BALASORE: Indian defence scientists have tested the Russia-made ‘Smearch’ Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) five times within last couple of days from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from here.
Defence sources said the tests were conducted twice in solo and thrice in salvo mode by the DRDO scientists and the rocket target acquisition unit of Army. The tests termed as sample tests were aimed to assess its stability in flight as well as accuracy and consistency. ‘‘The tests were successful and yielded desired results,’’ said a source in the ITR.
The Russian ‘Smearch’ MLRS is the most powerful and the perfect MLRS of the world. It is intended to defeat live power, destroy armored vehicles, fortifications and command centres in 20-70 km range. ‘‘Smearch launch vehicle can launch 12 rockets at a time. It is able to fire single rockets or salvo from two to all 12 rockets. Full salvo lasts 38 seconds. While the diameter of the launcher is about 300 mm, the rocket’s diameter is 214 mm,’’ said a defence scientist. He informed that its artillery part consists of 12 launching pipe package, turning base, turning, lifting and aiming devices, electronic and auxiliary equipment. Launching pipes are rifled.
The 300-mm ‘Smearch’ projectiles are fitted with solid fuel engines. Rockets are 7.6 m in length and 800 kg in weight. Weight of warhead is 280 kg. Warhead can be simple or cluster.
‘‘It also has the capability of launching surface to surface and surface to air missiles. The system can be integrated with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to provide a new dimension to artillery defence system,’’ he added.
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