MILEX 2019: Polonez-M MLRS enters service in Belarusian army.

The Belarussian armed forces began to receive upgraded Polonez-M multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), a source in the Belarussian defense industry told TASS at MILEX arms show. "The upgraded Polonez-M has passed all trials and has been accepted into service by the Belarusian army. Its supplies have already begun," he said.

The upgraded Polonez-M at MILEX 2019 (Pïcture source: Army Recognition)

Upgraded Polonez has an increased range of 300 km and a higher share of Belarusian-made components. It can also fire a tactical missile, the source said. Polonez MLRS was designed by the Belarusian Plant of Precision Electromechanics in cooperation with a foreign country. The Belarussian army is armed with it.

The V-200 Polonez MLRS was unveiled at the MILEX 2017 exhibition held in Minsk from May 20-22. The system incorporates the V-200BM combat vehicle, the V-200TZM transport-loader and the V-200BMU upgraded command-and-control (C2) vehicle. The specifications of the Polonez were disclosed at the MILEX 2017 show also. The MLRS will get a rocket, which will be able to deliver a 480 kg warhead to a range varying between 120 km and 280 km.

Owing to a low efficient dispersal surface, high precision and high speed, the rocket of the Polonez can beat air defense assets, the representatives of ZTEhM said at the MILEX 2017 exhibition.

In October 2016, the Polonez MLRS was delivered to the 77th Separate Rocket Artillery Battalion of the 336th Rocket Artillery Brigade. In September 2017, the battalion was involved in the Russian-Belarusian Zapad 2017 strategic exercise. In October 2017, the unit carried out the aforementioned firing test of the upgraded Polonez.

The organic V-200 Polonez MLRS has a firing range of 50-200 km and a combat readiness time of nearly 10 minutes. The system is designed to engage C2 posts, communication hubs, airfields, roads and bridges, various pieces of infrastructure, munition and fuel depots, etc. A division of the Polonez MLRS is armed with an ammunition load of 144 rockets.

The V-200BM combat vehicle is armed with eight ready-to-launch 301 mm rockets in two four-cell containers. The vehicle's launching unit is based on an MZKT-7930-family 8x8 wheeled tractor developed by the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant (MZKT or Volat). The tractor has a crew of three and a maximum speed of 70 km/h.

© Copyright 2019 TASS / Army Recognition Group SPRL . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.