Over 40 rocket launcher units of Russian army will be equipped with new Tornado-S 300mm MLRS 11701163

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Defence & Security News - Russia
 
Over 40 rocket launcher units of Russian army will be equipped with new Tornado-S 300mm MLRS.
Over 40 units of Russia’s advanced rocket launchers equipped wit the new Tornado-S MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) will enter into service with the Western Military District’s (WMD) artillery and motorized infantry formations, district spokesman Col. Igor Muginov said Saturday, January 16, 2016.
     
Over 40 units of Russia’s advanced rocket launchers equipped wit the new Tornado-S MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) will enter into service with the Western Military District’s (WMD) artillery and motorized infantry formations, district spokesman Col. Igor Muginov said Saturday, January 16, 2016. The new Tornado-S 300mm MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System)
     
"The unique long-range 300-mm Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system can fire at a range of 120 kilometers [75 miles] and hit an area of over 60 hectares [150 acres]," Muginov said.

The Tornado-S was introduced in the Russian army as a replacement for the BM-30 Smerch in 2012. It uses rockets with the same caliber but has been enhanced to take advantage of Russia's proprietary satellite navigation network. The 9A53-S Tornado-S is an upgraded version of the BM-30 Smerch using 2x6 or 2x4 300mm rocket launcher tubes mounted on MZKT-79306 military truck chassis.

The Tornado-S’ is equipped with a new automated guidance system, a key characteristic, allowing for improved accuracy and simultaneous target data calculations. It is able to fire single rockets as well as full salvos of 12 guided rockets.

The spokesman added that the new launchers boast travel-to-combat mode deployment capabilities at a significantly reduced time.

Cluster warheads with self-guided multi-purpose submunitions fitted on Tornado-G systems are able to penetrate infantry and armored vehicles.

The cutting edge Tornado-S and Tornado-G systems are expected to replace Grad and Smerch launchers by 2020, as part of Russia's large-scale rearmament program.