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

From various pages i have reached the following conclusions about Tornado systems:

1. 9A52-4 Tornado.

The 9A52-4 Tornado system is based on the chassis of the KamAZ-63501 8x8 military truck, which provides good tactical mobility. It is equipped with a single container with six launcher tubes for 300-mm rockets, which can fire all current Smerch rockets, including HE-FRAG, incendiary, thermobaric, cluster with anti-personnel or anti-tank mines.
Maximum range of fire is 70 km with ordinary and 90 km with extended-range rockets. Rockets are fitted with range and direction correction system for better accuracy.

The 9A52-4 multiple launch rocket system may be Russia's answer to the US HIMARS. It is a lightweight and universal version of the Smerch MLRS. The 9A52-4 is more strategically and tactically mobile, but mobility comes at a cost of reduced firepower.




2. 9A53-G Tornado (2x15 1x40 One 122mm Upgraded BM-21 "Grad" Multiple Rocket Launcher Module, based on a Kamaz Truck.



The new Tornado-G looks in view similar to the ageing Grad, but it has a number of improvements. Rockets of this new system have improved range and more powerful warheads. The Tornado-G is also fitted with automatic positioning, navigation, aiming and laying systems.

The Tornado-G rockets are fitted with cluster warheads with self-guided multi-purpose submunitions. These have a range of 30 km and can be used against enemy infantry and armored vehicles. These submunitions penetrate 60 to 100 mm of RHA. Also there are rockets with HE-FRAG warheads. These have a range of up to 40 km.


3. 9A53-S Tornado. 300mm Upgraded BM-30 "Smerch"



Only the 2nd type has entered service. I would like to see 1st type also which is considered analogue to US HIMARS

Western MD artillery formation received 8 Uragan MLRS



One of the Western MD artillery formations received 8 Uragan multiple launch rocket systems and 16 transport-loading vehicles. These systems are to raise combat capabilities of the formation while defensive and offensive operations.

These MLRS are designed for engaging covered manpower, light-armored and armored combat hardware, artillery, tactic missile complexes, command and communication centers, and other infrastructural objects of the enemy.

The 220mm Uragan systems are capable to perform firing by single projectiles as by full barrage at targets located in the area of about 40 hectares at the distance up to 35 kilometers. Each projectile weights 280 kg.

It takes no more than three minutes to prepare the system for firing. Full barrage is performed in 20 seconds. The MLRS battery is ready to perform marching in a minute after firing.

http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12078125@egNews

Russian MoD to Purchase More Brand New Multiple Rocket Launchers by 2020

The Russian Defense Ministry will purchase around 700 more multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) of three different types, produced by the Russian Motovilikha Plants manufacturer, by 2020, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said Friday.

PERM (Russia) (Sputnik) – Russia is currently implementing a large-scale rearmament program to modernize 70 percent of its military hardware by 2020.

“Motovilikha produces all three types [of the MLRSs] — Tornado-G, a new type, and Uragan and Smerch, which are new modifications of Tornado-S. The volume of purchases in the current state program of armaments is very large, about 700 more systems should be purchased,” Borisov said during a visit to the plant.

“I think that in the newly proposed state program of armaments, these systems will be in demand, because of qualitative changes to the characteristics of the MLRSs, which are becoming high-precision weapons,” the deputy minister added.

Russia is currently implementing a large-scale rearmament program, announced in 2010, to modernize 70 percent of its military hardware. The total modernization program cost is estimated to reach about 20 trillion rubles (some $291 billion at the current exchange rates).

Motovilikha Plants JSC manufactures both metallurgical and military equipment. Besides MLRSs, the company produces field artillery guns, self-propelled artillery and mortars.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160408/1037696099/russia-mlrs-launchers.html#ixzz45F3IIYD5

Massive

The Russian military for five years, will buy about 700 MLRS

Viktor wrote:Massive  

The Russian military for five years, will buy about 700 MLRS

As I suspected, this is the 'asymmetrical response' VVP was talking about, 700 MLRS and probably at least 200 of them are Smerch 300mm MLRS, in which a single system could easily take out dozens of MBT's at a time with EFP's and anti-tank mines (designed to take out a MBT's mobility). With talks of extending the range of Smerch from 90 km to 150 km and even rumors of pushing the range out to 200 km, which should be an adequate asymmetrical response to NATO's build up in Eastern Europe, and we're talking about conventional warheads, let alone actual tactical nuclear warheads that could be used on a 150 km range 300mm Smerch rocket.

I am confused, the title says Tornado-S but they are showing what looks like a BM-30 Smerch, Am I missing something? is Tornado-S the missile itself? what happened to the supposed new chassis as shown in the above posts? thanks!

Project Canada wrote:


I am confused, the title says Tornado-S but they are showing what looks like a BM-30 Smerch, Am I missing something? is Tornado-S the missile itself? what happened to the supposed new chassis as shown in the above posts? thanks!

Yup even the left-most sign on the models at the end clearly says RS30 <<Smerch>>

Who they foolin'?

flamming_python wrote:

Project Canada wrote:


I am confused, the title says Tornado-S but they are showing what looks like a BM-30 Smerch, Am I missing something? is Tornado-S the missile itself? what happened to the supposed new chassis as shown in the above posts? thanks!

Yup even the left-most sign on the models at the end clearly says RS30 <<Smerch>>

Who they foolin'?

The legend is back!

Smerch aka Tornado-S complete video


so it seems they ditched the modified launch platform and sticked to a more simpler one with minor changes.

Most likely. Probably to save money. Although, what is the major difference between both systems?

sepheronx wrote:Most likely. Probably to save money. Although, what is the major difference between both systems?

Navigation and fire control from what i can see. Rest is more or less the same.

Part of state Corporation rostec has formed a new holding company, which will specialize in the design and manufacture of jet systems of volley fire (MLRS) “Smerch”. On Wednesday, August 31, according to video News Service.

According to the interlocutor of the Agency in the defense industry, the company was founded on the basis of the Tula company “the Alloy”. Its establishment is associated with increased several times the demand for MLRS. The text notes that part of the holding, in addition to “Alloy”, includes such companies as “Motovilikhinskiye Zavody” (Perm), “Novosibirsk plant of artificial fiber” and “Bryansk chemical plant of a name 50-letiya SSSR”.

The jet system of volley fire “Tornado”, developed in the first half of the 1980s, was adopted in 1987. The creation of a system to the experts “Tulagorvodokanal” (now “Fusion”).

The range of fire of “Smerch” in the modernized version is 120 miles away. Depending on modification, the system can be equipped with four, six or 12 guides for 300-mm rockets. In the calculation of a combat machine consists of three people. Full volley machine of 12 rounds takes 40 seconds, after which the system three minutes can curl up and leave the position.

Missiles “Tornado” equipped with cluster warheads with shrapnel, homing additive or shaped-charge fragmentation submunitions and a monobloc high-explosive and thermobaric parts. In addition, the “Tornado” can realize remote mining area or to launch reconnaissance drones.

http://rushincrash.com/uncategorized/manufacturers-of-reactive-systems-of-volley-fire-in-russia-have-united-in-holding/

Russian army to get Tornado-S multiple rocket launchers in 2017

The new Tornado-S will be armed with high accuracy rockets and a new automated control and aiming system

MOSCOW, September 26. /TASS/. Russia’s army will start getting multiple rocket launchers Tornado-S starting from next year, the chief of the department concerned at the Defense Ministry’s state defense contract support department, Mikhail Osyko, said on Monday.

"In 2016, the 220-mm system Uragan-M1 was authorized for service. So was the 300-mm system Tornado-S. It was approved in July-August-2016. The inter-departmental commission has approved the documentation," Osyko said on the Rossiya-24 television news channel.

He recalled that the contract for providing Tornado-S and a number of new rockets for them was signed at the Army-2016 forum, held near Moscow, at the beginning of September.

"The army will have them in 2017," he added.

Earlier, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said that Tornado-S will begin to be manufactured serially in 2017.

The new system will surpass its predecessor in terms of the range of fire. It will be armed with high accuracy rockets and a new automated control and aiming system.


More:
http://tass.com/defense/902239

Revealed on TV:

First Tornado-S delivered to Russian Army. Not specified numbers or unit yet.

Over 60 Tornado-G MLRS and 20 Msta-SM howitzers delivered to Russian Army in 2016

Over 60 Tornado-G multiple-launch rockets systems (MLRS) and more than 20 Msta-SM howitzers have been delivered to the Russian Army in 2016, the service chief, Colonel General Oleg Salyukov, said at the annual session of the Military Council of the Russian Army’s command element.


Two Iskander-M missile system brigade sets, over 60 Tornado-G MLRS and upwards of 20 Msta-SM self-propelled howitzers have been received in 2016," the service chief said. In excess of 70 upgraded Grad-M MLRS have been fielded too, Salyukov added.

The Iskander-M missile systems is designed for destroying command posts, signal centers, aircraft at airfields, guided missile systems, MLRS and long-range tube artillery at a range of 500 km.

The Tornado-G is designed to strike exposed and sheltered manpower, armor, field artillery guns, mortars and command posts. The system is two to three times more lethal than the Grad MLRS owing to its enhanced-lethality rockets and automated laying/targeting, survey and navigation systems.

The mainstay of the firepower of the 2S33 Msta-SM SP howitzer, the antecedent to the cutting-edge 2S35 Koalitsiya SP howitzer, is the 152-mm 2A65 gun with a rate of fire exceeding 10 rounds per minute.

Source: http://www.armyrecognition.com/december_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/over_60_tornado-g_mlrs_and_20_msta-sm_howitzers_delivered_to_russian_army_in_2016_72912163.html

According to a post by Victor, Russia is supposed to procure something like 700 MLRS systems. So the 60 is a little low in the numbers for the total plan.

miketheterrible wrote:According to a post by Victor, Russia is supposed to procure something like 700 MLRS systems.  So the 60 is a little low in the numbers for the total plan.

Missing a key word... "modernized" MRLS systems. So 60 new and 80 upgraded = 140 modernized. For all artillery fire support weapons 2011-2020 procurement plan is over 2,000 units of which ~700 will be MRLS.

Technically there are going to be fours MRLS systems:
- Tornado-G (upgraded 122mm Grad);
- Tornado-U (upgraded 220mm Uragan);
- Tornado-S (upgraded 300mm Search);
- new bicaliber system Uragan-1M, which can use 220mm and 300mm rockets. Didn't find any info about 122mm yet.

Russian Tornado-S 300mm Multiple Launch Rocket System MLRS has successfully passed state trials

The Russian-made Tornado-S 300mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) by the Splav scientific production association (a subsidiary of the Russian Rostec state corporation) has successfully passed state trials, the Director General of the company, Vladimir Lepin told the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.


"The Tornado-S is a really massive work. The state trials have been finished with a positive result; we have implemented the design and development work in total…It marks a new era in the industry," Lepin said.

He added that Splav features a large portfolio of MLRS. "We have something to offer to the Russian Ministry of Defense, namely, Tornado-G, Tornado-S, Uragan-1M systems. These developments are new ones, and they have reflected in the Russian State Defense Order (GOZ, Gosoboronzakaz) program. We have increased the production output more than twofold for the last two years," the director said. He added that the company had implemented GOZ-2016 to full degree ahead-of-schedule. Lepin pointed out that the Tornado-G MLRS had been accepted for service in 2014.

According to him, the items of hardware developed by Splav are in high demand on the global market. "The Rosoboronexport company (a subsidiary of the Rostec state corporation) has been increasing the volumes of our production sales in a drastic manner in the recent years. We are working closely with the Arab world, countries of the East, and India. For instance, the Grad MLRS has been delivered to 64 foreign countries since its development in 1963," Lepin emphasized.

Source: http://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2017_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/russian_tornado-s_300mm_multiple_launch_rocket_system_mlrs_successfully_passed_state_trials_13101171.html

Benya wrote:

Russian-made Tornado-S 300mm MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System)

That's not "Tornado-S" on the picture, it's "Uragan-1M", new bicaliber MLRS. "Tornado-S" is upgraded BM-30 "Smerch", they look almost the same.

GarryB wrote:If one system can carry pallets of rockets ready to fire and can carry them in three different calibres (ie 122mm, 220mm and 300mm) then why also have upgraded models of the Grad, Uragan, and Smerch too?

I mean I could understand the development of a light vehicle based on a light truck that carries one pallet of either 122mm, 220mm or 300mm that could go places the heavier vehicles could not and would be cheaper to buy and operate, and I can see the point in a much larger heavier vehicle that can carry two pallets of rockets ready to fire in the three calibres, but what I don't understand is the idea of having all three original vehicles in their different calibres plus a new vehicle able to carry the same ordinance as those three original vehicles.

Just seems a little redundant.

Perhaps what we are seeing is what the company wants to sell rather than what the Russian Army wants to buy.

For now upgrades of the Grad make sense because the light vehicle has good mobility and low cost so it will always make sense, but having a slightly heavier vehicle able to replicate the loads of the three vehicles previously in service with all three calibre options means replacing three different vehicle types with two vehicle types without having to give up a calibre.

The interesting part is, as far as I know, that this system is going to use also ATACMS type of missiles, but funny enough I can't find any information about 122mm pellet packs. I personally think this system has its advantages over previous generation mono type vehicles. It requires less time to change the packs than to manually reload ammunition.

Also I can't find any information about upgraded Uragan, only about Grad and Smerch.