On June 18, 2020, during a firing demonstration of artillery systems attended by the Serbian Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin, the Serbian army has officially taken delivery of a modernized version of Oganj 122mm MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System). The M-77 128 mm nicknamed Oganj was developed in the early 1970s to meet the requirements of the Yugoslav Army.
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A new modernized version of Oganj 122mm MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System during a firing demonstration. June 18, 2020. (Picture source Serbian MoD)
The M-77 128 mm MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) is based on modified FAP 2026 BDS/AV (6 × 6) series truck with a 32-barrel 128 mm rocket launcher mounted at the rear of the chassis and an additional pack of 32 rockets to the rear of the cab for rapid reloading. The launcher fires a 128 mm caliber, 2.6 m long unguided rocket to a maximum range of 20,600 m.
According to the Serbian Minister of Defense, the Serbian army will receive one and a half batteries of new Oganj 122 MLRS in the next few days. Serbian army continues to modernize its armed forces with new combat equipment including MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System).
In addition to having a new INS (inertial navigation system), and to being digitalized to a great extent and receiving numerous improvements in communication systems, the modernized version of the Oganj MLRS has achieved what is most important in modern warfare - it provides a much greater speed of use.
It only takes three minutes for the digitalized Oganj to fire the weapon load after the arrival of the battalion to the fire position. It took the non-digitalized Oganj, which we have had so far, 26 minutes to do that – said Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin and added that this is a big change in modern warfare where everything is done in a matter of minutes and seconds "and where there is nothing more important than to arrive safely, fire your ammunition accurately and get out of the firing position as quickly as possible."
The Serbian defense industry will continue the development of local-made artillery rocket launcher systems. The next phase is the modular Oganj able to fire firing all existing types of rockets as well as new 40 km-range and 50 km-range rocket that are being developed, including the rocket with flight path correction.
A previous version of the Oganj MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System in 128mm caliber.
