Russia - Armed Forces 2019

Russia - Uragan 1M

The Uragan-1M is a multi-calibre multiple launch rocket system developed by JSC NPO Splav, part of the Rostec Corporation. The Uragan-1M which was developed from 2012 through 2015, is capable of firing 220mm and 300m rockets, depending on which rocket container is mounted on the MZKT-7930 chassis.

The system is designed for striking troops, armour, artillery units, air defence systems, helicopters on helipads, destroying fortifications, communications and other infrastructure.

Belarus - Polonez MLRS

Source: Military Weapons

The Polonez Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is a Belarusian 300 mm rocket artillery system of a launcher unit comprising 8 rockets packaged in two four-rocket pods mounted on a MZKT-7930 vehicle. In 2018, it was exported to Azerbaijan.

MLRS was designed by the Belarusian Plant of Precision Electromechanics in cooperation with a foreign country, probably China. The first combat missile launches were carried out in China. The Belarussian army is armed with it. The upgraded Polonez-M has passed all trials and has been accepted into service by the Belarusian army as of May 2019. Its supplies have already begun.

Type: Multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin: Belarus
In service: 2016 – present
Designed: 2014
Produced: 2014 – present
Caliber: 300 mm (12 in)
Barrels: 8
Maximum firing range: 200 km (120 mi)

Guidance System:
global navigation satellite system (GNSS) / inertial navigation system (INS)

US - M982 Excalibur Ammuntion

155mm Satellite-Guided Artillery Shells

M982 Excalibur satellite-guided heavy artillery shells. Excalibur first was fielded in Iraq in 2007 for urban or complex-terrain engagements in which collateral damage must be kept to a minimum.

Excalibur has a ruggedized Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite navigation receiver and uses satellite signals to help guide itself to its intended targets. The 155-millimeter artillery shell can hit targets as far away as 25 miles, or detect and attack moving targets in cities and other complex terrain after being fired at high angles and high altitudes.

Russia - TOS-1 Buratino

The TOS-1 Buratino is a unique Russian self-propelled multiple rocket launcher system.

Russia Has One Weapon the U.S. Army Fears (And Has No Way to Match)

The United States was the first to use fuel-air explosives in the Vietnam War, dropping them by air to clear helicopter landing zones and minefields, and later deploying them as offensive weapons. In 2002, attempting to hunt down Osama bin Laden in the rugged mountains of Tora Bora, U.S. aircraft deployed thermobaric warheads on precision-guided missiles. The warheads would suck the oxygen out of the caves that Taliban fighters were hiding in.

The TOS-1 Buratino is a unique Russian self-propelled multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS) that has seen action in global hotspots like Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq and Syria. Like the enormous 240-millimeter 2S4 self-propelled mortar, the TOS-1’s specialty is obliterating heavily fortified positions. Although some of these may be found in rural rebel strongholds and fortified caves, they have often been employed in heavily urbanized environments. It’s gained a uniquely nasty reputation because of the horrifying effects of its fuel-air explosive warheads.

Fuel-Air Explosives

TOS stands for “heavy flame thrower,” which is only accurate in a literal sense: instead of projecting a stream of jellied gasoline, the TOS-1 launches a rocket carrying a fuel-air explosive (FAE).

These were first employed by the United States in the Vietnam War because napalm wasn’t destructive enough. Napalm munitions disperse a sticky, flaming liquid over a wide area. By contrast, a fuel-air explosive detonates the very air itself: a small explosive inside the FAE munition spreads a chemical cloud in the air through an aerosol effect. The gaseous cloud seeps effortlessly into buildings and caves, and down into slit trenches. A secondary explosive then ignites the cloud, causing a massive and long-lasting explosion.

The pressure generated by a TOS-1 blast amounts to 427 pounds per square-inch—for comparison, most conventional bomb blasts create roughly half that amount, and regular air pressure is fourteen pounds per square inch. Victims near the center of a TOS-1 blast radius are crushed to death. Further out, the overpressure can break bones, dislocate eyes, cause internal hemorrhaging, and rupture eardrums, bowels and other internal organs. It also sucks the air out of victims’ lungs, possibly causing them to collapse, leading to death by suffocation.

Germany - Donar Artillery Gun Module

Donar Artillery Gun Module (AGM)155 mm self-propelled howitzer

The Donar 155 mm self-propelled howitzer was jointly developed by Kraus-Maffei Wegmann and General Dynamics. It was revealed in 2008. This artillery system is named after Germanic pagan god of thunder. His more well-known Scandinavian name is Thor.

This artillery system was designed as faster, lighter, more powerful and more efficient artillery system than the PzH 2000 SPH. The Donar is a further development of the Artillery Gun Module (AGM). The Donar has already completed a series of trials. Unlike the AGM this new system is aimed at the export market. The Donar is fitted with rotating turret, armed with a 155 mm/L52  howitzer, fitted with a fully-automatic ammunition loading and handling system.

This SPH is fitted with new automatic breech-block drive. Vehicle has a crew of only two men. It has similar performance to the PzH 2000, however it significantly lighter and is cheaper to build. Ammunition load of the Donar was reduced to 30 rounds. Maximum range of fire depends on projectile and charge combination. It is 30 km with standard and 40 km with base bleed projectile. Using a South African VLAP rocket-assisted projectile a range of 56 km can be achieved. Maximum rate of fire is 6 rounds per minute, however this might be increased to 8 in production systems. The Donar is capable of Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) firing. This artillery system can fire four rounds that hit one target simultaneously. Vehicle is fitted with modern fire control system. Prototype of the Donar lacks defensive weapons, however It is claimed that production variant will be fitted with secondary armament. 

    Armored crew cabin provides protection against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. Protection can be enhanced by add-on armor kit. Mine protection kit is optional. Vehicle is fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems. This artillery system uses modified chassis of the General Dynamics ASCOD 2 IFV. Vehicle is fitted with an MTU diesel engine, developing 720 hp and auxiliary power unit. This artillery system can be airlifted by the Airbus A400M, however it is too large for current C-130 Hercules and TRANSALL C-160. The AGM turret can be mounted on a variety of wheeled and tracked vehicles. There is another RCH 155 self-propelled howitzer, which is a combination of Boxer 8x8 armored personnel carrier and AGM unmanned turret. This turret can be even used as a stationary stand-alone unit for defense of forward operating bases.