The BM-30 "Smerch" (Tornado) or 9A52 is a Soviet heavy multiple rocket launcher. The system is designed to defeat manpower, armored and soft-skinned materiel in concentration areas, artillery batteries, command posts and ammunition depots. It was created in the early 1980s and entered service in the Red Army in 1989. When first observed by the West in 1983, it received the code MRL 280mm M1983.
The main components of the RSZO 9K58 "Smerch" system are the following:
- rockets 9M55 or 9M528 (in containers);
- BM 9A52-2 launch vehicle;
- TZM 9T234-2 transloader with a 850kg crane and 12 spare rockets;
- automated fire control equipment in the command post 1K123 "Vivary";
- maintenance vehicle PM-2-70 MTO-V;
- set of arsenal equipment 9F819;
- training facilities 9F827 and 9F840.
The 300mm rockets with a firing range of 70 and 90 km and various warheads have been developed for the Smerch MLRS.
The 9A52-2 vehicle with the automated system ensures:
- delivery of fire from an unsurveyed fire position;
- laying of the launch tube cluster with the crew staying in the cabin and without using aiming points;
- autonomous determination of an azimuth of the launch tube cluster’s longitudinal axis;
- visual representation of graphical information for the launch tube cluster laying, the route of vehicle movement and location as well as a point of destination and direction of movement on the video terminal;
- increase in MLRS survivability owing to reduced time of staying at a fire position;
- increased comfort for the laying operator, especially in adverse weather conditions and at night;
- increased independent operation owing to the navigation and survey equipment, which allows the vehicle to rapidly change fire positions and move autonomously;
- reduction of the combat crew.
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Indian Service
The Kommersant (Russia's Daily Online Newspaper), reported on 11 April 2007, that a contract was signed on 31 December 2005 - worth USD $450 million - between Rosoboronexport and the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver 38 units of the Smerch MLRS to the Indian Army. This contract includes military vehicles, navigations systems, personnel training and Rosoboronexport's commission. A second contract was signed in the first week of April 2007, for a subsequent batch of 24 units worth USD $300 million and brings the total deal to USD $750 million and 62 units respectively. Deliveries of the units from the first contract is expected in April 2007 itself and will be shipped from Russia's OAO Motovilikhinskie Plant, which manufactures the Smerch MLRS. Delivery on the first contract will be completed by 2008 and the second contract by 2010.Victor Komardin, Rosoboronexport's Deputy General Director, stated in an interview to Jane's Defence Weekly (JDW) that the Smerch MLRS for India is an upgraded version, as per requirements set by the Indian Army. He also said that the Smerch model the Indian Army chose has extended combat capability, longer firing range and higher accuracy. JDW also reported that the Yakovlev Pchela-1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) offered by Rosoboronexport was turned down by the Indian Army, which is expected to issue another tender for a UAV that will provide support to the Smerch system on the battlefield. This MLRS is designed to destroy combat vehicles, artillery units, tactical missiles, air defense systems, landed helicopters, command posts, communications centers and defense-industry facilities.
Launch Vehicle
The Indian Army has chosen the Tatra 816 truck chassis to mount the 9A52-2T launcher system.
Transporter & Loader Vehicle
The Indian Army has chosen the Tatra 816 truck chassis to mount the 9T234-2T transporter/loader system.
General characteristics
- Chassis: MAZ-543M (9A52-1) or MAZ-79111 (9A52-2)
- Combat Weight: 43.7 t
- Length: 12 m
- Height: 3.05 m
- Width: 3.05 m
- Crew: 3 men
- Emplacement Time: 3 min
- Displacement Time: 2 min
- Launcher: 300mm, 12 tubes
- Launch Rate
- Salvo Time: 12 rounds in 38 seconds
- Reload Time: 20 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 sec | 20 km | 70 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 sec | ||||
| 9M55F | separable HE-Fragmentation | 258 kg | ||||||
| 9M55S | Thermobaric | 243 kg | ||||||
| 9M528 | HE-Fragmentation | 815 kg | 243 kg | 7.6 m | 25 km | 90 km | ||
Operators
Algeria: 18 systems in 1999.
Azerbaijan: 16 systems in 2008.
Belarus: 48 systems in 1990.
India: 38 systems 9A52-2T to be delivered by 2008 and additional 24 systems by 2010. Total cost $750 million.
Kuwait: 27 systems in 1996.
People's Republic of China: Copied as the PHL-03
Russia: 300 in 2001 (100 in 1995).
Ukraine: 99 in 2008.
United Arab Emirates 6
North Korea PHL-03
Peru 12
Venezuela 50 on order
Former operators
Soviet Union: Passed on to successor states.
Variants
- 9A52-4 - Lighter, airmobile version on KamAZ-6350 truck with modular 6-round rocket pack. Demonstrated in 2007.
- 9A52-2T - Export version, based on the Tatra T816 10x10 truck.
- PHL96 - Chinese version, based on a Wanshan WS-2400 8x8 truck.
- PHL03 or Type A100 - Chinese copy with only 10 launch tubes.
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