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Ukraine Demonstrates Efficiency of FPV Drones Against Russian BM-27 Multiple Rocket Launcher.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces recently succeeded in destroying a Russian BM-27 "Uragan" multiple rocket launcher (MRL) system during a frontline operation, demonstrating once again the power of FPV drones. Soldiers from the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade, particularly the "Ronin" unit, located and neutralized this Russian artillery system, thereby contributing to efforts aimed at diminishing Russia’s heavy artillery capabilities in Ukraine.
The Russian BM-27 is hit by a Ukrainian FPV drone 2 equipped with mortar ammunition. (Picture source: Ukrainian MoD)
The successful strike was documented and shared on social media by the "Ronin" unit, highlighting the precision and effectiveness of their tactics. Drone operators from the unit spotted the camouflaged BM-27 "Uragan" hidden in a trench near the frontline. In a risky decision, Russian forces had placed this valuable equipment in an advanced position, likely to maximize its operational readiness.
The Ukrainian forces targeted the MRL with an FPV drone, delivering a direct hit to the machine’s launch rails. Although the strike did not trigger a full detonation of the ammunition, the impact was sufficient to disable the vehicle, leading to its destruction by fire. This operation demonstrates the effectiveness of drone warfare in targeting strategic assets, which are often challenging to locate due to Russian tactics of keeping these systems distant from the frontline to avoid counter-battery strikes.
The BM-27 "Uragan" remains a relatively rare target due to its sporadic appearance on the battlefield, likely a result of limited stocks of 220 mm rockets within Russian forces. Despite this rarity, its elimination constitutes a tactical advantage for Ukraine, given the considerable destructive power this weapon can deliver over large areas.
According to the OSINT platform Oryx, at least 89 BM-27 units have been documented as destroyed or rendered inoperative since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In the autumn of 2022, Ukrainian forces notably neutralized three BM-27 systems and two 9T452 transport vehicles near the village of Yahidne in the Kharkiv region.
It is noteworthy that the Russian army continues to invest in the development of this 220 mm MRL system. Recent efforts include the modernization of the BM-27 "Uragan" by replacing its Soviet-era ZIL-135LM chassis with a newer BAZ-69092 model, equipped with an armored cab. The first BM-27 on this modernized chassis was reportedly observed on the frontlines in the summer of 2024, where it was also destroyed by an FPV drone strike carried out by the "Fight Club 92" unit of the 92nd Mechanized Brigade.
The BM-27 "Uragan" is a multiple rocket launcher system developed in Russia, designed to deliver mobile, versatile firepower on the battlefield. Mounted on a ZIL-135Lm 8x8 truck chassis, this system can launch 16 rockets of 220 mm caliber. Used by several countries, including Afghanistan, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, the BM-27 has become a key asset for ground forces, offering an extensive range and the ability to fire various types of munitions.
The truck carrying the BM-27, while robust with a loaded weight of 20 tons (15.1 tons unloaded), is equipped with no armor protection for its crew of four, leaving it vulnerable on the battlefield. Nonetheless, its twin eight-cylinder diesel engines provide a maximum speed of 65 km/h and a range of up to 570 km, allowing for rapid movement and a degree of mobility for strike-and-withdraw operations.
The BM-27 is equipped with a manual sighting system and fires rockets weighing between 270 and 280 kg, each carrying a 90 kg warhead. This system offers a firing range of 10 to 35 km, making it effective for medium-range artillery strikes. Its ammunition is varied, including HE-FRAG (high-explosive fragmentation) rockets, as well as unconventional munitions such as chemical payloads, scatterable PTM-3 or PFM-1 mines, and fragmentation munitions. In terms of dimensions, the vehicle is 9.3 meters long, 2.8 meters wide, and 3.2 meters high.
The battlefield destruction of advanced artillery systems like the BM-27 underscores Ukraine’s growing mastery of drones as counter-artillery tools. In a previous operation near Tokmak, the "Ronin" unit also destroyed five Russian BMP infantry fighting vehicles using FPV drones, once again demonstrating the tactical value of drones in weakening Russia's armored and artillery capabilities.