For many decades, the Grad installation adopted for service in 1963 had no equal in its combat qualities, simplicity, and reliability — the main traditional indicators of Russian weapons. Despite the further development of the concept of multi-barreled rocket artillery, expressed in the appearance of “Hurricane” and “Tornado”, it remained the most widespread in the Soviet Army and in the vast expanses of the former USSR, and far beyond its borders. However, time is inexorable, as is progress in the field of military equipment. The usual BM-21 will soon be replaced by the Tornado multiple launch rocket system. The characteristics of the new model are superior to the “Grad” ones, but the amount that the rearmament will cost is also impressive. How justified is such a measure to increase Russia's defense capability? This question requires a detailed answer.
MLRS as a type of weapon
Everyone knows about Katyushas, ​​the famous guards mortars, at least in our country. They showed their formidable temper in the summer of 1941 and throughout the war terrified the soldiers of the Wehrmacht and the armies of the allies of Nazi Germany. However, missile systems appeared much earlier. For example, during the siege of Odessa (1854), a squadron of Anglo-French expeditionary forces fired at the city not only with cannonballs, but also with rockets. These missiles did not cause much damage, but such a fact did occur, and by the way, even then this weapon was not a novelty, it is enough to recall the ancient Chinese history of wars. The thing is how coordinated the volley is. Only in the case of a heap of hit and covering the target does it become effective. Katyusha hit the squares, then Grad, Tornado and Hurricane. Currently, the most modern is the Tornado multiple launch rocket system, which has already begun to enter service. Each such MLRS costs the budget 32 ​​million rubles. And she's worth it.
Hold leadership
Russia is the birthplace of multiple launch rocket systems. They turned out to be such an effective type of armament that even the issue of recognizing them as a means of mass destruction is currently being discussed, and some countries are refusing to use them. Whether it comes to international treaties to limit the number of MLRS is unknown. Most likely, the probability of this event is unlikely. The fact is that, despite the great successes made by Soviet designers in this field, their current Russian colleagues do not have to rest on their laurels. Both in the West and in the East, unsuccessful attempts are being made to create types of weapons for working "across the squares." The new Tornado multiple launch rocket system should be a response to attempts to bypass Russia in a matter in which it is traditionally considered the leader.
Firing distance
MLRS as a type of weapons have a number of disadvantages, one of which (and perhaps the most important) is their visibility during firing. The noise of rocket engines and pillars of smoke unmask the battery. There are two ways out of this problem. You can make a “maneuver with wheels” and quickly leave your position in order to avoid a retaliatory strike or provide a firing range sufficient for invulnerability. It is in the second way that Western designers are trying to achieve impunity. The foreign top of multiple launch rocket systems in range is as follows:
1. WS-2D (PRC) - 200 km.
2. M270 MLRS (USA) - 140-300 km, with a standard projectile - 40 km.
3. Lynx (Israel) - up to 150 km.
4. Astros-II (Brazil) - up to 90 km.
5. LARS-2 (Germany) - 25 km.
6. Type 75 (Japan) - 15 km.
The Chinese MLRS at a record volley distance has the largest projectile caliber (425 mm).
How successful will the Tornado volley fire system be in the event of a direct fire duel with foreign opponents? Its characteristics are not much higher than those of the well-known “Grad”, at least at first glance. However, not everything is so simple, the distance of the shot depends on the type of projectile.
Tornado Range
Simple comparisons of numbers explain little. Firstly, at present, only one modification is in service with the Russian Army - the Tornado-G. The multiple launch rocket system of this type is designed to use 122 mm caliber missiles, but besides it there are other MLRS with the “U” (220 mm) and “C” (300 mm) indexes. All three samples have a high degree of versatility, allowing you to use both standard ammunition designed for Grad, Hurricanes and Tornadoes, as well as special ones with a two and a half times greater range. And this is something.
General scheme
The system of volley fire "Tornado" is a modular design mounted on a four-axle wheeled vehicle terrain vehicles BAZ-6950. Modification "C" is equipped with two blocks of six trunks, and "G" - fifteen-barrel, also two. Such is machine 2B17, but for its effective application in the division, something else is needed. Charging is carried out by special transporters (TZM), fire control is carried out by the Kapustnik-BM complex. The main system providing guaranteed target coverage is the ASUNO (automated control, guidance and fire) system, Success-R. Thanks to her, the Tornado multiple launch rocket system with a crew of two can only open fire in fifty seconds after finding a target or receiving information about it.
Accuracy
Traditionally, MLRS fire NURSami, that is, unguided rockets. This achieves the main advantage of the type of weapons - cheapness and mass destruction. But such a saving results in high dispersion, because in essence NURS is not much different from its ancient Chinese ancestors. There are peculiar standards according to which a 200-meter deviation is allowed at a 100-kilometer distance. The creators of the SZO Tornado-G took a slightly different approach. The multiple launch rocket system has ammunition with individual target designation in the ammunition, capable of changing the trajectory to a limited extent, ensuring that it reaches a point that requires special accuracy (for example, in a tank or defense stronghold). Correct UAV fire or satellite navigation aids.
Maneuver
Given the rapid unmasking of the MLRS after the first launch, it was necessary to provide for the possibility of instant evacuation of equipment and calculation. The Tornado multiple launch rocket system can start moving even when the shells fired by it have not reached their target and are in flight, since the guidance system provides accuracy that guarantees a low probability of needing to be re-launched.
All-terrain chassis allows you to move on the highway at a speed of 85 km / h. Over rough terrain, of course, it moves more slowly, but mobility is quite sufficient to exit the zone of reciprocal defeat. Only half a minute is required in order to prepare for the next volley "Tornado". The multiple launch rocket system, the performance characteristics of which are significantly superior to the Grad performance and parameters, also has a higher degree of invulnerability and stealth.
Prospects
The general public knows that at present, the 8th separate artillery regiment of the MLRS, deployed in the Crimea, consists of several units of the latest technology. The first unit to receive these systems was the 944th Guards Regiment stationed in Volgograd. In total, the Russian Army has several dozens (thirty six are reliably known) of the Tornado-G. The volley fire system enters military units in which the planned replacement of the Grad, Tornadoes and Hurricanes takes place with a high-tech novelty. Re-training of personnel is also gradually taking place, which will have to master modern fire guidance and control systems, work out coordination of actions and exchange of information flows in conditions close to combat ones. At the same time, work continues on improving the design of the MLRS. In particular, to increase accuracy in the near future, it is planned to use special reconnaissance shells that can hang in the air and adjust shooting parameters in automatic mode. Remote anti-tank and anti-personnel mining of the terrain using Tornado missiles is also possible. Experts consider the use of installations to launch guided missiles, including cruise missiles, a promising area of ​​work, which indicates a high degree of universality of the new MLRS.