The Russian BM-30 Smerch MLRS is probably the most gnarlyist self-propelled MLRS to date. Its intimidating traversable launcher is made up of 12, 300mm tubes, which are capable of firing rockets armed with a multitude of different lethal warheads to a range of 90km.

It’s 8×8 wheeled chassis gives it a high level of off-road mobility and combined with its quick turn around time from deployment, firing and back on the road, it proves a tricky customer to be hit by counter battery fire.

Developed behind the Iron Curtain in Russia during the hype of the Cold War, the West first got sight of it around 1983 and designated it MRL 280mm M1983. However it wasn’t until 1989 that it entered service with the Russian Army and sales to foreign operators has spanned over 20 years.

The Russian BM-30 Smerch MLRS Operators

Algeria – 18 systems in 1999
Azerbaijan – 18 systems in 2008
Belarus – 48 systems in 1990
India – 38 systems 9A52-2T to be delivered by 2008 and additional 24 systems by 2010
Kazakhstan
Kuwait – 27 systems in 1996
People’s Republic of China – Copied as the PHL-03
Russia – 300 in 2001 (100 in 1995)
Turkmenistan – 6 systems 9A52-2T in 2008/2009
Ukraine – 99 in 2008, some exported to Azerbaijan
Peru – 25 delivered from Belarus in 1998.
United Arab Emirates – 6
Venezuela – 5 to 12 ordered to be delivered between 2010 and 2011

Firepower

Emplacement Time: 3 min
Displacement Time: 2 min
Salvo Time: 12 rounds in 38 seconds
Reload Time: 20 min

Mobility

Weight – 43.7 ton’s
Length – 12m
Width – 3.05m
Height – 3.05m
Crew – 3
Engine – V-12 diesel D12A-525A 525 hp
Suspension – 8×8 wheeled
Operational range – 850 km
Speed – 60 km/h