‘Polonez’ Multiple Launch Rocket System
Tactical-technical specifications:
Mass: 24000 kg
Road speed: 70 km/hour
Length: 12.7 m
Width: 3 m
Crew: 4
Calibre: 300 mm
Produced: 2014 – present
Rockets: 8
Firing range: 280 km
Rocket calibre: 300 mm
Rocket weight: 480 kg
CEP: Max 30 m
The system is classified as a long-range multiple-launch rocket system, rather than a ballistic missile system. The Polonez is based on four-axis 8x8 MZKT-7930 ‘Astrolog’ heavy high mobility chassis (load capacity up to 25 t). It is based on 301 mm A-200 artillery rocket systems (the missile is placed on a circular and horizontal moving package) by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT, 1st Academy). The 7930 transporter by the Belarusian MZKT acts as the base for the MLRS.
The Polonez heavy artillery system carries two pods with four rockets each. Each 301 mm (calibre of Russian Smerch artillery rocket systems) M 20 rocket is 7264 m long and weighs 750 kg, with a 615 mm opening width of stabilizing flaps. The warhead may weigh up to 150 kg. There can be 3 different warheads.
The strike radio is in the 100-300 km range.
A company of 6 Polonez systems is capable of striking 48 targets or covering 100 square kilometers with fire simultaneously. The circular error probable does not exceed 30 metres, which is ideal for BMSs. It is said that each rocket can be targeted individually. This means that a single Polonez can destroy any 8 critical targets simultaneously within 50 seconds in the tactical depths of the enemy. The reload consists of replacing the pods, which are usually carried by an associated reloading vehicle.
The Polonez is equipped with new high-precision M20 rockets, which elevates the MLRS into a BMS category. This is due to the combined inertial and satellite control systems in the M20 rockets. Integrating this system has helped increase the firing range up to 280-300 km. The impact force of the 480 kg warhead is equivalent to 560 kg of trinitrotoluene (TNT).
The detachable warhead with a combined control system (an inertial guidance system corrected with satellite navigation signals) is equipped with three-type explosives. Like all missiles with quasi-ballistic trajectories, the accuracy of the inertial navigation system used in these missiles is also conditional. Therefore, the inertial system is boosted with an additional GPS (for Polonez and GLONASS for Iskander) navigation system.
BM-30 ‘Smerch’ Multiple Rocket Launcher
Tactical-technical specifications:
Firing range:
Minimum - 20 km
Maximum - 90 km
Calibre - 300 mm
Barrels - 12
Salvo time - 38 sec
Projectiles in loader - 12
Rocket weight (based on type) - 800-815 kg
Chassis of the combat vehicle:
9A52-2 - MAZ-543M
9A52-2T – TATRA
9A52-4 – KAMAZ
The Russian ‘Splav’ Scientific and Production Association JSC was in charge of designing and manufacturing the ‘Smerch’ systems. Many countries have armed their forces with over 10 multiple rocket launchers and over 50 types of rocket missiles developed by the association.
As ‘Splav’ made their first steps by manufacturing the ‘Katyusha’, they went on to develop the 122-mm ‘Grad’, 300-mm ‘Smerch’ multiple rocket launchers, as well as the ‘Udav-1M’ anti-torpedo protection jet complex, the RPK-8 anti-submarine system, TOS-1A flamethrower system, etc. ‘Splav’ SPA offers its customers 122 and 300-mm multiple rocket launchers and their various purpose missiles, thermobaric flamethrower missiles, unguided aviation missiles, ship flamethrower complexes, depth-reactive missiles, hydroacoustic barrier missiles, anti-sabotage and anti-torpedo protection complexes and missiles for them.
The ‘Smerch’ self-propelled multiple rocket launcher was designed to defeat personnel in open and closed areas, group targets, armoured and soft targets of motorized rifle and tank units, artillery installations, tactical missiles, anti-aircraft missile complexes, helicopters on parking pads, command posts, communication hubs and military-industrial facilities.
Designed in 1969-1976, successfully tested in 1982 and entered service in 1987, the ‘Smerch’ MRL underwent fundamental innovations that boosted its tactical capabilities. This enabled preventing fire scattering, i.e. target error in a wider radius, and increasing accuracy by 2-3 times.
‘Smerch’ 300-mm calibre missiles can salvo fire at targets at a range of 70-90 km with high precision, fully activate the combat set in 38 seconds and displace in less than a minute.
What makes the ‘Smerch’ superior is being able to accurately fire from depths of defence, being located far behind the front line, cover 67 hectares of territory with one salvo, and promptly leave the firing position.
‘Smerch’ includes the following machines and complexes in set to prepare the system to launch fire and control it:
- “Slepok-1” (9S729M1) automated rocket launch command system;
- MP32M1 unified command and staff machine;
- 1T12-2M site survey vehicle;
- RPMK-1 (1B44) weather radar.
T-122 ‘Sakarya’
The T-122 Sakarya is a 122-mm multiple launch rocket system developed by Turkey’s ‘Roketsan’. These highly destructive missiles are used against point and area targets.
Tactical-technical specifications:
Length: 9.2 metres
Width: 2.50 metres
Height: 3.1 metres
Barrels: 2x20
Barrel length: 3 m
Barrel diameter: 122 mm
Mass without load: 19,5 tonnes
Mass with 40 missiles: 22.5 tonnes
Reloading: 5 minutes
Blanketing area: 500x500 m
Firing range: up to 40 km
Carrier: 6x6 MAN Dfaex utility truck
NATO stock number: 1055 27 004 6756
Crew: Normally 5, 3 in emergencies
The MLRS has a launcher that carries 2 by 20 rockets. A full forty rocket launch takes less than 80 seconds and blankets a target area of 500 square metres.
The system is fitted to use factory-sealed 20 disposable rocket pods that are specifically designed to be maintenance free, resistant to handling and environmental conditions.
The flight trajectory of the 122-mm rockets is calculated by a special simulation software. The vehicle can fire rockets singly or in salvo with a 2-second interval. The state-of-the-art fire control system is capable of storing up to 20 target coordinates.
It can perform the task alone or as a part of a battery of six rocket launchers.
T-300 ‘Tiger’ (‘Kasirga’)
The T-300 Kasirga is a multiple launch rocket system, manufactured by ‘Roketsan’ company of the Turkish Defence Industry which is capable of destroying enemy targets at a distance of 100 km. Based on 8x8 cross country truck, the combat weight of the Kasirga MLRS complete with four rockets (two in each pod) is 23 tonnes. The MLRS is 9.20 m long, 2.50 m wide and 3.10 m high.
The missiles are launched from a container on a solid steel platform, which provides high protection, regardless of weather conditions and landscape. The rockets use a composite solid propellant system, providing easier and faster reloading and firing capabilities.
The ‘Kasirga’ system is equipped with an F-302T launcher vehicle with 4 TR-300 missiles. The rocket has GPS and INS guidance systems and reaches a maximum flight accuracy of 30 meters. The calibre of ‘E’ and ‘S’ variations of the TR-300 missiles is 300-302 mm, with a length of 4.75-5.24 m, and weight varying between 525-590 kg.
The 150-kg warheads consisting of 26,000 steel balls are capable of destroying enemy fortifications, communication nodes, armoured and unarmoured vehicles, military facilities, manpower, etc.
Highly resistant to any weather and environmental conditions, the ammunition on T-300 ‘Kasirga’ system is loaded by a special craned vehicle, which minimizes the physical load on the crew.
4 stabilizers are installed at an angle towards the longitudinal axis to ensure rotation of the rocket.
The launcher is prepped to fire in less than 20 minutes.
The standard MLRS is based on the MAN cross-country truck chassis, which can also mount a machine gun or a 40-mm automatic grenade launcher on the cockpit.
The T-300 can salvo 4 300-mm rockets.
The F-302T launcher of the T-300 system can use several types of ammunition and can be loaded with compatible missiles, appropriate for the tasks to be performed.
The T-300 MRLS can deliver accurate and timely strikes on critical targets within the wide range from close combat to far depths of enemy defence line.
Besides the launching system, the batteries are also equipped with a command control station, ammunition, aerodynamic control system and maintenance equipment. The ammunition control system at the command control post sports infrastructure and interface that allow integration of the T-300 battery with other modern artillery systems and battle control points.
The T-300 system can operate in junction with special target detection radar stations and various types of UAVs.
T-107
Manufactured by ‘Roketsan’, the 107-mm-multi barrel rocket launches are currently employed in the arsenal of many countries, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the United Arab Emirates. The T-107 systems are easily disassembled and transported. They are mainly intended for mountainous terrains and for special purpose units. The systems can also be mounted on small and manoeuvrable vehicles (T-107M).
When ordered, the T-107 can be shortly moved to the designated area, fire at enemy positions and swiftly change positions afterwards.
The small sizes of the T-107 makes it manoeuvrable. The system can be transported on vehicles, tow trucks, as well as helicopter hangers, which allows them to be parachuted.
Manufactured by ‘ROKETSAN’, the 107-mm-rocket launchers are controlled through a mini hand-held computer. The 12-barrel T-107 weighs 385 kilograms while empty. The T-107 can salvo at intervals of 0.5 to 0.9 seconds.
The systems fire the TR-107 rockets, which are also manufactured by ‘Roketsan’. The TR-107 missiles have a 11 km range, which is 3-4 km more than the range of missiles manufactured by Russia and Ukraine, widespread in the CIS.
The TR-107 missiles are considered some of the most advances and globally approved msisiles in their class for their firing range, accuracy and destructive power. They run on low smoke composite fuel. Equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, the missile can be effectively employed against small targets at long distances. It weighs 19.5 kg, the warhead being 8.4 kg, and the destructive radius of the warhead s 14 metres.
LAR-160: ‘DOLU-1’, ‘LEYSAN’, ‘ŞİMŞƏK’
Israel Military Industries is a recognized supplier of high-tech defence industries worldwide. The IMI-manufactured Lynx multiple launch rocket systems are especially crucial in the arsenal of our Army. Each one of these systems is operated under local designation in the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. It is a multi-purpose rocket launcher with an autonomous and universal module for launching various artillery and tactical missiles.
The rocket ammunition of the MLRS uses jet engines that give off almost no thrust, which allows them to have fairly simply and compact launchers.
They can be mounted on self-propelled (wheeled and tracked) and towed chassis, aircraft, helicopters, and vessels.
Lynx MLRS base configuration includes:
- modern guidance system (ANN-based)
- Advanced FCS
- INS
- Meteorological system
- Initial observation
- Air reconnaissance
- C4I (for network operations)
Lynx is a very cost-effective multiple launch rocket system. It can be configured to carry a variety of rockets from 122 to 300 mm, including 5 types of rockets such as Grad, LAR, ACCULAR, MLRS-TCS, Extra and even some cruise missiles. The quantity of pod containers varies based on the type of the rockets. The composition of the carried warhead may also vary based on the designation. They may be equipped with fragmentation, incendiary, flare, smoke, high-explosive and anti-armour warheads.
The Lynx chassis can also be employed to launch the Delilah-GL high-precision cruise missiles, LORA missiles with a maximum firing range of 280 m and other ballistic missiles.
The ammunition of the MLRS is loaded at the factory in a single-use hermetically sealed pod containers, which are then used as transport containers and launchers. Firing can be carried out by the operator both from the cabin or remotely. The mobile Lynx launchers are serviced by a loading vehicle equipped with a crane. The containers are loaded at a sufficient distance from the firing position to avoid counter-battery fire.
The high mobility vehicle rapidly changes position which also minimizes the risk of counter-battery fire. The MLRA can be set into the firing position merely minutes after travel position.
The Lynx boasts a precise navigation system, sophisticated fire control system and fully independent ballistic calculation. The on-board communications and computing equipment enable the Lynx to operate autonomously, or as an element in a net-centric scheme.
Azerbaijan has acquired 3 versions of these systems – ‘Dolu-1’ (Hail), ‘Leysan’ (Downpour) and ‘Şimşək’ (Lightning). Unofficial sources say that specific changes have been made in the missile structure at the request of the Azerbaijani side.
‘Dolu-1’ (Hail)
Azerbaijan has adopted for armament a MLRS under the brand name ‘Dolu-1’, which can fire 122-mm Grad rockets at a distance of 20 to 40 km with a pod container of 40 (2x20) units on the ‘Lynx’ universal chassis.
The most basic missiles used in Dolu-1 MLRS are the 122 mm unguided 2.87 m-long ammunitions with a mass of 66 kg. The warhead weighs 20 kg. The rocket system has the capacity of hitting targets at a distance of 20-40 km with 20 shells in each of 2 20-barrel packages (40 in total). The missiles are packaged into two containers, ensuring facility of employment during operation. Dolu-1 is reloaded and repositioned for fire in less than 10 minutes.
The Dolu-1 system can also fire using 122-mm T-122 Sakarya pod containers, which Azerbaijan has acquired from Türkiye.
‘Leysan’ (Downpour)
Azerbaijan employs IMI’s MLRS with 160 mm LAR unguided rockets that deliver 45 kg warhead to a distance of 45 km under the name ‘Leysan’. Each ‘Leysan’ launch container package includes 13 (26 total) LAR rockets. The high-precision self-guided missiles sports an inertial guidance system, built-in GPS, a GTCS trajectory control unit and a steering control unit. The missile may be equipped with various warheads and launched from similar launchers.
The standard 160 mm rocket is 3.314 m long and weighs 110 kg. The solid propellant rocket engine weighs 36 kg. With a diameter of 350 mm, the deployable tail fins enable flight stabilization after the missile leaves the launch container.
Spoiler rings can be added to the front of the missile to ensure long and medium range firing. The initial rotation speed at startup is 12 per second, which increases to 20 per second later. The warhead of the missile with a length of 1,279 meters and a mass of 46 kg sports low aerodynamic resistance. It has an accuracy of 10 m CEP.
‘Şimşək’ (Lightning)
IMI has developed the ‘Extra’ (Extended Range Artillery) with a firing range between 20 and 150 km to reduce dependence of the Ground Forces on the Air Force while delivering precise long-distance strikes. The MLRS, equipped with the missile, has been accepted for employment in Azerbaijan under the name ‘Shimshak’.
The Shimshak MLRS missile with a diameter of 306 mm carries a 120 kg warhead. The rockets guided with canard control relies on ANN/GPS guidance system for targeting. The Shimshak MLRS is equipped with two container pods with 4 (8 total) rockets in each. The launch weight of the missile is 450 kg with an accuracy of 10m CEP (circular error probable).
The missile is very similar in size to the M26 rockets of the M270 MLRS employed by the US Army and their allies. The 4 m long EXTRA missiles have a larger diameter than the US M26 missiles (227 mm vs. 300 mm).
ACCULAR
IMI has developed the new 122 mm rocket version of the ACCULAR (Accurate LAR) to boost the accuracy of the MLRS. The increased firing range, accuracy and low cost of the new LAR rockets can offer serious competition for the guided 155 mm artillery shells.
The 4-metre long ACCULAR missile has a 35-kg warhead, firing range of 14 to 40 km, and a GPS-based targeting system. The official CEP is 10m, however IMI claims that the actual error probable is between 2 and 3 metres. The missile is used by the Israeli army and an undisclosed foreign buyer.
Each of the two container pods of the MLRS chassis with these ammunitions contains 11 rockets (22 in total). The computer in the hull controls the guidance and flight of the missile.
The reactive targeting kit allows adjusting the trajectory to destroy the target precisely. These missiles are believed to be a cost effective and efficient option for precise targeting through explosive and unitary warheads.
BM-21 ‘Grad’
It is a self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher produced in the Soviet Union. Developed based on ‘Katyusha’, the launcher is mounted on ‘Ural-375’ or ‘Ural-4320’ vehicles. ‘Grad-1’ (9K55) system is an improved version of the ‘Grad’ based on 9P138. The system is known as the ‘M1964’ in NATO countries.
It entered service with the Soviet Army in 1963. The rockets have a range of 30 kms. They can fire 40 rockets at a time. The diameter is 122 mm. It is equipped with a Vivary automatic fire control system.
Tactical-Technical Specifications
Manufacturer: USSR/Russia
Caliber: 122 mm
Barrels: 40
Charging: 7 minutes
Destruction radius: 145.000 m²
Firing time: 20 seconds
Firing range: 42 km
RM-70 ‘Vampire’
The Czech produced ‘Vampire’ is installed on the armoured eight-axle ‘Tatra’ T-818 (8x8) chassis, which boasts a high-speed capability and the ability to travel up to 1,000 kilometres at full fuel tank without stopping. It develops a speed of 85 km/h on flat terrains and of 35 km/h offroad.
Tactical-Technical Specifications:
Time to prep for combat mode: 2.5 minutes
Volley: 20 seconds
Displacement: 3 minutes
Impact radius: 3.5 hectares
Mass of one projectile: 66.35 kg
Maximum firing range: 20.38 km
Target reach: 2.5 minutes
While the USSR-manufactured legendary 122-mm BM-21 Grad only had 40 rockets, the RM-70 Vampires have 40 additional rockets. As the main launch container is emptied of all rockets, the special hydraulic system loads another set of 40 into the launch container, with the process taking only 1 minute.
Thus, the Vampire can deliver 80 missile strikes in a short period of time of about 3-4 minutes simultaneously and is flexible enough to evacuate the area to avoid retaliation. One set (40 rockets) covers 70 hectares of land.
