BM-30 Smerch

9A52-2 "Smerch" launch vehicle

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.^[1] 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.

Launcher in raised position

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.

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

Operators

•  Algeria: 18 systems in 1999.
•  Azerbaijan: 16 systems in 2008.
•  Belarus: 48 systems in 1990.^[2]
•  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^[3]
•  Russia: 300 in 2001 (100 in 1995).^[4]
•  Turkmenistan: 6 on order.
•  Ukraine: 99 in 2008.^[5]
•  Venezuela 50 on order
•  United Arab Emirates 6
•  Peru 12 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 variant with only 10 launch tubes.

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, 214mm Indian multiple rocket launcher
• TOS-1 Buratino Heavy Flame Thrower System (multiple rocket / thermobaric weapon launcher)

References

• Russia's Arms Catalog 2004

External links

• Smerch - 9A52 - 300mm multi-barreled rocket launcher – Walk around photos
• Splav State Research and Production Enterprise