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9A52-4 Tornado

2011 MODERN

History

Since the dark days of World War II, the Russian (then Soviet Union) Army has put a lot of emphasis on Mobile Multiple Rocket Systems (MLRS). The 9A52-4 "Tornado" 8x8 wheeled rocket projector, introduced in 2011, continued this trend as an upgraded replacement for the outdated BM-21, BM-27 and BM-30 MLRS series. The car is produced at the Motovilikha plant in Perm, Russia, with around 36 prototypes procured as of 2014.

The new design is expected to completely replace all similar models within the next decade.

The Tornado is a complete mobile weapons platform consisting of a fully suspended heavy transport vehicle (with an integrated crew cab) and a rear-mounted missile launcher system. The vehicle component itself is a KamAZ-63501 truck, designed for heavy military service, powered by a single JamAZ-740. 50. 360 diesel engine with 360 horsepower.

The chassis' 8x8 wheels allow the vehicle to traverse terrain when necessary and reach a top speed of 90 km/h on paved roads. The vehicle has a range of 1,000 kilometers. A typical operator consists of only two people (including a driver) due to the extensive use of automation in the firing sequence.

The total weight of the vehicle is about 24.5 tons, with a length of 11.2 meters, a width of 2.5 meters and a height of 3.15 meters.

The weapon section of the 9A52-4 vehicle can be customized to meet battlefield needs. The launcher is capable of supporting 122mm, 220mm, or 300mm caliber launch tubes, although the larger the rocket used, the lower the total number of rockets fired.

Can carry 15 x 122mm rockets compared to 8 x 220mm type or 6 x 300mm type. When using the base rocket, the launcher has a maximum attack range of about 90 kilometers. A salvo can be completed in less than 10 seconds, allowing the vehicle to retreat, reload and reposition for a second attack.

A wide variety of these vehicles can have devastating physical and mental effects on the enemy. The Tornado system allows full non-line-of-sight (NLOS) deployment, with missiles in circulation carrying multiple warhead types, including high-explosive warheads, fragmentation (HE-FRAG), anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, cluster munitions, thermobaric munitions and Incendiary.

The crew is supported by multiple onboard systems that provide the required range accuracy/precision, including a fully digital Fire Control System (FCS).

To date, the Tornado series (an upgraded version of the BM-21 "Grad" series) that appeared with the Tornado-G has seen an additional variant "Tornado-S" that promises to improve attack range and accuracy , thanks for using GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System). The Tornado-S is an upgraded version of the BM-30 "Smerch" already in service with the Indian Army.

The Tornado-U is an upgraded version of the BM-27 "Uragan" series MLRS.