Development plans: Hurricanes will be replaced by Tornado-S
MLRS "Uragan" in the Special Operation zone
Rocket artillery, equipped with systems of several types and modifications, is most actively participating in the current Special Operation for the demilitarization of Ukraine. Artillery units and subunits are accumulating new experience, which is now used when drawing up plans for the future. In particular, a decision was made to gradually abandon one of the existing samples in favor of a modern system with higher characteristics.
Modern replacement
On November 17, the official newspaper of the Ministry of Defense, Krasnaya Zvezda, published a long interview with the head of the missile forces and artillery of the ground forces, Lieutenant General Dmitry Klimenko. On the eve of the professional holiday of his branch of the army, the general spoke about recent successes and plans for the future.
In particular, the interview touched on the topic of new precision-guided ammunition for all types of artillery, including rocket artillery. General Klimenko recalled that multiple launch rocket systems are receiving new guided munitions. Thanks to this, they “transition into a qualitatively new state” and become highly accurate weapons with increased fire efficiency.
As an example, the head of the RMiA cited the modern Tornado-S MLRS, which uses unguided and guided projectiles. At the same time, according to him, such a system replaces the old Smerch and Hurricane products. Now it is effectively used in the Special Operation zone.
Lieutenant General D. Klimenko did not disclose the topic of replacing the Uragan system, but details of such plans soon became known. They were revealed on November 23 by Izvestia. Allegedly, this data was obtained from sources in the defense department.
It is reported that the Uragan MLRS still retain their place in the missile defense forces and successfully carry out combat missions within the framework of the Special Operation. In addition, work continues to modernize this equipment along the lines of the well-known Uragan-1M project. However, the process of updating such systems faces objective difficulties that limit the achievable result.
In this regard, a decision was made to replace the existing Hurricanes with longer-range and efficient Tornado-S systems. In addition, a general plan for such re-equipment has been drawn up. How soon the corresponding processes will begin, and when the rocket artillery will switch to new equipment, has not yet been specified.
Launching 220 mm shells
The process of retrofitting parts and connections is divided into two stages. During the first, Tornado-S will replace the existing Hurricanes in rocket and artillery brigades from military districts and combined arms armies. Secondly, artillery regiments will receive new equipment. tank and motorized rifle divisions.
Current samples
The 9K57 Uragan MLRS was created in the early seventies in accordance with the requirements of that time. In 1975, it was adopted by the Soviet army, and since then it has been one of the main weapons of domestic rocket artillery. As the service continued, the Hurricanes underwent one or another minor modification. In addition, in the recent past, a deep modernization project for Uragan-1M was developed with the replacement of main components.
The 9K57 system is built on the basis of a self-propelled launcher on a ZIL-135LM wheeled chassis. A package of 16 tubular guides of 220 mm caliber is mounted in the rear part of the chassis. The design of the launcher allows firing within a wide sector in azimuth with elevation angles of up to 55°. Aiming is carried out manually using a panoramic sight.
A wide range of 220-mm unguided rockets with different payloads and different characteristics was developed for the Hurricane. The main ammunition is considered to be the high-explosive fragmentation 9M27F, which has a mass of 280 kg and carries a 100 kg warhead. Firing range – up to 35 km. There is also a family of 9M27K cluster products, incendiary, thermobaric and other missiles with similar parameters.
MLRS "Tornado-S"
In the 9K512 Uragan-1M project, the system was almost completely rebuilt. It was transferred to the MZKT-7930 chassis and equipped with a new launcher based on replaceable transport and launch containers with guides for missiles. At the same time, the system became bicaliber. The ammunition included two containers with 30 220 mm caliber shells or 16 300 mm caliber missiles, borrowed from the Smerch MLRS.
The 9K58 Smerch MLRS entered service in the second half of the eighties. It was a wheeled chassis system equipped with a 12-rail 300mm rail package. The standard 9M55 family of ammunition ensured the destruction of area targets at ranges of up to 70 km; the use of different combat units was envisaged.
In the tens, the new 9K515 Tornado-S system entered service - in fact, a deep modernization of the Smerch. It received modern navigation and communications equipment, an improved fire control system, etc., which had a positive impact on its main technical and combat characteristics. New lines of ammunition are also being developed. Modern 300-mm projectiles have a range of about 100-120 km and are characterized by increased accuracy.
Weapon system
Currently, the missile forces and artillery of our army are armed with MLRS of several main types. They all have common fire missions, but differ in terms of tactical and technical characteristics, capabilities and place in the overall weapons system. The combined use of this technique allows you to obtain maximum practical results.
The tasks of hitting targets within a radius of up to 20 km are assigned to 122-mm Grad systems or modernized Tornado-G systems. At the same time, new ammunition with a range of up to 40 km has been developed for the latter. Uragan is capable of sending missiles to a range of up to 35 km, and they carry a heavier and more powerful combat load. In the range from 35-40 to 100-120 km, rocket artillery is represented by the modern Tornado-S system.
It is not difficult to notice the position of the Uragan MLRS in such a weapon system. It occupies a place between “Tornado-G” / “Grad” and “Tornado-S” / “Smerch” and, due to its features, has advantages over both. Thus, Uragan shells fly further than Grad ammunition and carry a larger load, and are also much cheaper than the larger 300-mm Smerch / Tornado-S missiles.
However, the latest generation of projectiles for the Tornado-G casts doubt on the need for further use of the Uragan. These 122mm rockets fly further than 220mm products, and also have increased accuracy, which can compensate for the difference in power. In turn, at ranges of more than 30-40 km, only the Tornado-S can be used, which is also superior to other domestic MLRS in terms of combat load.
Judging by the last news, RMiA no longer sees the point in simultaneous operation of three different MLRS with different characteristics. With the help of the latest developments, it is proposed to divide the Hurricane niche between two samples of the Tornado family.
It is important that the main role in this process will be entrusted to the 300 mm Tornado-S system. This means that heavy rockets will be used over a wider range of ranges with clear results. Due to the heavier warhead and control systems, greater damage will be inflicted on the enemy.
In the process of updating
Thus, the Russian army continues to develop its rocket artillery and makes this process almost continuous. Not long ago, new versions of existing MLRS were developed, and now improved ammunition for them is being created. In addition, now, based on the experience of real combat operations, it is proposed to change the principles of manning missile defense units.
Modern experience has shown that the Uragan MLRS remains a convenient and effective tool for solving its problems. At the same time, the development of other multiple launch rocket systems actually makes it unnecessary. In this regard, in the future they will get rid of the Hurricanes, replacing them with other equipment. It is argued that such a decision has already been made, and now it is only a matter of time.
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