Ukrainian troops mount Croatian RAK-SA-12 MLRS on US vehicles for rapid strikes against Russia.

As reported by Novinarnya on January 6, 2025, the RAK-SA-12 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) has proven its effectiveness for the Ukrainian forces, operating in some of the most contested regions in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Recently, a U.S.-supplied M998 HMMWV pickup, modified to carry the RAK-SA-12, was deployed for quick shoot-and-scoot tactics, minimizing exposure to enemy counterbattery fire. This Croatian-developed system, derived from the Yugoslav M-63 Plamen, has been deployed by units such as the State Border Guard Service and the Azov Brigade.
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Ukrainian forces have developed several improvised Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) for quick shoot-and-scoot tactics, the latest being this U.S.-supplied M998 HMMWV pickup modified to carry the Croatian RAK-SA-12. (Picture source: Novinarnya)

In the Kharkiv region, particularly near Kupyansk, the RAK-SA-12 has been used by the "Revenge" Brigade of the State Border Guard Service to counter Russian advances. Kupyansk, liberated in the fall of 2022, remains a focal point of intense Russian efforts to push Ukrainian forces back across the Oskil River. Neighboring villages, such as Novoosinovo, have suffered significant damage from aerial and artillery bombardments. Crews operating the RAK-SA-12 in this area leverage its mobility and precision capabilities under challenging conditions, targeting enemy positions while mitigating threats from drones and gliding munitions.

In the Toretsk sector of Donetsk Oblast, near the settlement of New York, the Azov Brigade employs the RAK-SA-12 to counter persistent Russian assaults. These operations occur in an environment where Russian forces aim to disrupt Ukrainian supply lines and positions. The RAK-SA-12’s range, from 800 to 8,500 meters, facilitates precise strikes while maintaining the mobility needed for rapid redeployment. The system’s compact design allows transportation on vehicles such as pickup trucks, further enhancing its operational flexibility.

The RAK-SA-12, developed in the early 1990s by Croatia’s Madlerd company, is a modified version of the M-63 Plamen. It features a 12-tube launcher capable of firing 128mm rockets, including the M91, M91A1, and M91A2 models fitted with RUK M92 and RUTI M94 fuzes. The system operates in temperatures ranging from -30°C to 50°C, can fire a full salvo in under 10 seconds, or launch individual rockets at a rate of one per second. It is designed to efficiently target personnel, artillery, and infrastructure.

Croatia has provided military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including RAK-SA-12 systems, An-32B transport aircraft, Mi-8 helicopters, M-84 tanks, BVP M-80 infantry fighting vehicles, D-30 howitzers, small arms, and ammunition. The RAK-SA-12 was showcased at a 2023 event marking Border Guard Day, where President Volodymyr Zelensky inspected the system. It has also been featured in frontline operations, where its short maximum range of 8.54 kilometers necessitates cautious and strategic use to avoid becoming a target for Russian forces.

Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have developed improvised Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) by mounting rocket launchers onto various vehicle platforms to enhance battlefield flexibility. Ukrainian troops have adapted pickup trucks and MT-LB armored carriers to deploy 122mm rocket launchers and S-8 aircraft rocket pods, creating mobile artillery units capable of rapid deployment and repositioning. Similarly, Russian forces have mounted A-22 naval rocket launchers on MT-LB vehicles and S-8 rocket pods on Tigr armored cars, aiming to increase the mobility and adaptability of their rocket artillery.

The primary motivation behind these technical MLRS adaptations is to achieve greater mobility and operational flexibility compared to traditional, heavier rocket artillery systems. By utilizing readily available vehicle platforms and existing rocket launchers, both sides can rapidly deploy artillery support in diverse combat scenarios, respond swiftly to changing battlefield conditions, and conduct shoot-and-scoot tactics to evade counterbattery fire. This approach also allows for cost-effective solutions by repurposing existing equipment to meet immediate tactical needs.

The RAK-SA-12, developed in the early 1990s, is a modified version of the Yugoslav M-63 Plamen MLRS, and is capable of firing twelve 128mm rockets to a range of 8,000 meters in under 10 seconds. (Picture source: Novinarnya)