"Tornado-S" goes to the troops and sent to landfills
Made and delivered
19 May RIA "News»Referring to the deputy general director of the Tekhmash concern, Alexander Kochkina, reported on current work in the area of the MLRS. A representative of the organization said that this year the concern’s enterprises produced and transferred to the Russian army the first brigade set of 9K551 Tornado-S systems. Technique entered into pilot operation.
In addition, organizations from the composition of "Tehmash" have worked out the documentation on the modernization of the existing MLRS "Smerch" to the state "Tornado-S". A. Kochkin also said that last year the concern and the Ministry of Defense signed a contract for the supply of missiles for the new MLRS. For the first time in this area the contract was concluded for a long period - until 2027.
The appearance of such a contract allows the contracting organization to more effectively draw up plans, prepare cooperation, etc. However, there are some problems. Thus, the growth of the value-added tax and inflationary processes may affect the revenue of Tekhmash.
It should be noted that reports of the start of operation of the latest MLRS "Tornado-S" arrived a little earlier. Back in January, domestic media reported on the imminent delivery of serial complexes to the troops. The first Tornado-S operator was the 439 th Guards Rocket Artillery Brigade from the Southern Military District.
In late April, exercises of rocket troops and artillery took place at the Kapustin Yar test site, in which more than 1 thousand people and more than 100 units of equipment, including Tornado-S complexes, took part. On the last, the preparation for shooting and firing was practiced. Fire missions were solved with the help of single and group attacks.
Tornado Program
The program for the deep modernization of the existing Russian Army MRLs with the common name Tornado was launched at the turn of the last decades. The Tornado-G project provided for the upgrade of the Grad systems, and the name Tornado-S refers to the upgraded Tornadoes. Due to the introduction of communications and control equipment and the development of improved missiles, it was proposed to increase the range and accuracy of fire. At the same time, the new equipment was supposed to provide the possibility of upgrading the equipment of the front-line units.
According to known data, experienced 9K551 "Tornado-S" came to the test as early as 2016. In the future, the necessary improvements and improvements were made, the results of which MLRS received a recommendation for adoption. Last year, representatives of the army repeatedly spoke of the imminent start of the supply of serial systems to the troops. To date, the first brigade kit has begun service.
After upgrading to the Tornado-S project, the 9A52 combat vehicle MLRS Smerch receives the designation 9A54. In the course of modernization, it is equipped with a new onboard control and communications equipment (ABUS), an automated guidance and fire control system (ASUNO), as well as navigation instruments that receive signals from satellite systems. All this leads to a serious change in crew jobs and a noticeable increase in the main characteristics.
New equipment accelerates and simplifies preparation for firing. Satellite navigation is used for more accurate and faster topographic location, ABUS provides data reception, including target designation, and with the help of ASUNO automatic data calculation for firing is performed with the subsequent control of aiming. The introduction of new components on the launcher 9А54 allows you to quickly solve tasks, and also improves the accuracy of fire.
The 9-54 combat vehicle retains the existing launcher and can use existing 300-mm rocket launchers. Within the framework of the Tornado-S project, new versions of such munitions were created, having significant differences from the previous ones. Thus, the product 9М542 is capable of delivering high-explosive fragmentation or warhead to a range of up to 100-120 km. Developed projectile 9М534, the payload of which is a reconnaissance UAV.
Due to certain problems characteristic of long-range unguided projectiles, new missiles are equipped with homing tools. Ammunition with a satellite seeker based on a satellite navigation system is capable of hitting targets with previously known coordinates with high accuracy. In the future, the emergence of new types of shells with different capabilities. Earlier it was reported about the fundamental possibility of creating 300-mm missiles with a range of up to 150-170 km or more.
Thus, the new MLRS 9K551 Tornado-S differs from the base Smerch with a wider range of ammunition and enhanced tactical and technical characteristics. Depending on the assigned tasks, the Tornado-S can operate as a multiple rocket launcher system or take on the functions of an operational-tactical missile system. The advantages of such a system are obvious.
Construction and modernization
Projects of the Tornado family envisage both the construction of combat vehicles from scratch and the modernization of finished samples. According to the latest information, the first brigade set of the MLRS Tornado-S includes completely new machines. In the future, the production of such equipment may continue, and in parallel will be carried out modernization of machines taken from combat units.
According to open data, in the land forces of the Russian army there are at least a hundred MLRS "Smerch" in the basic version. Recently, the delivery of the first brigade kit, which included several dozen pieces of equipment, has been completed - the exact number of new Tornado-S has not yet been announced. Earlier in foreign sources mentioned 12 units "Tornado-S", transferred to the troops for various tests and after the commissioned.
MLRS "Smerch" are in service with several ground forces of the Russian army. Two brigades have already received a modernized or completely new technique that improves their combat capability. In the foreseeable future, the Tornado-S system will also receive other connections. By building new models and upgrading existing ones, a complete or almost complete replacement of older volley fire systems will be performed.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet specified such plans, but it can be assumed that over the next few years, at least a large part of the MLRS cash will be undergoing a major modernization project. The combat vehicles that cannot be repaired and restored can be replaced with new-built models. Thus, in the medium term, the basis of the grouping of large-caliber MLRS will be the modern 9K551 Tornado-S.
In addition to Russia, MLRS type "Smerch" is used by fourteen foreign countries. They may be interested in an improved version of this complex, which makes it possible to expect the appearance of the first export contracts. Foreign customers can purchase new 9А54 machines and related equipment or order upgrades of existing equipment.
However, the main task of the industry so far is the renewal of the fleet of vehicles and arsenals of the Russian army. The first brigade kit "Tornado-S" has already been handed over to the customer, delivered in parts and even used during exercises. It should be expected that soon similar news will begin to come from other formations of ground forces.
- Ryabov Kirill
- "Rosoboronexport" / roe.ru, Vpk.name
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