M270 MLRS

History

The M270 MLRS (Multiple Rocket Launcher System) is an American designed combat support weapon, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Water. It is based on an extended M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) chassis to form the M993 MLRS launcher unit, in which the installed launcher assembly is the M270. The complete system provides an impressive level of firepower for area suppression and sees the launcher accommodate twelve battlefield tactical missiles, or missiles with a variety of available warhead types. Originally adopted by the U.S.

Army in 1982, the M270 was not officially baptized by fire until the 1991 Gulf War, where it proved successful. Today (2014) the M270 remains the US Army's primary land-based missile launch platform

The M270 vehicle has an armoured cab at the front of the hull and the locatable launch pod container is mounted at the rear. The launch bay consists of 2 x 6 brackets. A typical operator consists of three people who sit in the cabin for protection during operations. Like the M2 Bradley vehicle, the M270 is so compact that it can be airlifted in the cargo bay of a Lockheed C-5 Galaxy or Boeing C-17 Globemaster heavy lift truck.

The M270 can launch its payload via "Ripple Fire" or "Full Fire". Wavefire fires tactical payloads from one missile at a time to achieve a staggered effect over the target area. Full fire sends the entire ammunition charge into the sky in seconds, and the missile should reach the target at the same time.

Like the famous multiple rocket launchers of World War II (1939-1945), this makes the M270 a shockingly effective psychological and tactical weapon.

The M270 is typically used to fire the standard M26 tactical missile. The munition has a range of 32 kilometers and can spread about 644 submunitions over the target area. Other munitions include improved M26A1 and M26A2 Extended Range (ER) variants, ATACMS Block I, chemical projectiles and practice rockets (the latter for training purposes). Guided munition support was introduced in 2006.

Further modernisation took place in 2012.

Vehicle is powered by a Cummins VTA-903T V8 diesel engine with a turbocharger producing 600 hp. This works in conjunction with an electronically controlled Crossdrive turbo drivetrain. 400 miles at 40 miles per hour. The landing gear consists of six wheels on one side of the fuselage, with the drive sprocket at the front and the track idler at the rear.

There are two track deflection rollers.

Design work on the M270 began in 1977 and production spanned from 1980 to 2003. Variants include the original M270 car, followed by the updated M270 IPDS (ATACMS support). The brand bridges the gap between the original A1 models.

The upcoming M270A1 brand is an upgrade planned for 2005 with an improved Fire Control System (FCS) as the launch unit.

In addition to service with the US Army, the M270 has been adopted by the armed forces of Bahrain, Denmark, Egypt, France, Finland (known as "298 RsRakH"), Germany (known as "MARS"), Greece, Israel, Italy , Japan, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Denmark and Norway have since phased out M270 stocks.

The UK model was upgraded to the M270A1 form, codenamed M270B1. This project includes improved armor protection not seen in the A1 upgrade.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

12 x tactical rockets or missiles (supported, guided and unguided various warhead types).

Changes