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Analysis: News MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket Systems of Russian army - Part 2

The main requirement to MLRS is to deliver a rapid precision massive strike. They have to be equipped with digital fire controls to compute parameters, strike and destroy the target in minutes. MLRS have to interact with drones and automatic controls. The round of munitions also changed. New unguided missiles with increased precision, sophisticated flight trajectory and ability to maneuver were designed.
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Tornado-S MLRS (Picture source: Russian MoD)

Head of the missile artillery troops of the Ground Forces Lieutenant-General Mikhail Matveevsky said Tornado-S "can simultaneously fire at eight targets as the projectiles separate in the flight trajectory."

The design of the Tornado family began in the years 2000. Two options – G and S – were proposed to the Defense Ministry. The former had to replace Grad BM-21 and latter Smerch BM-30. The new weapons were digital and automatic to the maximum.

Tornado onboard computer makes the necessary computations upon receiving guidance from the automatic troop control system. Electric engines and hydraulic drivers rotate the launcher in the necessary direction and elevate it to the required angle. The commander has only to press the launch button.

Tornado-G was completed first. In 2011, representative of the Ground Forces Sergey Vlasov said the troops had received 30 MLRS. The Defense Ministry is currently procuring the weapons. This year 2020, Tornado-G MLRS have already been supplied to coastal units of the Black Sea fleet. Tornado-G was initially carried by KAMAZ trucks. Since 2016, they have been carried both on KAMAZ and Ural chassis.

The design of Tornado-S dragged. In 2012, the Defense Ministry said the MLRS was undergoing trials. It was reported only in 2019 that the new weapons were supplied to the troops. This year an artillery brigade of the Central Military District received them.

It is unclear where Tornado-S came from for the Victory parade 2020. Traditionally, the hardware comes from the Western Military District. The parading MLRS may thus belong to the training center of the Mikhailovskaya Artillery Academy in Luga, in the Leningrad region. It is known to operate large numbers of the most recent weapons.

Matveevsky called Tornado-G and Tornado-S the pride of the Russian army. He said medium-caliber Tornado-G and large-caliber Tornado-S can automatically aim at their targets. "The advantages comprise increased firepower and a larger range of projectiles, improved fire precision, a high rate of fire and an increased range," Matveevsky said.

Tornado-G MLRS (Picture source: Army Recognition)