An increase in the number of new MLRS will allow for more accurate strikes on targets in the enemy's rear
The multiple launch rocket systems "Hurricane", which are in service with the Russian army, will gradually be replaced by high-precision "Tornado-S". This decision was made in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation based on the results of studying the experience of the special operation, sources told Izvestia. The novelties will be put into service by artillery and rocket brigades of districts and armies, and in the future they can replenish the artillery regiments of motorized rifle and tank divisions. "Tornado-S" can destroy the enemy with high accuracy at a distance of up to 120 km. Experts note that the mass appearance of this combat vehicle will allow Russian MLRS to strike targets in the enemy's rear more often.
Hit the rear
The Hurricane MLRS, which are currently in service with the Russian army, will be replaced with more modern and long-range Tornado-S. At the first stage, the new equipment will be delivered to the district (they are also front-line) rocket brigades and artillery brigades of combined arms armies. Then "Tornado-S" will begin to receive artillery regiments of motorized rifle and tank divisions. The corresponding decision was made based on the results of studying the experience of a special military operation, sources in the Russian Defense Ministry told Izvestia.
According to the interlocutors of the publication, Tornado-S should radically strengthen the capabilities of Russian artillery, and the speed of replacing MLRS in the troops will depend on the accuracy of the state defense order. The Hurricanes performed well during a special military operation, but there are objective difficulties in the possible modernization of these jet systems.
The work of the calculations of the MLRS "Tornado-S" in the zone of its
Image Source: Photo: TASS/Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Earlier it was expected that the "Hurricanes" would be replaced by the updated MLRS "Hurricane-M1". The interlocutors of Izvestia explained that work on these systems continues.
Earlier, Dmitry Klimenko, the head of the missile forces and artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, said that Tornado-S was entering the troops to replace the Smerch and Hurricane MLRS. In its arsenal, this system has not only unguided, but also guided projectiles. They are designed to "selectively defeat individual targets," Klimenko said.
Izvestia Reference
220-mm MLRS "Hurricane" was adopted in 1975. It was successfully used during the Afghan campaign, and after the collapse of the USSR — in the counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya.
The calculation consists of four people.
The MLRS has a wide range of rockets with a range of up to 35 km. The machine is designed to defeat enemy manpower and armored vehicles. The area of destruction of a salvo of a combat vehicle is four football fields.
The 300-mm Tornado-S MLRS is designed to defeat enemy personnel, unarmored, lightly armored and armored vehicles on the distant approaches. As well as tactical missiles, anti-aircraft systems, helicopters in parking lots, command posts, communication centers, military-industrial infrastructure. Mounted on a wheeled eight-axle chassis. It is used during the SVO in Ukraine.
On November 20 of this year, the industrial director of the Rostec complex of conventional weapons, ammunition and special chemicals, Bekhan Ozdoev, reported that the new guided rocket ammunition made it possible to increase the firing range of the Tornado-S from 90 to 120 km.
— We have received a qualitative leap, — military expert Dmitry Kornev told Izvestia. — The "Hurricane" is still a car from the 1980s with 220—mm rockets with a range of up to 35 km. The new 300-mm Tornado-S has more powerful ammunition and a longer range of destruction — up to 120 km. It has an automated guidance system and high-precision projectiles with satellite navigation. Such a machine will work within the framework of reconnaissance and shock circuits. Close cooperation with intelligence complexes will provide MLRS with targets in the depth of the enemy's defense.
According to the expert, the appearance of Tornado-S has aligned the capabilities of Russian MLRS with the best world models — there will be parity with the same HIMARS.
Multiple launch rocket systems "Tornado-S" during the Victory Parade in the Great Patriotic War
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Andrey Erstrem
The Tornado-S should have a wider range of ammunition than the Hurricane, including powerful cluster shells, the expert also noted.
"This makes it possible to effectively strike at area targets and lightly armored vehicles," he believes. — When hunting the same HIMARS, Tornado-C will be able to use one high-precision cluster missile to destroy it. Its striking elements will make it possible to destroy this MLRS, as well as transport-loading and escort vehicles.
Tornado-S should complement the Iskander tactical complexes, military expert Viktor Murakhovsky told Izvestia.
— After all, Iskander missiles have a longer range, attack from the vertical and have a more powerful warhead, — he explained. — They will find other tasks for Tornado-S. Its projectiles can find targets using GLONASS and by the coordinates of the target. They have either high-explosive fragmentation or cassette equipment. The latter hits targets in an oval up to a kilometer or even more — this depends on the height of the explosion and the direction of flight. Missiles from a single salvo can destroy targets located at a distance from each other. All this will allow us to adequately complement the work of Iskanders.
Works against HIMARS
Tornado-S is a deeply upgraded version of the Smerch MLRS. The car is well known in the troops. The decision to develop it was made in the late 2000s, and serial production began in 2012. According to Viktor Murakhovsky, the development of new ammunition for the Tornado-S was clearly accelerated, after which it was quickly put into production. Now the MLRS is produced by the company "Special Design Bureau" (SKB).
"Tornado-S" are actively used during the special operation. In May of this year, the Russian military posted a video in which the commander of the calculation of the combat vehicle told about the work of his unit: his calculation had to hit a wide variety of targets — from places where enemy personnel congregate to launchers of HIMARS systems.
The work of calculations of the MLRS "Tornado-S"
Image source: Photo: TASS/press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Most often, they launch fire strikes at command posts, warehouses with weapons, ammunition and fuel and lubricants, communication centers, air defense systems and other important objects.
The commander also spoke about the algorithm of the calculation at the combat position. It takes no more than three minutes to prepare the machine for the task.
The launcher is equipped with an automated fire control system. It allows the use of both new correctable ammunition and unguided extended-range missiles.
All information about the targets is sent to the computer, after which their data is activated, and the combat vehicle begins to be aimed at the target. At the same time, the coordinates of the machine and data that can affect the flight of the projectile are automatically taken into account — the strength and direction of the wind, air humidity, and others.
In addition, the new equipment allows Tornado-S to exchange information automatically, display and store it, and independently navigate the terrain using an electronic map.
The fighters fighting on Tornado-S say that the Ukrainian forces are hunting them, trying to destroy them. Therefore, the calculation often uses a remote control, which allows you to open fire at a safe distance from the combat vehicle, and after the MLRS strike, they leave the dangerous area at maximum speed.
Alexey Ramm
Bogdan Stepovoy
