French MLRS LRU for Ukraine
LRU launcher in combat position. Photo by the French Ministry of Defense
Foreign countries continue to supply NATO-style multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine. Recently it became known that France will join these processes. In the near future, she plans to transfer her LRU-type MLRS to the Ukrainian regime. In this case, we are talking about only three combat vehicles taken from our own army. How useful such assistance will be is a big question.
Three units
On October 12, after a regular meeting of the NATO contact group on assistance to Ukraine, it became known that France plans to transfer new weapons and equipment to the Kyiv regime. According to several French publications, such a package of military-technical assistance will include MLRS, anti-aircraft systems and other products. They will be taken in combat units of the French army.
To strengthen the Ukrainian rocket artillery, it is proposed to allocate multiple launch rocket systems LRU - a modernized "European" version of the American M270 MLRS. Due to limited capabilities, the French army will be able to allocate only three such vehicles. Whether ammunition will be added to them is not reported.
According to the French press, three LRUs will soon be decommissioned from the combat unit of the ground forces and prepared for shipment. The exact timing of the transfer has not yet been announced. However, NATO experience shows that such a delivery can be completed within a few weeks or even days.
The supply of French LRU vehicles will allow the Kyiv regime to increase its fleet of NATO-style tracked MLRS. To date, it has received about a dozen units of the MLRS family from foreign partners. These were the original American M270 systems of various modifications, as well as German MARS II vehicles. Now French products are expected, thanks to which the total number of vehicles will exceed 10-12 units.
European modernization
In the late eighties, the American MLRS M270 MLRS of the first modification was adopted by the French ground forces. Over the next few years, more than 60 such systems were purchased for the army. Together with combat vehicles, unguided rockets that existed at that time were ordered.
French LRUs on parade, 2015. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
The operation of such equipment in the original configuration continued until the end of the XNUMXs. Then France, Germany and Italy agreed to jointly develop a project for the modernization of existing MLRS. Such an update was supposed to raise all the main characteristics, ensure compatibility with the new generation of missiles, and also take into account the latest international agreements.
The modernization project was developed by several European companies. The leading role in it was taken by the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and the French Airbus Defense and Space. They developed the bulk of the new instruments and tools.
In 2011, the French Ministry of Defense placed an order for the modernization of its M270 MLRS. Due to the reduction in the needs of the army and limited financial capabilities, it was decided to upgrade only 13 combat vehicles. They are now known under the designation Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU). The rest of the equipment was sent for storage; her future fate is still uncertain.
In parallel with the French LRU, the MLRS of Germany and Italy underwent modernization. After the update, the German cars were called MARS II, and the Italian ones - MLRS-I. The installations of the three countries were rebuilt according to a common project and practically do not differ from each other.
This summer, Germany sent several of its MARS II MLRS to Ukraine. Now a small number of such machines are sent by France. It is curious that the French army allocates 3 installations out of 13 available - in fact, a quarter of the park. This raises questions about the further maintenance or development of French rocket artillery.
Noticeable differences
The European M270 modernization project provided for the preservation of a number of key units of the system while replacing others. Due to this, they ensured compatibility with new ammunition, improved the main characteristics and solved other problems. In general, the European project LRU / MARS II / MLRS-I is similar to the American modernization of the M270A1.
LRU in marching configuration. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
During the update, the LRU architecture has not changed. The tracked chassis with high cross-country ability is still used. It has a launcher for two unified containers with missiles. At the same time, the installation lost its hydraulic guidance drives; they were replaced by more advanced electric ones.
The standard fire control devices were replaced by the new EFCS (European Fire Control System) from Airbus. Such an SLA is capable of operating in modern control loops and allows the use of rockets of the GMLRS family. In this case, not all missiles can be used. EFCS at the program level prohibits the firing of projectiles with a cluster warhead - in accordance with the existing convention.
Thus, the ammunition load of the MLRS LRU and its analogues consists only of corrected M31 projectiles of different versions. Depending on the modification, they have a flight range of at least 80-85 km. The satellite navigation and control system gives high hit accuracy. All variants of the M31 carry a unified high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 91 kg.
In the late eighties, American-made M270 MLRS got the opportunity to use ATACMS operational-tactical missiles. In connection with the presence of its own OCR, the French army did not order new American missiles. The LRU modernization project also did not provide for the transformation of the MLRS into an OTRK. Whether ATACMS integration is possible at this stage and how difficult it will be is unknown.
Limitations and problems
To date, foreign countries have sent to Ukraine about a dozen M270 multiple launch rocket systems of various versions. In addition, a comparable number of newer M142 HIMARS products have been transferred. Now it is reported about the imminent growth of the grouping of foreign MLRS due to the supply of French LRU vehicles.
However, France plans to transfer only three self-propelled launchers. It is easy to see that this equipment will not be enough for a noticeable strengthening of the Ukrainian rocket artillery. Three vehicles will allow you to create only one fire platoon, and you can not expect any outstanding results from such a unit.
The first combat use of the MLRS LRU. Mali, March 2016. Photo by Opex360
Due to the specific requirements of the French army, MLRS can only use rockets of one type, while the use of others is simply excluded. The LRU cannot fire the most dangerous missiles carrying cluster or "alternate" warheads. Compatibility with operational-tactical missiles is also not provided.
M31 rockets have fairly high performance, but their successful use is not guaranteed. Ukrainian formations regularly try to attack Russian military or civilian targets. The overwhelming majority of flying missiles, and sometimes all products, are successfully intercepted by our air defense. Obviously, the results of using French LRUs will be the same.
During firing, the MLRS unmasks itself and risks being hit back. In addition, a combat vehicle can be spotted in a parking lot or moving towards a firing position. To date, the Russian army has managed to destroy several foreign MLRS transferred to Ukraine. French LRU cars are not immune from such a fate.
Doubtful help
Thus, the foreign partner again promised Ukraine military-technical assistance, but its real value is in question. Only a few combat vehicles with limited capabilities are ready to be handed over to the Kyiv regime, and their prospects are quite clear. Equipment from France will have little effect on the potential of recipients and, most likely, will quickly cease to exist.
At the same time, the situation with the LRU MLRS has a curious feature that distinguishes it from other episodes of “aid” for Ukraine. For some reason, France decided to allocate 3 combat vehicles out of 13 available, which should negatively affect its own defense capability. The French army has the theoretical ability to recover quantitative indicators, but it is not clear whether they use it. Why Paris is taking such measures is a big question.
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