Evolution of the MLRS: after the collapse of the USSR and before the start of the SVO
In the material The evolution of the MLRS: from the “Dark Ages” to the collapse of the USSR we looked at how multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) were born in general, as well as their evolution in the 20th century until the collapse of the USSR.
USSR heritage
After the collapse of the USSR, work on MLRS in Russia largely stopped due to lack of funding. As for the countries of the East and West, several well-established trends can be identified.
In the East – we are talking about China and North Korea, they have taken the path of modernizing Soviet developments and increasing the caliber of MLRS. For example, on the basis of the Soviet Smerch MLRS, China created its own MLRS PHL-03, also of 300 mm caliber. At the same time, the maximum firing range of the Chinese PHL-03 MLRS with the latest rockets reaches 160 kilometers, and the ammunition load of the PHL-03 MLRS also includes high-precision projectiles.
MLRS PHL-03
In general, from the moment that guided missiles for MLRS came into service, the difference between MLRS and operational-tactical missile systems (OTRK) began to gradually disappear, although it is possible that this happened even at the moment when operational-tactical missiles (OTR ) ATACMS learned to fire American M270 MLRS MLRS.
Operational-tactical missile and replacement package for the M270 MLRS MLRS
In North Korea, based on the technologies of the Soviet Smerch MLRS, the KN-09 MLRS of 300 mm caliber was created with adjustable rockets with a firing range of up to 200 kilometers. There are several modifications of the KN-09 MLRS - with eight and twelve guides. Presumably, the placement of the KN-09 MLRS guides ensures batch reloading of four or six rockets at a time.
Modifications of the KN-09 MLRS with eight and twelve guides
The design of the Smerch MLRS was also developed in Ukraine, where the Vilkha MLRS was created, also with high-precision rockets. With Typhoon-3 missiles, the range of the Ukrainian MLRS reaches 200 kilometers.
An interesting feature is the use of a transverse gas-dynamic control belt in the Alder MLRS rockets, which provides the missile with exceptional maneuverability, so high that there was a project to create an anti-aircraft guided missile (SAM) with an active radar homing head (ARLGSN) from an American air-to-air missile AIM-120.
MLRS "Olkha" and its rocket with a transverse belt of gas-dynamic control
Projects for the creation of missile defense systems based on MLRS rockets clearly show the prospects for the development of relatively highly specialized MLRS into multifunctional complexes.
In 2015, in Belarus, based on the technologies of the Smerch MLRS, with the support of Chinese specialists, the Polonaise MLRS of 301 mm caliber with eight launch guides was created. In 2017, a rocket was launched to a range of about 300 kilometers. Projectile guidance is carried out using an inertial navigation system (INS), with correction based on satellite navigation data.
MLRS "Polonez"
Further, bigger, more powerful
China did not stop at modernizing the Smerch MLRS - completely new Chinese MLRS WS-2 (2004) and WS-2D (2008) were created with calibers of 400 mm and 425 mm, respectively, with a maximum firing range of up to 400 kilometers. According to some reports, at the final stage the flight path of the jet units can be adjusted from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The circular probable deviation (CPD) of the WS-2 and WS-2D MLRS reaches 600 meters and is provided by the INS, so, most likely, we are talking about the usual adjustment of fire according to data from a UAV.
MLRS WS-2
In 2010, China developed the WS-3/WS-3D MLRS of 400 mm caliber with significantly increased firing accuracy. In addition to the INS, the missiles are also corrected according to satellite navigation data - only with the INS, the CEP is 300 meters, and when satellite navigation is used, the CEP is up to 50 meters (in general, for satellite navigation, the stated CEP is a bit too large; rather, we are talking about 5–15 meters).
MLRS WS-3
In 2019, North Korea created the KN-25 MLRS of 600 mm caliber with a firing range of up to 400 kilometers. Due to the long firing range and the small number of guide barrels, firing from the KN-25 will only be effective with high-precision projectiles, that is, the KN-25 is more of an OTRK than an MLRS. There are MLRS KN-25 with four and six guides.
Firing from MLRS KN-25 with four and six guides
Mobility and precision
In the West, they did not pursue a significant increase in caliber - first of all, attention was paid to maneuverability and tactical flexibility in the use of MLRS. No matter how far the MLRS fire, in modern conditions they can always catch a “response” from the enemy’s counter-battery weapons, so the M270 MLRS MLRS moved from a tracked to a wheeled chassis, simultaneously losing one package with guides, thus turning into the M142 HIMARS MLRS.
MLRS M142 HIMARS
In addition, new ammunition was created for the M270 MLRS MLRS and the M142 HIMARS MLRS, now these vehicles are actually used only with high-precision GMLRS rockets of 227 mm caliber and ATACMS operational-tactical missiles of 610 mm caliber (almost like North Korean rockets for the KN MLRS -25), the firing range and accuracy of which gradually increase from modification to modification.
The latest versions of GMLRS – ER GMLRS should have a range of up to 150 kilometers. The caliber of the ER GMLRS has increased to 254 mm, but they are still placed in the amount of 6 units in the standard transport and launch container (TPK) M270 MLRS MLRS (2 TPK) and M142 HIMARS MLRS (1 TPK).
The maximum range of the OTR ATACMS is about 300 kilometers; they should be replaced by the OTR PrSM (Precision Strike Missile) with a firing range of over 500 kilometers.
Launch of the OTR PrSM prototype from the M142 HIMARS MLRS
One TPK must accommodate two OTP PrSM, that is, the M142 HIMARS MLRS will be able to transport and use two OTP PrSM at once, and the M270 MLRS MLRS will be able to transport and use four OTP PrSM at once.
Placement of OTP PrSM in TPK
Separately, it is necessary to highlight the GLSDB (Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb) missiles, created on the basis of the SDB GBU-39 high-precision small-diameter bombs with a jet accelerator. The GLSDB range reaches 150 kilometers.
GLSDB
Domestic development
In Russia, in the post-perestroika period, the modernization of the MLRS of the Grad and Smerch families continued, evolving into the Tornado-G MLRS and Tornado-S MLRS, outwardly almost indistinguishable from their predecessors. The firing range of the 122-mm MLRS "Tornado-G" reaches 40 kilometers, the combat vehicle is equipped with an automated fire control system, which allows firing without topographic and geodetic preparation and guiding a package of guides without the crew leaving the cabin.
MLRS "Tornado-G"
The range of the 300-mm MLRS "Tornado-S" increased to 120 kilometers, its ammunition included high-precision rockets, and an automated fire control system appeared, like the MLRS "Tornado-G", as a result of which the MLRS "Tornado-G" C" is sometimes called the universal tactical missile system (UTRS).
MLRS "Tornado-S"
There was also a very interesting version of the Tornado-S MLRS - 9A52-4 Kama with six 300 mm caliber launch guides on a KamAZ chassis, somewhat similar to the M142 HIMARS MLRS, but this vehicle did not go into production.
MLRS 9A52-4 "Kama"
An even more interesting development could be the Uragan-1M bi-caliber MLRS with batch reloading, capable of carrying and using either 30 220 mm caliber rockets or 12 300 mm caliber rockets.
Work on this machine began in the mid-90s of the 2012th century, but was then suspended. Then the work was continued, and in 2017, state tests were even started. It was planned that in XNUMX the ground forces would be armed with it. troop Russia was supposed to receive two regimental sets of the Uragan-1M MLRS, but the fate of this vehicle is unknown; it seems that the troops have 6 Uragan-1M MLRS units.
MLRS "Hurricane-1M"
In parallel, Russia was developing MLRS for engineering troops, namely engineering system for remote mining (ISDM) "Agriculture". This machine includes two packages of 25 barrels of 140 mm caliber (according to some sources, 122 mm), that is, a total of 50 barrels. Ammunition packages can be changed entirely. The equipment of the package may vary at the discretion of engineering troops with anti-tank mines, anti-personnel mines and their combinations. The deployment range of minefields at the ISDM “Agriculture” reaches 15 kilometers.
Work of ISDM “Agriculture”
In addition to the TOS-1A Solntsepek heavy flamethrower system, the TOS-2 Tosochka was developed on a wheeled chassis and with an increased firing range of thermobaric mixture projectiles.
TOS-2 "Tosochka"
There is also the TOS-3 “Dragon” project, the characteristics of which are still classified, presumably it will be a combat module from the TOS-2 “Tosochka” on a tracked chassis, it is possible that on the “Armata” platform.
During the visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, a new bicaliber MLRS under the supposed name “Vozrozhdenie” was demonstrated, created on the basis of the ISDM “Agriculture”, which will be able to use both 122 mm and 220 mm caliber shells. That is, it will be able to use both ammunition from the Tornado-G MLRS of 122 mm caliber, and ammunition from the Uragan MLRS and TOS-2 Tosochka of 220 mm caliber.
Alleged image of the MLRS "Vozrozhdenie"
The question now is whether there will now be another MLRS similar to the Uragan-1M MLRS, but capable of using bags of 300 mm caliber ammunition and some high-power ammunition of a larger caliber, about 600 mm?
Conclusions
And so the Russian special military operation (SVO) began in Ukraine. Many misconceptions that existed before the SVO regarding the prospects of this or that type of weapon were dispelled. Artillery, including MLRS, turned out to be one of the most effective types of weapons that showed themselves on the battlefield. As during the Second World War, victory was often determined by the number of combat vehicles and shells available to troops to inflict fire on the enemy.
A new trend has clearly emerged - MLRS are especially good when they use not unguided projectiles over areas, but guided ones at previously identified targets. Now the beneficiary of the glory has become the American M142 HIMARS MLRS, which has pretty much drunk blood from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (RF Armed Forces). The Ukrainian Vilkha MLRS could have caused no less trouble, but the number of shells for it in Ukraine, apparently, is extremely limited.
However, Russia has its own answer - the Tornado-S MLRS, which has comparable characteristics, and new developments are on the way. We cannot rule out supplies of Chinese or North Korean MLRS to Russia; it would be interesting to see them in action.
In any case, the MLRS has a great future; in the future we will consider the prospects for the development of this type of weapon in the near and medium term.
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