The Uragan-1M is a new multiple rocket launcher of Russia. The system was developed to replace the older Uragan 220mm, which entered service in 1975 and the Smerch 300mm that entered service in 1987. While both systems are top-class, due to their age they are hard to maintain (specifically Uragan). The development of Uragan-1M started in 1995, but in 1996 it stopped due to financial issues. The whole development of the program was moving very slowly. Since 2012, the system is being tested by the Russian Defense Ministry. In 2015, it successfully passed the tests, and it was revealed publicly in 2016. But since 2017, it hasn't entered service, and probably that will happen in the next couple of years.
The multiple launch rocket system is impressively effective against troops or armored vehicles, artillery batteries, and airfields.
Specifications
Uragan-1M features different lengths of guns. It can carry up to two pods with different missiles. The system can launch missiles with different pods, like the 300mm of the Smerch or the 200mm missiles of the Uragan. It can also shoot every available ammunition of its predecessors. The lunching vehicle of the Uragan-1M is called 9A53.
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A standard 300mm missile is almost 7,6m and weighs almost 800kg, with a warhead of 280kg. There are different warheads like the HE-FRAG, incendiary, anti-tank and anti-personnel ammunition, and more. The maximum range is 70km with standard shells and 90km with long-range missiles. Some sources refer to a range of 120km with newly developed ammunition. A salvo of 300mm missiles can cover 670,000 square meters of area.
A typical 220mm missile is 4.8m and weights 280kg with a 90-100kg warhead, depending on the exact version. There are many available warheads, just like the 300mm missile. The 220mm reach up to 34km and can cover an area of 80,000km square meters.
The missile system requires a crew of 3 and needs 3 minutes to be prepared for launching. Such time is needed to be changed to transfer mode too. The missiles can be launched from the cabin or remotely.
The vehicle is being escorted by a reloading vehicle called 9T249, which features a crane and carries pods with reloading missiles.
