RM-70 Multiple rocket launcher

RM-70 multiple rocket launcher
Czech Republic Land Forces RM-70
Type	Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin	Czechoslovakia
Service history
In service	1972-present
Used by	See users
Wars	2008 South Ossetia war, Sri Lankan Civil War, 2011 Libyan Civil War
Specifications
Weight	33.7 tonnes (74,295 lbs)
Length	8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
Width	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height	2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Crew	6
Caliber	122.4 mm (4.8 in)
Barrels	40
Maximum firing range	20 km (12 mi)
Armor	Steel
Secondary armament	Universal machine gun vz. 59
Engine	T-903-3 V-12 multi-fuel 250 hp (184 kW)
Suspension	8×8 wheeled
Operational range	400 km (250 mi)
Speed	85 km/h (53 mph)

The RM-70 (raketomet vzor 1970) multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovakian army version and the heavier variant of the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, providing enhanced performance over its parent area-saturation artillery system that was introduced in 1971 (but the NATO designation is M1972).

RM-70 was developed in Czechoslovakia as a successor for the RM-51, achieving initial operational capability with its Army in 1972. The launcher was being produced in Dubnica nad Váhom (Slovakia). Originally, it was sold to East Germany. After the Soviet Union collapse and the split of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, it was sold to several states in Africa, America, Asia and Europe.

RM-70 replaced the Ural-375D 6x6 truck by a Tatra T813 "Kolos" 8x8 truck as carrier platform for the 40-round launcher. The new carrier vehicle provides enough space for carrying 40 additional 122mm rockets pack for reload. Nevertheless, RM-70 performance remains near the same as Grad even in terms of vehicle's speed and range. This rocket launcher can fire both individual rounds and volleys, principally by means of indirect fire. It is designed for concentrated fire coverage of large areas (up to 3 hectares in one volley) by high explosive fragmentation shells. The fire is robust with almost 256 kg of explosives used in one volley of 40 rockets. The rockets used are either the original Soviet 9M22 and 9M28, or locally developed models. These are the JROF with a range of 20.75 km, the JROF-K with a range of 11 km, the "Trnovnik" with 63 HEAT-bomblets and with a range of 17.5 km, the "Kuš" with five PPMI-S1 anti-personnel mines or the "Krizhna-R" with 4 anti-tank mines PTMI-D and with a range of 19,450 m.