Russian MRLS: Grad, Uragan, Smerch, Tornado-G/S

Some guy on another forum mentioned that the container of the Burevestnik cruise missile looks quite similar to the containers of the Uragan-1M.

Grad rocket launcher can be doubled

The launcher being developed provides for a second ammunition with mechanized charging on a single chassis with artillery units from the BM-21 jet system

MOSCOW, February 4. / TASS /. The Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is developing the Grad multiple launch rocket system with doubled ammunition and a mechanized reloading system mounted on a single chassis. This is stated in the thematic collection "Rocket-technical and artillery-technical support of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - 2018".

"The launcher being developed provides for a second ammunition with mechanized charging on a single chassis with an artillery unit from the BM-21 jet system. As a result of these changes, the firepower of the launcher being developed doubles in comparison with the analogue, since the launcher can produce two successively volley and 80 shots, "- says in the collection.

It is noted that the reloading time will be reduced from 6.5 to 2 minutes. The crew will be reduced from four to two people. The combat vehicle will allow firing from the cockpit without preparing a firing position.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/6077582

80 rockets for launcher is what this means? Very impressive upgrade

Its damn time. Czech version from the 70´s.

Exactly.
It doesn't make any sense from tactical point of veiw.
The only advantage that I can see is to reduce cost as you can have only two soldiers to operate one Grad instead of four, although you need to pay for this automatic reloading system,  machine will always be cheaper than people...

Troops can get a new high-precision complex with a cruise missile

The complex is a distributed network of autonomous transport-launch modules with cruise missiles, controlled from the command and control vehicle.

MOSCOW, February 5. / TASS /. A new high-precision tactical-level missile system (VTRK) with a cruise missile, capable of increasing the efficiency of performing tasks in tactical depth by 20%, is being created in Russia. This is stated in the article by the staff of the 3rd Central Scientific Research Institute (CRI) of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in the thematic compendium "Rocket-technical and artillery-technical support of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - 2018".

As follows from the materials of the article, the complex is a separated network of autonomous transport-launch modules with cruise missiles, controlled from the command and staff vehicle, the enemy is detected and target designation is carried out from unmanned aerial vehicles. Thus, the ability to provide continuous support to troops with fire strikes is most fully realized, while the time for their preparation and application is minimal. "Studies show that as a result of equipping high-profile missile complex formations and units of the Ground Forces, the concept of reconnaissance-strike network can be realized, allowing you to increase the efficiency of the performance of fire tasks of rocket forces and artillery in tactical depth by 15-20%" .

As a result of the research, the main advantages of using such a high-precision rocket complex were revealed. This is a modular construction, container placement of missiles, remote control of target designation and launch, as well as low visibility for enemy reconnaissance. There is a wide range of missions for striking and "practical invulnerability for counterbattery".

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/6080755

I put here because for me its looks like tornado-S with Cruise missiles talked about years ago.

Nikolay Makarovets, the father of modern MLRS (head designer of Tornado-G, Tornado-S, Uragan-1M) has died...R.I.P.



https://translate.yandex.com/translate?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftopwar.ru%2F156265-skonchalsja-vydajuschijsja-oruzhejnik-nikolaj-makarovec.html&lang=ru-en

Russia to showcase advanced projectile for Tornado-G rocket systems at Brazil arms show





MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/. Russia’s Techmash (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) will for the first time feature a high-explosive fragmentation shell of the enhanced capacity for Tornado-G multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) at the Laad arms show in Brazil, the company’s press office said on Monday.

"Techmash of the Rostec Corporation will for the first time demonstrate a projectile with the high-explosive fragmentation warhead of the enhanced yield for Tornado-G MLRS at the Laad-2019 Latin American venue," the press office said.

The shell that has been developed by Techmash’s Splav Research and Production Association is designated to strike both sheltered and unsheltered manpower, unarmored and light armored hardware, command posts and other targets.

"The shell can be fired to a range of 5 - 20 km. The projectile can operate in a combat environment with temperatures ranging from minus 50 degrees to plus 50 degrees Celsius. The munition is twice as effective as the standard projectile for the Grad MLRS," Techmash said.

Techmash will also feature another product developed by Splav: the new-generation S-80FP 80mm air-launched rocket with the high-explosive fragmentation piercing warhead designated to hit isolated and multiple targets.

The Tornado-G is a 122m multiple launch rocket system derived from the Grad MLRS. The new system can conduct fire from unprepared positions in an automated mode. This allows quickly opening fire, after which the gunner can switch the system’s artillery gun into a travel mode directly from the vehicle’s cab and change the position.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/russian-forces-conduct-1st-combat-launches-fr-607544.html

First combat tests during an exercice of Tornado-S MLRS.

120km max range satelitte guided with Glonass. Replace bm-30 smerch and probably toshkas (??).

The vehicle in the pic of the link is the Uragan-1M. Tornado-S looks like Smerch, "just" with new electronics and rockets.

The "G" is an improved version of the Grad. The "S" is an improved version of the Smerch while the "U" is the multi caliber (pallet) version. For usage from my understanding, the "G" provides direct unit support, the "U" will provide Combined Arms Army support and the "S" will provide Military District support.

GarryB wrote:So the light single pallet model is for mountain forces or air mobile forces or light recon forces or export?

Not sure... certainly would have it's use for Air mobile Rapid Deployment.

"Tornado-S" will receive shells of greater range and accuracy with new combat units

Work on further improvement is also going on the Tornado-G multiple launch rocket system.

"Currently, work is underway to further improve the ammunition of the MLRS Tornado-S. It is planned not only to increase the range and accuracy of shooting, but also to expand the range of tasks that solve this system’s ammunition by creating projectiles with new types of combat units" said Lepin.

According to him, similar work on further improvement is being carried out on the Tornado-G 122-mm rocket launcher.

Lepin noted that due to their high characteristics, the MLRS of the new generation Tornado-G and Tornado-S have good export prospects. “We plan to work in this direction,” the agency’s interlocutor said in conclusion.

Full article
https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/6403915

New contract of the Ministry of Defense of Russia on MLRS "Tornado-S"

According to the newspaper Kommersant, in a material by Dmitry Astakhov, Motovilikhinsky Plants will be loaded in one gulp. The group that entered into a major contract for the Tornado-S MLRS, CJSC SKB, in which, after the bankruptcy of the Motovilikhinskiye Zavody, the defense industry was concentrated and received the first major military order. It's about the supply of multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) "Tornado-S". According to Kommersant’s interlocutors, the contract may amount to 6–7 billion rubles, which will be enough to produce about 20 cars. According to experts, the fact that the Motovilikhinsky factories themselves are still in bankruptcy proceedings will not affect the implementation of the contract.


Fighting vehicle 9A54 modernized 300-mm multiple launch rocket system 9K515 "Tornado-S" (s) popmeh.ru

CJSC Special Design Bureau (SKB, part of the Motovilikhinskiye Zavody group) has signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense, sources told Kommersant. According to them, at a meeting of the board of directors of enterprises of Motovilikhinsky district on September 20, it was announced that a major defense contract would be concluded that “will allow the enterprise to develop stably and preserve jobs.” From Motovilikhinsky Zavody, the meeting was attended by an adviser to the head of the holding, Aleksey Antipov. The press service of Motovilikhinskiye Zavody declined to comment.

According to Kommersant’s interlocutors, we are talking about the manufacture and supply of combat and transport-loading vehicles from the Tornado-S MLRS. The contract between the Special Design Bureau and the Ministry of Defense was concluded in the summer, the equipment should be transferred to the state customer in 2020. The size of the contract and its volumes were not disclosed. In informal conversations, top managers at Motovilikha factories talk about volumes of up to 6-7 billion rubles. Based on this, about two dozen MLRS Tornado-S can be delivered.

The enterprise responsible for the implementation of defense contracts was Motovilikhinskiye Zavody PJSC, but since March 2018, the parent organization managing the holding has been in bankruptcy proceedings. The volume of accounts payable exceeds 17 billion rubles. The main creditor is Rostec Group of Companies. PJSC employees were employed in subsidiaries of the Ministry of Health. Thus, SKB CJSC focused on defense issues, and Motovilikha - Civil Engineering (MGM) LLC - on civilian products. For previously concluded contracts with the Ministry of Defense, PJSC MH responded.

The transition of the holding business to subsidiaries is noticeable in the dynamics of financial indicators. So, according to the results of 2018, SKB increased revenue from 295 million rubles. to 1.5 billion rubles., At the same time, the loss also increased - from 60 million rubles. up to 1.2 billion rubles. MGM reported revenue growth from 2.2 billion rubles. to 7.3 billion rubles., The loss increased from 164 million rubles. up to 355 million rubles. At the same time, Motovilikhinsky Plants reduced revenue from 11 billion rubles. up to 4.2 billion rubles, reducing the loss from 9.8 billion rubles. up to 3.3 billion rubles.

“Tornado-S” is a modified version of the highly effective MLRS “Smerch” and passed state tests in 2015. It can hit targets both in one gulp and single high-precision missiles, and also use adjustable ammunition. The firing range is up to 120 km.

Gennady Kuzmitsky, the former general director of the Perm Perm Powder Plant, believes that the army will continue to order special products at MH enterprises, despite the bankruptcy of the parent company — there is nowhere else to produce these products. According to Mr. Kuzmitsky, the bankruptcy of the parent company does not pose a threat to the subsidiary fulfilling the defense contract: the funds for its execution go to special accounts, which the tax service and creditors cannot impose interim measures.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3785087.html

Contract for Tornado-S MLRS

According to Kommersant, Perm-based ZAO Special Design Bureau (SKB) received a contract worth 6-7 billion rubles ($93-$108 million) to produce 20 combat systems for the Russian MOD. The paper’s sources say the contract is for Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and transport-reload vehicles. The equipment is to be delivered in 2020.

The 12-tube, 300-mm Tornado-S (9K515) MLRS is a “deeply modernized” version of the Smerch. It reportedly features GLONASS satellite navigation, automated fire control, and 9M542 PGMs. Unlike earlier systems, Tornado-S gives specific flight profile data to each rocket. Its effective range is 120 km.

Tornado-S first entered the inventory in late 2016. Smerch was accepted for service in 1989.

The new 9K515 weapons system includes the 9A54 launch vehicle and 9T255 transport-reload vehicle.


The 20 systems in the contract likely include 16 launch vehicles (two battalions of eight) and four transport-reload vehicles (two per launch battalion).

The Russian MOD is using new Tornado-S MLRS to build a heavy rocket launcher brigade at the district level in each of its four MDs. In Soviet times, each MD (front) disposed of its own rocket launcher brigade, typically four battalions of 18 40-tube, 122-mm BM-21 Grad systems.

Those “brigades” look like this now:

Western MD…Tver…79th Brigade…three battalions of Tornado-S…12 launchers.
Southern MD…Znamensk…439th Brigade…??? battalions of Tornado-S…??? launchers.
Central MD…Shchuchye…232nd Brigade…two battalions of 220-mm Uragan…16 launchers.
Eastern MD…Novosysoyevka…338th Brigade…2-3 battalions of Uragan…16-18 launchers.

But these are more like rocket battalions than the brigades of old days.

The first Tornado-S deployments began in 2017 in the Western MD and continued in the Southern MD in early 2019.

It seems likely the Tornado-S systems due in 2020 will go to the Central or Eastern MD before the Western or Southern get more.

Kommersant detailed the poor financial status of ZAO SKB. Its parent, long-time sole producer of Russian MLRS Motovilikhinskiye Plants is bankrupt. SKB was split away to keep creditors at bay. The rest of Motovilikha is supposed to retool to make civilian products. The growing problem of insolvency in Russia’s OPK is worthy of a look.

https://russiandefpolicy.blog/2019/09/29/contract-for-tornado-s-mlrs/

"Tornado" after the "Grad": the latest reactive systems will protect Crimea

Troops of the Southern Military District received upgraded MLRS

...The maximum firing range of the Tornado-G is 40 km and in the future it can be increased to 100 km. The combat capabilities of the new system have been expanded with new rocket ammunition...


https://iz.ru/927161/aleksei-kozachenko-aleksei-ramm/tornado-posle-grada-krym-zashchitiat-noveishie-reaktivnye-sistemy

Defense firm delivers final batch of latest Tornado-G rocket systems to Russian troops

The work to repair and upgrade combat vehicles of Grad multiple launch rocket systems to the Tornado-G level has been implemented in full and on time, according to the official statement

MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry has received the final batch of the latest Tornado-G multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) this year under the defense procurement plan, the press office of RT-Capital (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) reported on Tuesday.


"The Special Design Bureau integrated into the Motivilikha Plants (within Rostec) has dispatched the final batch of combat vehicles of Tornado-G multiple launch rocket systems to units of Russia’s Defense Ministry under the defense procurement plan," RT-Capital said in a statement.

The work to repair and upgrade combat vehicles of Grad multiple launch rocket systems to the Tornado-G level under the 2019 program has been implemented in full and on time, the statement says.

The Motivilikha Plants are Russia’s sole manufacturer of combat and transporter-loader vehicles for Grad and Smerch multiple launch rocket systems and also of their upgraded Tornado-G and Tornado-S versions, the press office informed.

The Tornado-G is a 122mm multiple launch rocket system derived from the Grad MLRS. The new system can conduct fire from unprepared positions in an automated mode. This allows quickly opening fire, after which the gunner can switch the system’s artillery gun into a travel mode directly from the vehicle’s cab and change the position.

The system has been developed by the Splav Research and Production Association integrated into the Tecmash Group within Rostec. As its major advantages, the system features better fire efficiency, more powerful shells and automated guidance, sighting, topographic positioning and navigation systems. The Tornado-G was accepted for service in the Russian Army in 2014.

https://tass.com/defense/1088279

From last year

A Zaslon Centre invention; S-80 rockets volley fired as a short-range fire support system.
Like on all those makeshift technicals in conflicts around the world

Well it might be interesting for some of the ultra-light battallions Russia is developing. Or more likely, perhaps the Syrians or Iranians, who are big on their their technicals and light mobile firepower. But problem is that they can just come up with such systems themselves.

So wheeled vehicles are getting traction in Russia? Why is that? It's silly to be dependent on infrastructure in a country with such geography like Russia. Or this will go to Rosgvardiya?

Regular wrote:So wheeled vehicles are getting traction in Russia? Why is that? It's silly to be dependent on infrastructure in a country with such geography like Russia. Or this will go to Rosgvardiya?

They are building infrastructure

And any war that would require massive number vehicles to move off-road like in WW2 would be handled by nukes anyway so why bother?