Modernization or replacement: news about the future of the Uragan MLRS
MLRS "Uragan" involved in the Special Operation
The most active participation in the current Special Operation is taken by the rocket artillery of the Russian army, incl. calculations of 9K57 Uragan multiple launch rocket systems. Using 220-mm shells with different combat equipment, they hit certain targets at great distances and help achieve the overall goals of the operation. As it became known, the army will now have to master the updated versions of the Hurricane and use their characteristic advantages.
Replacement issue
On November 17, the Ministry of Defense newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda published an interview with the chief of the missile forces and artillery of the ground forces, Lieutenant General Dmitry Klimenko. During the conversation, the general revealed several important issues, incl. concerning the further development of his branch of troops. In particular, he said that the modernized Tornado-S systems with improved characteristics are gradually replacing the existing Smerch and Hurricane systems.
A few days later, the publication Izvestia, citing sources in the Ministry of Defense, revealed possible details of such processes. It was stated that the Uragans still retain their place in the troops, and that this equipment is also being modernized, but MLRS upgrade projects are facing objective difficulties. In the current situation, a decision was made to gradually remove 9K57 products from military and military forces and replace them with longer-range and more effective Tornado-S.
As reported, the plan for such rearmament is divided into two stages. The first provides for the replacement of Hurricanes in artillery and rocket brigades in districts and combined arms armies. Then the artillery regiments of motorized rifle and tank divisions. The timing of such a replacement was not specified.
"Hurricane" attacks the enemy
Deliveries continue
Thus, in November it became known that the Ministry of Defense plans to update the missile defense weapons fleet and abandon one of the main types of rocket artillery. However, just a month later, different information appeared. Now it has become known that the army is not yet going to abandon the Hurricanes and is even receiving new combat vehicles.
On December 20, the Oboronka telegram channel published a couple of interesting photos of a train with equipment taken by an unknown photographer in an unnamed location. The shot showed combat vehicles on a wheeled chassis of the BAZ brand with special add-ons hidden under covers. However, the characteristic package of 220 mm guides was clearly visible under the tarpaulin. This means that the train was carrying a whole batch of Uragan systems on a new chassis, known under the designation 9K57-1.
Literally a few hours later another interesting news on the development of R&A. Telegram channel “Russian weapon“without indicating specific sources, announced the start of deliveries to the army of the new 9K512 Uragan-1M bicaliber multiple launch rocket system. It is alleged that combat vehicles of this type in the future will have to replace the existing 9K57, capable of using only one line of ammunition.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the latest reports. So far, the latest official information about the prospects of the Hurricane remains the statements of Lieutenant General D. Klimenko from mid-November. However, the defense department can talk at any time about the receipt of new equipment, its use in the Special Operation zone and the results achieved.
Transportation, presumably, of "Hurricanes" on the "Voshchina" chassis
Ways of modernization
The 9K57 Uragan multiple launch rocket system was developed in the first half of the seventies at the Tula State Research Institute of Precision Engineering (now NPO Splav) under the leadership of A.N. Ganicheva. In 1975, the system was adopted by the Soviet army, and it still remains in use.
Over the past decades, the Hurricane has become obsolete morally and physically. Thus, the old four-axle chassis ZIL-135LM raises technical and operational complaints. The standard fire control system does not have a number of functions that are now necessary, and the family of 220 mm ammunition does not fully meet modern requirements. However, quite a long time ago attempts began to modernize the existing 9K57 MLRS, aimed at improving all the main tactical, technical and operational characteristics.
For all its strengths, the ZIL-135LM chassis produced in Moscow and Bryansk is not distinguished by its perfection and ease of operation. In this regard, work began quite a long time ago to transfer the missile unit to a new base. Thus, within the framework of the 9K512 Uragan-1M project, the possibility of using the BAZ-6910 Voshchina chassis was considered from the mid-nineties. However, this version of the project was not implemented, and a new type of MLRS was implemented on the MZKT-7930 “Astrologer” platform with similar characteristics.
In 2020, for the first time, they showed another option for transferring the Hurricane to a new chassis with the index 9K57-1. In this case, they implemented an idea from the nineties and installed a standard launcher on a BAZ-69092 vehicle. Recently, vehicles of this appearance were seen on military echelon platforms.
Deeply modernized MLRS "Uragan-1M" with TPK for 300-mm shells
It should be noted that the Uragan-1M project affected not only the MLRS base. It also introduced a new fire control system with modern means of navigation and calculation of firing data. The standard launcher in the form of a package of guides was replaced with a device for mounting two standardized transport and launch containers. The 9K512 MLRS retained compatibility with the entire line of 220-mm projectiles, and also gained the ability to use 300-mm missiles from the Smerch system.
Compatibility with the 300mm family of rockets is of particular interest. New ammunition is being created in this caliber with improved range and accuracy characteristics, as well as with different payload options. The possibility of their use should dramatically increase the combat capabilities of the Uragan-1M. Thus, the maximum firing range will increase to 120 km and accuracy will increase, and combat capabilities will change due to new warheads.
Directions of development
Judging by the latest news, the Russian army is updating its existing fleet of Uragan MLRS. This problem seems to be solved in two ways. The first involves the supply of equipment on a new chassis. These are probably modernized vehicles from combat units, and there are no plans to build new ones. The second method is to purchase new 9K512 products of new construction, which have a number of important advantages.
The positive consequences of such projects are generally clear. Vehicles of the 9K57-1 type will allow the army to maintain the desired fleet size, despite the exhaustion of the old chassis and other factors. In turn, the purchase of 9K512 products will also help maintain the fleet, and in addition, improve its operational and combat capabilities.
"Tornado-S" launches missiles
However, the need for Uragan-1M now raises questions. The fact is that in order to demonstrate maximum results, this MLRS must use ammunition from Smerch / Tornado-S. In this case, the two 300 mm systems actually duplicate each other, and the need for their simultaneous operation is questionable. In fact, in such a situation, military and military forces can easily get by with just one Tornado-S, which has all the necessary capabilities and functions.
Apparently, the Ministry of Defense understands this feature of modern projects very well and takes it into account in its plans for the future. Thus, the idea of a gradual abandonment of Hurricanes, incl. from their modernized version, could have appeared precisely because of the reluctance to have two samples with similar potential. The Tornado-S systems are being considered as a long-range fire weapon, and the Uragan is going to be gradually phased out.
However, 9K57 products and their modifications will not be immediately removed from units, and they still have to serve and participate in various events, incl. in the current Special Operation. For this purpose, obviously, the launchers are being repaired and transferred to a modern production chassis, but without more complex modifications.
Present and future
The Russian army is armed with three main lines of MLRS for projectiles of different calibers, having different characteristics and capabilities. The Grad and Smerch products were recently modernized according to the Tornado project and now demonstrate the full potential of the equipment and new missiles installed on them. In turn, the future of Hurricane, which occupies an intermediate position between Grad and Smerch, was in doubt until recently.
Now the situation is becoming clearer. The RMiA plan to maintain the 9K57 Uragan system in service, and also, if necessary, update such equipment. However, a full-fledged deep modernization, apparently, is not envisaged. As previously reported, in the future it is possible to reduce the range of MLRS to two main models without loss in combat capabilities. Until then, however, the Hurricanes still have to serve and show their potential. This means that the batch of modernized combat vehicles recently spotted on the railway is unlikely to be the last.
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