The Soviet "Square" in Iraq was turned into an analog of " Solntsepek"

The Iraqi People's Militia forces continue to operate improvised multiple launch rocket systems built on the chassis of tracked vehicles of the Kvadrat anti-aircraft missile system.

Three such launchers were seen during the rehearsals of the parade that these armed volunteer formations are going to hold.

SAMs of this model began to be supplied to the Iraqi army from the Soviet Union in the second half of the 70s. These weapons were actively used to solve air defense tasks during the war with neighboring Iran that began in the fall of 1980. It was reported that the calculations of the systems managed to shoot down more than two dozen combat aircraft of various types.

By the beginning of the American aggression in 2003, the remaining "Squares" were no longer in a combat-ready state. However, if the missiles and electronics themselves were suitable only for recycling, then the GM-578 chassis itself could still serve. Thanks to the 280-horsepower V-6M diesel engine, they had quite good maneuverability and high cross-country ability.

Therefore, the fighters of the pro-government forces began to use them to install rotating protected towers with "slingshots" - rapid-fire small-caliber guns ZU-23-2. These improvised fire support vehicles were equipped with anti-cumulative grid screens.

Approximately in 2017, rocket launchers already created on these tracked platforms, capable of launching three large-caliber unguided rocket projectiles, were first noticed. It is believed that such MLRS are a kind of analogs of the Russian TOS-1A "Solntsepek". However, the homemade device is significantly inferior in security, as well as in the effectiveness of the ammunition used.

Alexey Moiseev