- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

A Tornado With Rockets: New Russian Launch Vehicles Get Guided Missiles

© Sputnik / Andrei Aleksandrov / Go to the mediabankPilot combat exercises involving live firing of Smerch multiple launch rocket systems
Pilot combat exercises involving live firing of Smerch multiple launch rocket systems - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Two Russian multiple launch rocket systems, Smerch and Tornado-S, will be equipped with advanced guided missiles for better targeting, according to the deputy chief of the Strategic Missile Forces and Artillery of the Russian Ground Forces.

The Yars land-based mobile missile system is transported to its field combat duty site at the Teykovo Guards Missile Division - Sputnik International
Russia Successfully Launches Yars ICBM From Plesetsk to Kamchatka
"The Smerch and Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems will get [advanced guided missiles] in the future for better accuracy," Alexander Dragovalovsky, deputy chief of the Strategic Missile Forces and Artillery of the Russian Ground Forces, was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying. He noted that this would significantly improve their firepower.

Earlier, it was reported that the Tornado-S systems are expected to greatly enhance the combat capabilities of the Smerch systems by using new-generation missiles.

© RIA Novosti . Dmitry Korobeinikov / Go to the mediabankThe Smerch multiple launch rocket system
The Smerch multiple launch rocket system - Sputnik International
The Smerch multiple launch rocket system

The Smerch mobile rocket-launcher vehicle was developed in the early 1980s and put into service by the Soviet Army in 1987.

© Sputnik / Vitaliy Ankov / Go to the mediabankTroops load a Tornado multiple launch rocket system during the artillery drill of the 5th Army at Sergeyevsky base, Russia's Primorye Territory
Troops load a Tornado multiple launch rocket system during the artillery drill of the 5th Army at Sergeyevsky base, Russia's  Primorye Territory - Sputnik International
Troops load a Tornado multiple launch rocket system during the artillery drill of the 5th Army at Sergeyevsky base, Russia's Primorye Territory

This multiple launch rocket system has 12 tubes for 300-mm rockets; each 7.6-meter-long standard missile weighed about 800 kilograms. It has a firing range of between 20 and 70 kilometers.

Iskander-M tactical ballistic missiles - Sputnik International
Russia’s Eastern Military District Receives Iskander-M Missile Systems
The Tornado-S was introduced as a replacement for the Smerch in 2012; it uses rockets with the same caliber but has been enhanced to take advantage of Russia's proprietary satellite navigation network.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Tornado-S will have a longer range and increased effectiveness thanks to greater accuracy and the use of new warhead payloads. It is capable of launching rockets within just three minutes.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала