Engineering:9A52-4 Tornado
| 9A52-4 | |
|---|---|
 9A52-4 launcher vehicle (right) and 9T234-4 reloading vehicle (left), Perm, RussianExpoArms, 2009. | |
| Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2014–present |
| Wars | Syrian Civil War[citation needed] War in Donbass Russia-Ukraine War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Motovilikha Plants |
| Designed | 2000s |
| Manufacturer | NPO Splav[1] |
| Produced | 2011–present |
| No. built | More than 173 units in service |
| Variants | 9A53-G Tornado, 9A53-U Tornado, 9A53-S Tornado |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 24.65 t |
| Length | 11.2 m |
| Width | 2.5 m |
| Height | 3.15 m |
| Crew | 2 |
| Calibre | 122mm/220mm/300mm |
| Barrels | 15/8/6 |
| Maximum firing range | 90 km |
Main armament | 9M55 or 9M528 rockets |
| Engine | KamAZ-740.50.360 diesel 360 hp |
| Suspension | 8×8 wheeled |
Operational range | 1000 km |
| Speed | 90 km/h |
The 9A52-4 Tornado is Russia's newest 300-mm multiple rocket launcher. It was designed as a lightweight and universal version of the BM-30 Smerch, dubbed 9A52-2. It was first unveiled in 2007 as a more strategically and tactically mobile launcher, albeit at the expense of a slight reduction in firepower. This model is aimed at replacing the previous generation of Russian multiple rocket launchers, including BM-21 Grad, BM-27 Uragan and BM-30 Smerch. Currently the sole operator is Russian Ground Forces. A version will be approved for export.[2]
Design
The 9A52-4 Tornado system is based on the chassis of the KamAZ-63501 8x8 military truck, which provides good tactical mobility. It is equipped with a single container with six launcher tubes for 300-mm rockets, which can fire all current Smerch rockets, including HE-FRAG, incendiary, thermobaric, cluster with anti-personnel or anti-tank mines. Cluster rounds may also carry self-targeting anti-tank munitions. The 800 kg standard rocket has a maximum range of 90 km. A range and direction correction system provides better accuracy compared to its predecessors.
The 9A52-4 can launch rockets singularly, by a partial ripple or by a full salvo, which can cover an area of 32 hectares. A full salvo can be fired within 20 seconds. The 9A52-4 launching vehicle can be reloaded within 8 minutes. Launcher pods are designed for use with 122-mm and 220-mm rockets.
The weapons system is equipped with an automated laying and fire control system, along with an autonomous satellite navigation and positioning system. Positioning and firing data are exchanged between the launch vehicle and the command vehicle.
Deployment
Russian ground forces received about 30 Tornado-G systems in 2011, replacing the BM-21 Grad.[3] The improved Tornado-S was upgraded with the special GLONASS satellite navigation system used in the Smerch missile system. The Tornado-S has guided rocket rounds enabling it to fire out to 72 miles (120 km). The Tornado-S has a longer range and increased effectiveness, due to the use of new warhead payloads and a reduced launch readiness time of just three minutes. The Tornado-G entered series production in 2013.[4] The system entered service with the Russian armed forces in 2014.[5] The Tornado-S was approved for service in July–August 2016 and started its serial deliveries.[6][7] 20 Tornado-S vehicles ordered in summer 2019.[8] A new order was made in August 2020.[9][10]
Tornado-G received export permission in June 2018 and Tornado-S with 120-km range satellite-guided shells in August 2019.[2][11][12] The three upgraded 122 mm Grad HE-Frag and HE/HEAT rocket variants for the Tornado-G multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) codenamed 9M538, 9M539 and 9M541 have a significant increase in firepower, albeit at a lower range capability.[13] BM-21 Grad systems are being upgraded to the level of new-generation Tornado-G systems.[citation needed]
Russian forces used Tornado-S during the armed conflict in the Donbass[14][15] and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.[16][17]
Variants
The 9A52-4 Tornado system is a lightweight rocket launcher. There are two other systems; a modular MLRS based on the MZKT-79306 truck, which can carry two BM-27 Uragan or BM-30 Smerch launcher modules, and one based on the Kamaz 6x6 truck. The "Tornado-G" system is an upgrade package for the existing BM-21 Grad. The Russian government ordered 36 new "Tornado-G" based on the Kamaz 6x6 chassis, instead of the old systems based on the Ural-4320 truck.
9A52-4 should not be confused with other systems in the similarly denoted Tornado family:
- 9A53-G Tornado (2x15 1x40 122mm Upgraded BM-21 Grad Multiple Rocket Launcher Module, based on a Kamaz Truck or on a Ural-4320).
- 9A53-U Tornado (2x8 2x6 220mm Upgraded BM-27 Uragan Multiple Rocket Launcher Modules, based on a MZKT-79306).
- 9A53-S Tornado (2x6 2x4 300mm Upgraded BM-30 Smerch Multiple Rocket Launcher Modules, based on a MZKT-79306).
General characteristics
9A52-4 Tornado
- Chassis: KamAZ-63501
- Salvo Time: 6 rounds in 20 seconds
- Reload Time: 8 min
Rocket projectiles
| Variant | Rocket | Warhead | Self-destruct time | Range | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Type | Weight | Length | Weight | Submunition | Min. | Max. | |
| 9M55K | Cluster munition, anti-personnel | 800 kg | 7.6 m | 243 kg | 72 × 1.75 kg, each with 96 fragments (4.5 g each) | 110 s | 20 km | 90 km |
| 9M55K1 | Cluster munition, self-guided anti-tank | 243 kg | 5 × 15 kg | |||||
| 9M55K4 | Cluster munition, AT minelets. | 243 kg | 25 × 5 kg mines | 24 hour | ||||
| 9M55K5 | HEAT/HE-Fragmentation. | 243 kg | 646 × 0.25 kg (120 mm RHA armor-piercing) | 260 s | ||||
| 9M55F | separable HE-Fragmentation | 258 kg | ||||||
| 9M55S | Thermobaric | 243 kg | ||||||
| 9М542[18][19] | Satellite-guided (GLONASS),[20] HE-Fragmentation | 820 kg | 250 kg | 40 km | 120 km | |||
A new longer range (possibly 200 km) high precision missile 9M544 for the Tornado-S system with cumulative-fragmentation munitions was tested in 2020.[21][22]
Operators
Russia: More than 136 Tornado-G and an unknown number of Tornado-S units in service as of 2016.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29] 2 more Tornado-G divisions in 2017.[30] 15 more Tornado-G and 20 Tornado-S in 2018-19.[31][32][33] More Tornado-Gs in 2019, 2020 and 2021.[34][35][36][37]
See also
- Katyusha, BM-13, BM-8, and BM-31 multiple rocket launchers of World War II
- BM-14 140mm multiple rocket launcher
- BM-21 Grad 122mm multiple rocket launcher
- BM-27 Uragan 220mm multiple rocket launcher
- M270, U.S. multiple rocket launcher
- Pinaka multi barrel rocket launcher Indian 122 mm / 214 mm multiple rocket launcher
- T-122 Sakarya 122 mm rocket launcher
- Fajr-5 333 mm rocket launcher
- TOROS 230–260 mm rocket launcher
- Falaq-2 Unguided rocket launcher
- HIMARS U.S. downsized derivative version of M270
- TOS-1 Buratino Heavy Flame Thrower System (multiple rocket / thermobaric weapon launcher)
References
- ↑ "Николай Макаровец: санкции на предприятии не отразились". http://www.arms-expo.ru/news/production/nikolay_makarovets_sanktsii_na_predpriyatii_ne_otrazilis/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Archived copy". http://rostec.ru/en/news/rostec-launched-tornado-g-on-the-international-market/.
- ↑ "ЦАМТО / Новости / В 2011 году в Сухопутные войска в рамках гособоронзаказа поступило более 30 РСЗО «Торнадо-Г"". http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2011/1230/185511024/detail.shtml.
- ↑ "НПО "Сплав" начало серийное производство системы "Торнадо-Г"". РИА Новости. 24 December 2013. http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20131224/986083837.html#13878806043954&message=resize&relto=login&action=removeClass&value=registration.
- ↑ "Гендиректор НПО "Сплав": реактивный "Град" прослужит еще 10-15 лет". РИА Новости. 19 November 2014. http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20141119/1034071161.html.
- ↑ "Russian army to get Tornado-S multiple rocket launchers in 2017". http://tass.com/defense/902239.
- ↑ ""Мотовилихинские заводы» отправили заказчику первую партию машин из состава комплекса РСЗО "Торнадо-С" - Мотовилиха". http://mz.perm.ru/press-center/news/7286/.
- ↑ ""Мотовилихинские заводы" загрузят залпом". 24 September 2019. https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4102655.
- ↑ "ЦАМТО / Новости / Минобороны России и Ростех подписали на «Армии-2020» соглашения на сумму более 300 млрд. рублей". https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2020/0826/094559332/detail.shtml.
- ↑ "ЦАМТО / Новости / НПО "СПЛАВ" поставит в войска изделия на сумму около 30 млрд. рублей". https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2020/0901/102059416/detail.shtml.
- ↑ "Russia to offer upgraded multiple launch rocket system to Western customers". http://tass.com/defense/1011154.
- ↑ https://tass.com/defense/1074375 [bare URL]
- ↑ "Splav details Tornado-G rockets - Jane's 360". https://www.janes.com/article/82576/splav-details-tornado-g-rockets.
- ↑ "Minsk agreement". https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/UA_150212_MinskAgreement_en.pdf.
- ↑ "Minsk agreement on Ukraine crisis: text in full". 12 February 2015. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11408266/Minsk-agreement-on-Ukraine-crisis-text-in-full.html.
- ↑ @mhrinin (1 March 2022). "Reposting the message from General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine about today events in Kharkiv (full text):…". https://twitter.com/mhrinin/status/1498796325202280452.
- ↑ "Ukraine conflict: Russian forces employ guided rockets". 11 March 2022. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-conflict-russian-forces-employ-guided-rockets.
- ↑ "Корректируемый реактивный снаряд 9М542 - Ракетная техника". http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/missile/wobb/5616/5616.shtml.
- ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.milkavkaz.net/2016/09/rszo-tornados-pojdet-v-seriyu-v-2017-godu.html.
- ↑ tvzvezda.ru, Редакция (17 April 2016). "Чудовищный "Торнадо" после "Смерча": российские РСЗО способны превратить 67 Га в пустыню". https://tvzvezda.ru/news/opk/content/201604170834-ztxs.htm.
- ↑ "Russian Tornado-S MLRS fires new missile | Defense News September 2020 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2020 | Archive News year". https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_september_2020_global_security_army_industry/russian_tornado-s_mlrs_fires_new_missile.html.
- ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Высокоточный реактивный снаряд для "Торнадо-С" показали на форуме "Армия-2020"". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5XIsLsvOs8&feature=emb_title.
- ↑ "Южный военный округ получил 20 систем "Торнадо-Г"". https://lenta.ru/news/2012/04/03/tornado/.
- ↑ TASS. "ТАСС: Внутренняя политика - В Крыму сформирован артиллерийский полк для прикрытия береговой линии". TASS. http://itar-tass.com/vnutrennyaya-politika/1292768.
- ↑ "ЦАМТО / Новости / В войска Восточного военного округа поступили реактивные системы залпового огня «Торнадо-Г". http://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2015/0203/171527707/detail.shtml.
- ↑ TASS (22 July 2015). "TASS: Russia - Russia's Western Military District gets newest Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers". TASS. http://tass.ru/en/russia/810055.
- ↑ ""Мотовилихинские заводы» отправили заказчику РСЗО "Торнадо-Г" - Мотовилиха". http://mz.perm.ru/press-center/news/1114/.
- ↑ "ЦАМТО / Новости / Главком Сухопутных войск сообщил о поступлении новых вооружений". http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1223/102538798/detail.shtml.
- ↑ "Archived copy". http://mail.armyrecognition.com/december_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/over_60_tornado-g_mlrs_and_20_msta-sm_howitzers_delivered_to_russian_army_in_2016_72912163.html.
- ↑ "ЦАМТО / Новости / Соединение ЗВО в Брянской области получило на вооружение два дивизиона РСЗО «Торнадо-Г". http://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2017/0306/134539864/detail.shtml.
- ↑ "CMD's motorized rifle units in Samara received fifteen Tornado-G MLRS : Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation". Eng.mil.ru. 2018-10-25. http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12201418@egNews.
- ↑ "First Tornado-S MLRS supplied to Russian Southern district | January 2019 Global Defense Security army news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2019 | Archive News year". Armyrecognition.com. 2019-01-14. https://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2019_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/first_tornado-s_mlrs_supplied_to_russian_southern_district.html.
- ↑ "ЦАМТО / Новости / В войска ЮВО поступило около 100 ед. современной техники с начала года". http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2019/0312/103551388/detail.shtml.
- ↑ "ЦАМТО / Новости / В войска ВВО за первое полугодие поступило 400 образцов вооружения и военной техники". https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2019/0719/100053505/detail.shtml.
- ↑ "Defense firm delivers final batch of latest Tornado-G rocket systems to Russian troops". https://tass.com/defense/1088279.
- ↑ "ЦАМТО / Новости / Новейшие РСЗО "Торнадо-Г" поступили в 631-й учебный центр в Саратове". https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2020/1106/112560321/detail.shtml.
- ↑ "Latest Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers arrive for troops in Russia's south". https://tass.com/defense/1274683.
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