Rocket artillery is one of the most destructive weapons on the modern battlefield.
Designed to pump out a high volume of fire within a short period, rocket artillery systems
are particularly dangerous in their ability to obliterate a position before units have
a chance to take cover.
This capability, while less relevant in Western counterinsurgency doctrine, has proven useful
in recent conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
However, most rocket artillery systems used in those conflicts are Russian or Soviet.
What does NATO have to compare?
Here are what could be considered the best rocket artillery systems NATO has to offer:
1.
M270 MLRS
The M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) entered service with the US Army in 1983.
Production of this vehicle ceased in 2003.
The M270 is currently in service with the US Army and a number of other countries.
It is also a standard NATO multiple launch rocket system.
A unique feature of the M270 is that it has got no launching rails.
Rockets are fired straight away from containers.
Each disposable container holds 6 rockets.
Rockets can be stored in containers without any maintenance for up to ten years.
Vehicle carries two such containers with a total of 12 rockets.
A standard 227mm HE-FRAG rocket is 3.96 m long and weights 307 kg.
It has a 120 kg warhead.
The M270 also fires two types of cluster rockets, fitted with anti-tank submunitions and the
AT-2 anti-tank mines.
Warheads are interchangeable.
It also fires newly developed guided munitions at a range of 60-100 km.
The M270 MLRS can also launch MGM-140 ATACMS (Army TACtical Missile System) tactical missiles.
The ATACMS has a range exceeding 150 km.
Two of these missiles can be carried.
Furthermore vehicle can carry a mix of one missile and a pack of six rockets.
The M270 is based on the modified M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle chassis.
Vehicle is powered by the Cummins VTA-903T diesel engine, developing 500 horsepower.
It has an armored cab, protecting the crew against small arms fire.
It is also fitted with an NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems.
Reloading of the vehicle is made by its crew during 5-10 minutes.
It is assisted by an integrated crane.
Reloads are carried in the M985 HEMTT high mobility utility truck.
2.
M142 HIMARS
The M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a lighter version of the M270 MLRS
multiple launch rocket system.
It is intended for the airborne troops and marines.
It entered service with the US Army and Marine Corps in 2005.
A total procurement of 900 launchers is planned.
It has been exported to Jordan (12), Singapore (18) and the United Arab Emirates (20).
Some other export customers are considering to purchase this system.
The HIMARS fires the same rockets as the M270 MLRS, however it carries only one pack with
a total of 6 rockets.
It offers half firepower of the M270.
A standard 227 mm rocket is 3.96 m long and weights 307 kg.
The HIMARS fires a full range of the M270 rockets, including HE-FRAG and cluster.
It also fires newly developed extended range guided munitions at a range of 60 - 100 km.
The HIMARS can launch a single MGM-140 ATACMS (Army TACtical Missile System) tactical missile.
The HIMARS is mounted on the FMTV 6x6 five-ton army truck.
Vehicle is powered by a Caterpillar 3135 ATAAC 6.6-liter diesel engine, developing 290 horsepower.
Reloading is made by the crew within 5 minutes.
It is assisted by an integrated crane.
Reload rockets are carried by escorting cross-country truck.
Reloading is performed remotely from firing position in order to avoid counter-battery
fire.
This artillery system can be airlifted by a C-130 Hercules tactical cargo aircraft.
3.
RM-70
Although designed for Warsaw Pact countries during the Cold War, RM-70 launchers continue
to serve in NATO arsenals in Central Europe.
Based on the proven Tatra truck chassis, RM-70 launchers can even serve as a budget alternative
to the HIMARS, as Slovak companies have offered to convert RM-70s to be able to mount a NATO-standard
6-round 227mm rocket pack.
However, even with the original 122mm rockets (the same as on the Soviet BM-21 Grad), the
RM-70 is a formidable launcher.
Unlike the Grad, the long 8×8 truck chassis allows for the carriage of a single full 40-rocket
reload in front of the launcher.
4.
LAROM
In addition to the HIMARS, Romania also fields a lighter Grad-alike rocket system.
The LAROM is a version of Israel’s LAR-160 rocket launcher mounted on a simple truck
chassis.
The ability to use Israeli 160mm rockets provides a significant increase of capability over
a regular Grad launcher.
The Israeli rockets have cluster munition warheads and are mounted on pods to allow
for fast reloading in the field.
In contrast, a regular Grad launcher like those found on the BM-21 or RM-70 has to be
loaded tube by tube by a crew.
However, a podded reload requires a crane on an ammunition support vehicle.
The LAROM can use both a standard Grad array as well as Israeli pods depending on its configuration.
5.
T-300 Kasirga
The Turkish T-300 Kasirga is perhaps the only NATO rocket artillery system that could truly
be considered a “heavy” system like the Russian/Soviet BM-30 Smerch.
Firing massive 300mm rockets, the T-300 is one of the longest ranged rocket artillery
systems in the NATO arsenal, with the rockets capable of reaching out to 100 km.
This is significantly longer than the 70 km that the M270 can reach with M30/M31 GMLRS
rockets, although rockets in development may extend the M270’s range out to 150 km.
The T-300 also has one of the largest warheads of an artillery rocket in NATO inventory.
The M31 has a unitary warhead weight of 90 kg.
This is far less than the T-300’s 150 kg warhead or the Smerch’s massive 243 kg.