditions low temperatures a pre-heater is provided.

The wheel formula of the truck is 6x6, all wheels are single-wheel, drum brakes with separate pneumohydraulic drive. The front axle is with CV joints of the CV joint type. Steering - with hydraulic booster.

Until 1965, the transmission, coupled with a dry double-disc clutch and a 5-speed manual transmission with synchronizers in 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th gears, used a transfer case with a forced front axle and the ability to lock the center differential, but then they began to install a simplified transfer case with a constantly engaged front axle and an asymmetrical locking planetary-type center differential. "Grad" based on "Ural" is considered the main or, if I may, the canonical option.

In addition to the Ural, the artillery unit of the Grad was and is being installed on the ZIL-131 chassis (a lightweight version with fewer charges not for divisional, but for regimental artillery), as well as on the KAMAZ-5350 and MAZ-6317 chassis (Belarusian version) . In Czechoslovakia artillery installation The BM-21 was produced under license and installed on an eight-wheeled Tatra-815 chassis. The armies of other countries purchased the BM-21 from the USSR and installed it on the chassis of various trucks. In addition, numerous “pirate” copies of the BM-21 are known, as well as independently developed systems that can use Grad shells.

Testing and putting into service

The design of the Grad installation began in 1960, and by the end of the next year, factory tests of the first samples began. The deadlines were tight - just a few months later, in the spring of 1962, state tests took place at the Rzhevka training ground near Leningrad. According to their results, the vehicle was supposed to be put into service, but the new system did not avoid problems: according to the conditions, the experimental vehicle was supposed to fire 663 rounds and travel 10,000 km, but it only traveled 3,380 - the chassis spar broke.

The tests were suspended in as soon as possible they brought in a modified car, but weak points it was also revealed - now the cardan drive, middle and rear axles could not withstand the tests, bending (!) under extreme loads. As a result, only a year after the start of “state acceptance” the developer managed to eradicate all the “illnesses”.

In the early spring of 1963, the Grad RZSO completed a series of tests and was put into service on March 28. In the same year, the cars were demonstrated to Secretary General N.S. Khrushchev. Serial production of the BM-21 started in 1964 at the Perm Machine-Building Plant named after V.I. Lenin (aka plant No. 172), and in the same year the Grad managed to take part in the November military parade on Red Square (the May Victory Parade, as, in fact, Victory Day had not yet been held at that time).

In its final form, the BM-21 "Grad" had a crew of three people, a mass in combat position (with shells and crew) of 13,700 kg, ground clearance of 400 mm, maximum speed of 75 km/h, range of 750 km, artillery unit of 40 barrels with a caliber of 122 mm, firing range from 3 to 20.4 km, salvo time 20 s. and the affected area is 14.5 hectares.

Conflict with China

The baptism of fire for the Grad system and the incident after which “strategic opponents” learned about it and began to fear it was the armed Soviet-Chinese conflict on Damansky Island on the Ussuri River. It all started on March 2, 1969, when the Chinese violated the border and shot a detachment of Soviet border guards. On March 15, 1969, the conflict reached its climax: several Chinese landed on the island. infantry companies with the support of artillery batteries.

On our side, armored personnel carriers and T-62 tanks entered the battle, but the situation could only be reversed by a massive retaliatory artillery strike - the Chinese discovered that the island was defended by insignificant forces, and were preparing to attack large connections infantry, "processing" the island with mortar fire.

The Soviet side had already brought the 135th Motorized Rifle Division to the shore the day before, which included a division of the latest secret BM-21 Grad, and asked the Moscow authorities to allow the use of these weapons. However, there was still no response from Moscow. In a 6-hour battle on the island, several Soviet armored personnel carriers were destroyed, and the commander of the Iman border detachment, D.V., was killed. Leonov. At 17:00, Soviet border guards left the island. The enemy, meanwhile, intensified mortar fire on the island - it was clear that more and more forces were arriving from Chinese territory.

In the absence of a response from Moscow, the commander of the Far Eastern Military District O.A. Losik made the sole decision to support the border guards. At 17:10 the enemy was hit by an artillery regiment, several mortar batteries and a division of Grad installations. Within 10 minutes, the fire covered the next 20 kilometers deep into Chinese territory. At the same time, 5 Soviet tanks, 12 armored personnel carriers, 2 motorized rifle companies 199th motorized rifle regiment, as well as border guard forces as part of a motorized rifle group.

It is believed that the Grad installations had a decisive role in that battle - both in terms of destructive effect and demoralization of the enemy. The ideal target for these vehicles is very elongated columns on the march, so the Grad strikes practically wiped out the troops advancing to Damansky, and also destroyed enemy reserves, ammunition supply points and warehouses. Within 10 minutes of hurricane fire it was all over - the Chinese were driven out of Damansky Island.

"Grad" of our time

The Russian Army currently has about 2,500 BM-21 Grad units in service. IN different times combat vehicles were exported to about 70 countries and during the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s they managed to take part in almost all more or less noticeable armed conflicts throughout the Earth.

Tactics of using the "Grad" system over the years in different armies was different. Thus, in the mid-1970s in Angola, opponents moved installations only in columns, exchanging fire on a collision course, and then using tactics of pushing out and pursuing individual vehicles. In Afghanistan, the Soviet military did not hit elongated columns, but, on the contrary, across squares, practically leaving ballistic trajectories and shooting enemy buildings and equipment with direct fire.

And the Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon used the tactics of nomadic installations: one BM-21 Grad vehicle strikes Israeli troops and immediately changes position - the speed of the truck and deployment to a combat position in three and a half minutes make such maneuvers very effective .

Sky without rockets

In addition to the indicated "hot spots", "Grad" was used by Azerbaijan in the Karabakh conflict, by Russia - in both Chechen campaigns, as well as in South Ossetia in 2008. These installations were used in armed conflicts in Angola and Somalia, in civil wars in Libya and Syria. And now in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, such equipment is used by both warring parties...

It should be noted that back in the 1980s, attempts were made to modernize the Grad system - the 9A51 Prima combat vehicle was supposed to carry not 40, but 50 missiles with a destruction area 8 times larger and the time spent in position 5 times shorter, while the same firing range as the Grad, which made it possible to use approximately 15 times fewer units of equipment. "Prima" was even put into service in 1988, but then the Union collapsed, and production was never started.

But even in its current form, the Grad, which once set a new standard for this type of weapon, is practically unsurpassed, although there is now plenty of similar equipment in the world. represents a formidable force that is capable of protecting the interests of Russia. And any other country. Quite often this power turns out to be too formidable. And it always turns out to be directed against living people. "Grad" is a wonderful example of the triumph of engineering. An example for which the best place is in the museum of military equipment.

The Germans were the first to use such weapons at 4 am on June 22, 1941, when shooting at Brest Fortress. However, the whole world started talking about new weapons on July 14, 1941, after the Soviet Katyushas fired on Orsha.

The German command was amazed at the damage caused and issued a directive ordering the capture of the Soviet system. On October 7, 1941, near the village of Bogatyr, the rocket battery of Captain Flerov, which struck Orsha, was surrounded. Most of the vehicles were destroyed in advance, but shells and remains of vehicles fell into the hands of the Germans.

After being sent to Germany and examining the captured Katyushas, the famous German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun said that they were not of particular interest, since they were made extremely primitively and were inferior in accuracy to German turbojet shells.

At the same time, the German soldiers were really afraid of the Katyusha, was Wernher von Braun really dishonest? No, the whole secret was in the large number of simultaneously used installations. At Stalingrad there were 25 launchers per kilometer; in January 1944, 45 launchers per kilometer were already used, which created an incredible density of fire.

The successes of the USSR rocket artillery forced the Germans to develop their own. Wernher von Braun assigned a group to develop something similar to the Soviet MLRS, but they did not achieve tangible success.

Soviet rocket artillery improved during the war. In the middle of the war, Soviet designers created the M-30 300 mm rocket projectile. A salvo of 50 such shells created many simultaneous explosions, overlapping each other. Additionally, the Red Army soldiers tied the shells with sabers, increasing the power of the explosion.

By the end of the war there was a crisis in development rocket weapons. Its characteristics no longer satisfied the military, and increasing the firing range led to a significant decrease in accuracy. In addition, they have a competitor in the form of nuclear artillery.

Development

On May 25, 1953, a nuclear weapon was fired for the first time in history in the US state of Nevada. Just one shell hit an area of several square kilometers. Barrel artillery received fantastic capabilities for conducting combat operations, being able to massively destroy manpower, fire weapons, and so on.

The head of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, believed that the future belonged to missile weapons, in particular, to ballistic missiles with nuclear charges. In the second half of the 50s, a decision was made to reduce cannon armament and stop artillery development.

Without cannon artillery, the Soviet army lost fire cover, so in 1957 the Main Artillery Directorate announced a competition to create a multiple launch rocket system, comparable in area of destruction to tactical nuclear artillery. The winner was the project of the Tula Scientific Research Institute-147, now the state research and production enterprise Splav.

Engineer Alexander Nikitovich Ganichev was appointed chief designer of the new MLRS, called “Grad”. For its time, the Grad was revolutionary; it combined a two-stage engine and stabilizers that deployed in flight.

In 1961, state tests began, during which 2 missiles did not launch. However, Marshal Chaikov, who heads the tests, gave the go-ahead for fine-tuning and mass production of the new product.

On March 28, 1963, the Grad multiple launch rocket system was adopted by the Red Army. Thanks to the use of new technologies, assembly rockets was fully automated, which sharply reduced their price. The cost of the first Grads was equal to the cost of a Moskvich passenger car of that period; later, in the 70s, a Grad shell cost 240 rubles.

Each "Grad" in just 20 seconds could rain down 40 shells on the enemy's heads, which created a zone of continuous destruction over an area of almost 4 hectares.

Soon the power of the new weapon was tested in combat conditions, during the battles for Damansky Island. On March 15, 1969, a Grad strike was launched against the Chinese, who lost more than 800 soldiers and officers.

In 1969, Ganichev wrote a memo to the Main Artillery Directorate about creating a system with increased power and range, the proposal found support. Soon Uragan missiles with a 100 kg warhead appeared. In addition, they had a cluster warhead, consisting of several dozen fragmentation shells, ejected upon approaching the target.

In 1975, the Uragan system was put into service. The firing range reached 35 kilometers, and the affected area was more than 42 hectares. The battery's salvo was equivalent in power to the impact of a tactical nuclear missile.

"Hurricane" showed itself perfectly during Afghan war. In April 1983, with their help, the siege of the city of Herat was lifted, and the militants nicknamed the new weapons Magomed's arrows.

The Hurricane turned out to be more versatile than the Grad, since it had special missiles for remote mining - each missile carried 30 minutes.

The successful use of Soviet installations forced the United States, which relies on guided missiles, to reconsider its views on weapons. They created “MLRS”, which used GPS space navigation and maximum automation.

New stage

On June 8, 1982, after the words of US President Ronald Reagan, who called for a crusade against communism, domestic designers were tasked with developing a multiple launch rocket system capable of destroying tactical nuclear installations enemy at a great distance from the front line.

Work on “Smerch” became one of the most difficult works of the “Splav” enterprise; many subcontractors were involved. 12 Smerch missiles weighing almost 10 tons forced the development of a special combat platform. To hold and guide missiles, hydraulic actuators are used that hold the guides with an accuracy of hundredths of a degree. For stability during a salvo, the rear of the vehicle is raised on supports.

After testing in 1987, “Smerch” was adopted by the Soviet army. The affected area reached 67 hectares, the power is truly amazing even now. The most amazing quality was the accuracy, which allows you to shoot with an accuracy of 10-20 meters, that is, at the level of high-precision missiles.

Preparing for battle takes only 3 minutes, a full salvo takes 38 seconds, and after a minute and a half the vehicle is removed from its place.

The experience gained in the creation of the large-caliber Uragan and Smerch complexes made it possible to create a unique weapon - the TOS-1 Buratino, which was tested in 1989. The development of the missiles of the complex began urgently, since it was planned to use it in Afghanistan.

Application in Afghanistan has shown the high effectiveness of thermobaric missiles launched from TOS-1. The use of just 1 installation is comparable to a salvo of a Grad battery.

During the collapse of the USSR, the Tula enterprise “Splav” was on the verge of closure, and it was necessary to urgently look for sources of money. One of the sources was Kuwait, which signed a contract for the supply of the Smerch system. The successful contract allowed the continued improvement of jet weapons.

In 1996, for the first time in world practice, a projectile with homing anti-tank combat elements was created for the Smerch. At a point specified by the on-board computer, the head of the rocket separates, from which 5 combat elements are ejected. As they descend, they scan the battlefield for the heat of tank engines. When detected, the combat element fires a shock core, striking the tank in the weakly protected upper part.

In 2005, the Signal Institute created the 1V126 Kapustnik-B automated fire control complex, capable of receiving information about the enemy from various reconnaissance means in a few seconds, calculating all the necessary data and transmitting target designations to each multiple rocket launcher.

The next step was the development unmanned vehicle, located inside the Smerch missile and entering a controlled flight the moment it is over the target.

Today, the Smerch has a firing range of 90 km and continues to be modernized, the TOS-1 Buratino received the successor to the TOS-1A Solntsepek, and the Grads are used no less effectively than many years ago.

Moreover, a two-caliber Tornado system has been developed, combining the capabilities of multiple rocket launchers and single high-precision strikes.

Domestic rocket artillery recently celebrated a kind of anniversary: 50 years ago - on March 28, 1963, by joint Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 372/130, the BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) was adopted into service by the Soviet Army.

The highest technological level of this MLRS and its successors is at for a long time brought out Soviet Union, already a trendsetter in the field of rocket artillery since the creation of the legendary Katyusha, has become the undisputed leader. Russia still remains one of the leading players in this segment of the international arms market. However, the process of rearmament of the Russian army with modern powerful Tornado MLRS, which began a couple of years ago, which proceeded rather slowly, has completely stalled. The position of the Russian Ministry of Defense in relation to the latest rocket artillery systems remains somewhat unclear.

The main advantages of the MLRS:
- suddenness of attack,
- high density of fire damage over large areas,
- quick shooting of ammunition,
— high mobility (exiting a retaliatory strike takes a few minutes),
- small size,
— compliance with the criterion “ease of management – efficiency”,
- ability to work at any time of the day and in any weather,
- relatively low cost.

The main disadvantages of the MLRS:
– significant dispersion of projectiles,
- unmasking (high clouds of smoke, dust and flames) shooting,
- low mass of the missile warhead,
- limited possibility of fire maneuver at short firing ranges.

The main trends in the development of modern multiple launch rocket systems remain developments in the field of increasing the caliber of ammunition, expanding the range of tasks to be solved, increasing reload speed, firing range and accuracy. The latter direction in the West has been proclaimed one of the main criteria for the development of MLRS, since it is believed to lead to a reduction in “collateral losses” among civilians.

In many European countries In general, there is a tendency to define rocket artillery systems as weapons mass destruction. Back in 1980, the UN adopted the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, which prohibits or restricts the use of weapons that may be considered to cause excessive injury or have indiscriminate effects. This type of weapon, of course, also includes MLRS. Based on this, in the armed forces of Denmark and the Netherlands, for example, these systems were recently withdrawn from service.

At the same time, MLRS, taking into account all of the above combat characteristics, remain one of the most popular types of weapons in most armies of the world. The demand for them increased even more after the civil war in Libya, where regular army units and units of Muammar Gaddafi supporters, largely thanks to Soviet-made MLRS, successfully resisted larger rebel units supported by NATO combat aircraft.

From Katyusha to Smerch

Since July 16, 1941, a battery of 132-mm BM-13-16 rocket launchers ( Katyusha) under the command of Captain Ivan Flerov destroyed the Orsha railway junction along with German trains with troops and equipment, the era of Soviet rocket artillery began. About a year later, a modification of the Katyusha Guards rocket mortar – the 300-mm BM-31-12 (“Andryusha”) with honeycomb-type guides – entered the battle.

BM-13 "Katyusha"

With the end of the Great Patriotic War Soviet army received a number of field rocket artillery systems - 240 mm BM-24, 140 mm BM-14, 200 mm BMD-20 "Storm-1", towed 140 mm RPU-14. These very old, but reliable installations are still in service with some armies of the world. But they differ little from the Katyusha - a field MLRS. Their maximum firing range does not exceed ten kilometers (with the exception of the BMD-20 - 18.7 km).

BM-31 "Andryusha"

The turning point came in 1963 with the advent of the 122-mm BM-21 "Grad" (developed by the Tula NII-147, now SNPP "SPLAV") with a maximum firing range of 20.4 kilometers, which, as a result of modernization, was increased to 40. At the base BM-21 a number of domestic MLRS were created - “Prima”, airborne “Grad-V”, “Grad-VD”, “Grad-P” (light single-barrel portable), “Grad-1”, ship-based “Grad-M” , coastal self-propelled bomb-throwing complex "Damba". Magnificent technical specifications the machine and its gigantic modernization potential have led to its copying and countless modifications around the world.

In 1976, the Soviet Army received a more powerful 220-mm Uragan multiple launch rocket system (developed by NPO SPLAV) with a maximum firing range of 35 kilometers. The number of guides is 16 (Grad has 40). The final chord Soviet times was the appearance of the 300-mm Smerch MLRS from the same developer, which for a long time remained the longest-range rocket artillery system. The maximum firing range is 90 km, the number of guides is from four to 12. The rocket is adjusted in flight by gas-dynamic rudders, dispersion is 0.21 percent of the firing range.

A salvo of one combat vehicle covers an area of 672 thousand square meters. The loading system is completely mechanized. Disposable transport and launch containers (TPC) are used. The Smerch MLRS was put into service in 1987, although its development began back in the 60s.

The story of "Tornado"

The State Research and Production Enterprise (now JSC) SPLAV began modernizing the Grad in the early 90s. The result of this work was the appearance of the Tornado-G MLRS, the history of its adoption into service is reminiscent of the television series “Failed Hopes.” Since December 2011, the transfer of 36 Tornado-G (manufactured by Motovilikha Plants) to the troops was announced several times, then this information was consistently refuted. In February 2012, the former Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Anatoly Serdyukov stated that these vehicles (worth 1.16 billion rubles) were not included in the state defense order, but he promised to consider the possibility of restoring this order if state tests of the system are successfully completed.

In September 2012, the Ministry of Defense and Motovilikha Plants OJSC finally signed an agreement for the same 36 vehicles, but progress on the contract stalled again. As a result, according to official data, there are currently only 30 Tornado-Gs in the Russian Armed Forces.

As Nikolai Bukhvalov, general director of the Motovilikha plants, recently stated in the press, the situation is incomprehensible, the Tornado-G MLRS is ready for mass production, but the military department does not accept it. The reason is that, according to manufacturers, the military places excessive demands on the 122 mm system in terms of firing range. The maximum range remained “Gradov’s” - 40 km.

The differences between the Tornado-G and the Grad are that the crew has been reduced (from three to two people), the deployment time in position has been reduced, and fire is conducted without topographic and geodetic preparation. Semi-automatic guidance of the guide package without the crew leaving the cockpit. New ammunition of increased power - cluster shells with a detachable warhead and self-aiming cumulative combat elements.

Companions of "Tornado-G"

The new one, replacing the Smerch, has been modernized in the segments of automation of guidance and aiming, increasing the firing range of rockets (RS) to 120 kilometers, increasing firing accuracy due to the inertial guidance system and the GLONASS system. Ready time is reduced by 2.5 times compared to the basic system.

MLRS BM-21 "Grad"

MLRS 9K59 "Prima"

The modular bicaliber (TPK with 2x15 - 220 mm RS or 2x6 - 300 mm RS) system "Uragan-1M" is a fundamentally new MLRS with a firing range of 80 kilometers. Boss missile forces and ground forces artillery in 2009–2010, Lieutenant General Sergei Bogatinov noted that batch loading of the Uragan-1M will allow the use of the entire set of standard and developed MLRS Uragan and MLRS rockets. The range of missile warheads is wide - cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation, anti-tank missiles and anti-personnel mines.

However, so far there have been no statements from either the developers or the military that the new MLRS will in the future become universal and, in addition to rockets, will fire operational-tactical missiles (OTR). In any case, the previous leadership of the Ministry of Defense did not set such a task for the developers.

The concept of firing RS and OTR is implemented in American and Israeli rocket artillery systems. Perhaps in the Russian Army, to expand the range of combat missions solved in the future, new MLRS will work together with operational-tactical missile systems"Iskander".

Jet station wagons

From the American M270 MLRS MLRS launchers (on a tracked base, began operation in 1983) and HIMARS (on a wheeled chassis, in the military since 2005), developed by Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control, launch 240-mm rockets and tactical solid-fuel missiles ATACMS family with an inertial guidance system and a firing range from 140 to 300 kilometers, depending on the modification.

MLRS BM-27 "Hurricane"

The standard firing range of the RS is 40 kilometers, but for controlled RS (inertial system and GPS) it has been increased from 70 to 120 kilometers. The systems do not have permanent guides; they are fired from disposable containers (M270 - 12 missiles, HIMARS - six). The M270 MLRS is the most widely used MLRS in the armies of NATO and other US allies.

The modular Israeli Lynx MLRS developed by Israel Military Industries (IMI) has surpassed its American counterpart in versatility. She is able to use very wide range ammunition - rockets of the Soviet MLRS "Grad" and the Israeli 160-mm LAR-160 installation (adopted for service in 1984), high-precision tactical missiles Extra (firing range - 150 km) and Delilah cruise missiles (200 km), launch unmanned aerial vehicles devices. Two launch containers, the type of loaded ammunition is determined automatically and fire control data is calculated.

MLRS BM-30 "Smerch"

The principles of such compatibility were also implemented in the Kazakh MLRS Naiza (joint development of IMI and Petropavlovsk Heavy Engineering Plant OJSC). However, during the tests it turned out that the Israeli RS “Naiza” (“Spear”) was not able to fire, in addition to this, many other design flaws were identified. The case ended in one of the most notorious weapons scandals.

In 1983, the Brazilian army adopted the Astros-II MLRS developed by Avibras, which fires five types of rockets (caliber from 127 to 300 mm) to a maximum range of 90 km.

Total replacement

German 110-mm LARS-2 rocket artillery systems (36 rockets, maximum firing range - 25 km) were produced from 1980 to 1983, a total of 200 vehicles were produced. At the moment, the Bundeswehr has completely removed them from service, replacing them with the MARS MLRS - the American MLRS with German modifications.

Italy, too, in exchange for MLRS, got rid of its own FIROS 25/30 MLRS (caliber 70 and 122 mm, firing range - 34 km) developed by BPD Difesa e Spazio Spa. In 2011, the Spanish Ministry of Defense decided to do the same with the 140-mm Teruel-3 rocket artillery system developed by the Spanish company Santa Barbara (now part of General Dynamics European Land Systems) with a firing range of up to 28 km.

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces joined this “club” by replacing all of their 130 mm Type 75 systems (killing range - 15 km) developed by Nissan Motor in the mid-70s with the M270 MLRS.

Jet China

At the moment, China is the owner of the most powerful MLRS in the world.. The 425-mm WS-2D (six guides) developed by Sichuan Aerospace Industries, adopted in 2004, has a range of 200 km. This, by the way, is enough to cover the coast of Taiwan. The firing range of its basic 302-mm WS-1 platform is up to 180 km. The 300-mm PHL-03 system (12 guides, firing range - 130 km) developed by Norinco Corporation is an almost complete copy of the Soviet Smerch. Copied from Smerch and A-100 MLRS with a firing range of up to 50 kilometers.

The main MLRS of the People's Liberation Army of China remains the 122 mm Type 81 (a copy of the Soviet Grad). This system and its modifications (on tracked and wheeled bases) are actively promoted by China in international market weapons. In total, the PLA is armed with up to a dozen different rocket artillery systems of its own.