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

mnztr wrote:I wonder what kind of range they can get with winglets and half the speed.

GarryB wrote:One third of its length of solid rocket propellent could be replaced with a ramjet motor and a couple of dozens of litres of liquid propellent... launch it like normal and then before it accelerates to full speed (because of 1/3rd less solid rocket fuel) you could start up the ramjet to run for a couple of minutes... the solid rocket fuel is high energy fast burn so it would only burn for a few seconds or tens of seconds, while in comparison the ramjet could run for minutes... it could run even longer at very low power settings that just eliminate drag and let it cruise along for enormous distances, or it could run for a shorter period with a higher thrust setting allow it to climb and move rather fast at higher altitudes.

The nose mounted artillery fuses with GLONASS and control fins to steer the artillery shell to target could be used on these rockets to steer them towards their target at much greater ranges...

You would need precision guidance because the enormous range these could be used at the spread and inaccuracy of standard rockets would make them totally ineffective.

Smerch used gyros to keep the rockets from a volley closer to each other to increase their effect on target, but if you want a 100km plus weapon to hit a point target then ground launched Hermes and LMURS missiles seem to be a better choice.

Grad is excellent for what it is already...

JohninMK wrote:A small concert by the crews of the TOS-1A "Solntsepёk" fire support systems!

Not that often you get a drone's eye view of the destination of an MLRS salvo.

Video at link https://twitter.com/neccamc1/status/1379711164435824642

magnumcromagnon wrote:
The Twitter post seems to suggest this is some recent footage, but in fact that's an old video from 1.5 years ago, and this has nothing to do with any recent live exercises or the recent hostilities in the Donbass. Check the video date of when this was uploaded (September 20th, 2019).

In Russia, began the development of a new light MLRS caliber 80-mm


The Russian army can get into service with a new light multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) of 80-mm caliber, the development of the complex is already underway.

Work on the new MLRS began at the NPO "Splav" named after A. N. Ganichev, which is the developer of all the multiple launch rocket systems in service with the Russian troops. To date, the development is at the stage of determining the technical appearance of the complex, the next stage will be the creation of a prototype and its testing. If the military are satisfied with the proposed characteristics, the work will be continued.

As told "RIA News" Aleksandr Kochkin, executive director of Tekhmash, representatives of the Ministry of Defense were shown the concept of a new light MLRS and its planned appearance. The military requested a wheeled chassis for the complex as a base one, and also determined the range of tasks that the new complex should solve. Taking these requirements into account, a new mini-system will be created.

According to preliminary data, the new light MLRS will be able to be installed on cars, and use unguided weapons as ammunition. aviation missiles of the S-8 type of 80-mm caliber, taken as a basis. It is possible that in the future, special ammunition of increased range and power will be developed for the new complex.

Note that in 2018, the Ministry of Defense completed state tests of the new NAR S-8OFP "Armor-piercer", designed to destroy light armored vehicles and surface ships at a distance of up to 6 km. Its peculiarity is that, depending on the task, it can explode when it hits an obstacle, in front of it or behind an obstacle. The new rocket continued the line of the C-8 family of missiles, differing from the basic version with a charge power that exceeded the previous samples by 5-6 times.

https://en.topwar.ru/182007-v-rossii-nachalas-razrabotka-novoj-legkoj-rszo-kalibra-80-mm.html