Tornado-G: alternative guide package design
This is not a real prototype, but a computer montage of researchers from the Military Logistics Academy named after General A.V. Khrulev. Explanations in the text. Source: Military Review magazine
"Grad" is the head of everything
The Penza branch of the Military Academy of Logistics named after General A.V. Khrulev (formerly the Penza Artillery Engineering Institute) publishes the specialized magazine "Military Review", which is published mainly by employees of the educational institution. In addition to fairly routine topics, for example, "Adaptation of cadets to the specifics of military engineering education" or "Game technologies in the educational process of the military", interesting topics can be found in the materials. For the sake of peace of mind, we note that the "Military Review" is in the public domain, it does not have a mark "secret" and even "for official use".
Particular attention is drawn to the results of the work of three departments at once - automated control systems and software; general professional disciplines and the Department of Gunpowder and Explosives, dedicated to optimizing the design of the Tornado-G MLRS guide package. What is really wrong with her? To begin with, let's deal with the combat vehicle of the artillery soldiers.
Tornado-G is a modernization of the BM-21 Grad system, which entered service 62 years ago. For its time, it was a highly effective combat unit, especially as part of a triumvirate with Hurricane and Tornado. A 40-barrel launcher with a caliber of 122 mm made it possible to work over areas at a distance of 5 to 21 km. Accuracy leaves much to be desired: in range - up to 160 meters, lateral deviation - up to 100 meters.
Above is the classic Grad, below is its modernized version of the Tornado-G. Pay attention to the protective screen on the Tornado-G launch guide package. Its functions are to protect the controls from the gas jet and increase the rigidity of the structure. A photo: Vitaly kuzmin
In order for the rocket to fit at least into these standards, the engineers provided several solutions.
The first is stabilization on the trajectory due to rotation at a speed of several tens of revolutions per second. The feather stabilizer in the tail of the missile of the BM-21 Grad complex is set at an angle of 1 degree to the axis of the projectile.
The second solution that improves the accuracy of fire is the brake rings on the rocket head, which are installed before launch. Small ballistic ring - for firing at a distance of more than 12 km, large - at shorter distances. In fairness, it should be noted that it would be very naive to expect from Grad (Tornado) accurate firing of unguided missiles at such distances. In the end, a few gusts of wind on the flight path, and the rocket can finally go off course.
Precision accuracy can only be achieved by actively correcting the rocket in flight. But this does not mean that multiple launch rocket systems firing unguided projectiles should not be improved.
The 2B17M Tornado-G machine, in addition to an improved guidance system, has a visually easily distinguishable feature - a protective screen on the guide package. This node is necessary to protect the elements of the controls from the gas jet of the launching rocket. But the protective screen can be harmful due to the ability to transfer shock loads from the gas jet of the rocket to the combat vehicle. At the same time, neither the Tornado-G nor the Grad have retractable supports, which seriously destabilizes the vehicle during salvo fire. The Urals can only turn off the suspension, which does not fully ensure the rigidity of the structure.
According to the authors of the research from the Academy named after General A.V. Khrulev, after the launch of one rocket, the wheels of the Ural carrier vehicle settle by 15–17 mm. Naturally, the truck begins to sway even on a locked suspension. And what will happen when the last fortieth shell comes out of the guide? That is why we so rarely see salvo fire from all the MLRS barrels - by the end of the firing, the vehicle very conditionally sends the ammunition to its destination. Scientifically, this is called the gas-dynamic effect on the package of launch guides. In a good way, it would be leveled by retractable supports, but this is both extra weight and a decrease in the tactical mobility of the MLRS.
The solution seems to be launching rockets with a large interval between them in order to allow the platform to calm down. But this seriously reduces the effectiveness of an artillery raid on a target, when the shells fall on the target almost simultaneously, significantly increasing the impact of the shock wave. This, by the way, is well remembered by the Nazis - the legendary "Katyushas" released all their ammunition in a few seconds and, if they hit, they made a real hell on the enemy's positions. Just due to the repeated imposition of shock waves on each other.
New design "Tornado-G"
The new protective screen, located on the front section of the Tornado-G guide package, naturally takes on the entire force of the gas-dynamic jet of outgoing missiles. Mathematical calculations of the force and the duration of the impact of the jet showed that the maximum force effect is observed 0,14 seconds after the launch of the projectile. During this time, the torch of the rocket engine manages to move about one meter from the official cut of the launcher.
The sequence of firing is also important - rockets coming out of the central rails rock the car the most. Rockets from the "periphery" of the package send part of their gases past the protective screen. Interestingly, the classic "Grad", devoid of a screen, had another problem that reduces the accuracy of fire - the low rigidity of the entire structure. During the operation of the MLRS, the guides make whip-like movements, transmit an oscillatory impulse to the installation, and thereby further reduce accuracy. The protective screen "Tornado-G" was also supposed to increase the rigidity of the package, but it became only a striker for the gas jet of the rocket. One problem solved, another came.
"Tornado-G" after photoshop. Source: Military Review magazine
The authors from the Penza branch of the Academy of Logistics see a solution to this situation in the reconfiguration of the guide package itself. You just need to give the front cut an oblique shape, in the manner of a car windshield. The article even provides a computer-edited image of the possible appearance of the new Tornado-G - the slope is approximately 15 degrees. The gas jet of the launching rocket will be redirected upward, reducing the load on the guide package. The article describes this phenomenon as follows:
“It can be assumed that the forced decomposition of the impact force of the projectile jet on the screen of the launch guide package into two components will lead to a change in the oscillatory process of both the artillery unit and the entire combat vehicle as a whole when firing in one salvo. Considering that the value of the technical dispersion of rocket projectiles is determined by the level of initial disturbances formed at the start, communicated to the projectile by launcher oscillations, the issue of synthesizing new design solutions for the launch guide package is certainly relevant and requires additional research.
According to the calculations of the authors of the idea, the impact force of the jet on the guide package will decrease by about 20%.
At the moment, nothing is known about the prospects for such a decision. There is hope that the non-trivial and low-cost idea is implemented in metal and is being tested accordingly. Still, an increase, albeit not so significant, in the accuracy of domestic MLRS is an important bonus for the army. With mass use, as in a special operation in Ukraine, this can turn into a significant advantage.
Based on:
G. B. Belonogov, M. Yu. Komarov "A variant of the design of a package of launch guides for a multiple launch rocket system in order to reduce the inertial characteristics of a combat vehicle." Magazine "Military Review", 2021, No. 2
M. N. Krasnov, Yu. A. Dyachkov, G. B. Belonogov “Assessment of the gas-dynamic impact of a rocket jet on a package of launch guides for a multiple launch rocket system.” Magazine "Military Review", 2021, No. 2
S. F. Podshivalov, O. A. Vdovikina, I. I. Privalov, D. P. Duganov. "Improving the design efficiency of the multiple launch rocket system guide package". Magazine "Military Review", 2021, No. 2
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