Czech Dana M1 152mm 8x8 howitzers RM-70 Vampir MLRS in service with Azerbaijan army.

According to pictures and information released on the Internet website Azeri Defence, Azerbaijani Armed Forces have received Czech-made 8x8 152mm self-propelled howitzer DANA-M1 and MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System RM-70 Vampir. These new combat vehicles were used during large military exercise in Azerbaijan.

Czech-made DANA M1 152mm wheeled self-propelled in undisclosed road in Azerbaijan. (Source picture Azeri Defence website)

More pictures have been posted on the official website of Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan showing the RM-70 Vampir performing live-firing exercise during military exercise in Azerbaijan.

The Dana-M1 is a modernized version of the Czech-made DANA 155 8x8 self-propelled howitzer which was developed by in the late 1970s by the Czech Company ZTS to meet the operational requirements of the Czech Army for a highly mobile self-propelled artillery system.

The DANA-M1 was unveiled during the defense exhibition IDET in May 2011. The 152mm cannon is mounted on is mounted on the upgraded chassis of 815 VP31 29 265 8x8.1R TATRA truck chassis.

The main armament of the DANA-M1 consists of one is a 152.4mm gun. The gun has a firing range from 4.6 km to 18.7 km and can fire long-range shells up to a range of 20 km. This artillery vehicle is equipped with a new fire control system to increase firing accuracy from the previous version of the DANA.

On the right side of the gunner turret roof is mounted one 12.7 mm NSV heavy machine gun which can be used against land and air targets.

RM-70 Vampir performs live firing during military exercise in Azerbaijan (Source picture official website of Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan)

The RM-70 Vampir is a modernized version of the standard RM-70 122 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) designed and manufactured in Czech Republic by Excalibur Army. The first prototype of the RM-70 Vampir was manufactured in February 2015 and successful gunnery trials were held in October 2015. The original RM-70 was installed on Tatra T-813 truck chassis. The new Vampir, however, utilizes a completely new platform Tatra T-815-7 8x8 heavy duty tactical truck.

The RM-70 Vampir is fitted with a 40-round elevatable launcher located at the rear of the truck chassis and an additional pack of 40 122 mm rockets to the rear of the cab for rapid loading. The RM-70 Vampir uses the same launcher as the Russian 122 mm BM-21 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System).

The RM-70 Vampir is fitted with an upgraded fire control system with ballistic computer. Standard equipment of the RM-70 Vampir also includes precision navigation system with INS/GPS and C3I command and control systems. A semi-automatic laying system is operated from inside of the crew cab supported by the Inertial Navigation System and GPS.