How powerful is Russia's Tornado-G rocket?

(PLO)- The Russian army’s Tornado-G multiple rocket artillery system is equipped with a large satellite navigation system, which allows soldiers to fire up to 40 missiles without leaving the cabin and can be ready. fire in just one minute.

Since launching a military operation in Ukraine at the end of February 2021, the Russian military has concentrated all kinds of firepower against the densely entrenched forces of Kiev. Among the artillery and missile systems used by Russia in the field is the Tornado-G MLRS, a new version of the famous Soviet rocket system.

The power of the Tornado-G was made clear on January 9 when the Russian military released a video showing the rocket system firing at a Ukrainian reinforcement convoy moving in the dark in the Donetsk region. . Images from infrared thermal cameras show dozens of shells being fired at Ukrainian troops, lighting up the night sky.

Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers during a parade in Moscow. Photo: SPUTNIK

What is a Tornado-G jet cannon?

The Tornado-G is the product of the modernization of the 122mm self-propelled artillery system BM-21 Grad designed by the Soviet Union. Tornado-G was developed by the Splav arms corporation in the city of Tula (Russia) from the late 1990s to the 2000s and entered service with the Russian army from the early 2010s onwards.

The main outstanding feature of Tornado-G is the integrated computer system and automatic fire control system supporting GLONASS satellite positioning (satellite navigation system developed by Russia and with similar functions). such as GPS used to determine location). The system allows soldiers to fire up to 40 122mm missiles without leaving their cabins and can be ready to fire in just a minute.

Tornado-G is usually installed on Kamaz or Ural military trucks, but theoretically this cannon system can be attached to other vehicles, as long as they have the right weight and horsepower to move. . Tornado-G artillery systems typically weigh about 14,000 kg at full load. Thanks to miniaturized avionics, the additional crew required to operate was reduced from 5 men for the BM-21 salvo rocket to 2-3 for the Tornado-G.

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Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers at the Alabino firing range outside Moscow. Photo: SPUTNIK

Ammunition for the BM-21 can be used for the Tornado-G, as well as specially designed extended rounds to increase the range to 40, 70 or even 90 km. A standard shell weighs 66-70 kg and has a warhead mass of 25-35 kg.

Commonly used ammunition includes armor-piercing HEAT and cumulative fragmentation rounds that can penetrate armor between 60-170 mm thick, enough to destroy or severely damage most light tanks and combat vehicles. infantry fighting, armored personnel carriers and mortar batteries.

Like all MLRS systems as well as most heavy guns and howitzers, the Tornado-G has a large “blind spot” of being unable to fire at ranges less than 4 km and has no armor protection, meaning This artillery system needs to be protected and away from areas where enemy troops can break through and destroy.

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Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers during a parade in Moscow. Photo: SPUTNIK

How many Tornado-G artillery systems does the Russian military currently possess?

The Russian military first confirmed the use of Tornado-G for their military campaign Ukraine in November 2022. It is estimated that Moscow has about 180 Tornado-G artillery systems in its inventory, according to the news agency Sputnik.

How much does Tornado-G cost to make?

Information on the production cost of the Tornado-G artillery system is still a secret because the Russian military does not release any official figures.

However, according to a 2017 report in the Russian business media, the Ministry of Defense of the country signed a contract with manufacturers to build 36 MLRS systems for 1.07 billion rupees, equivalent to 1.07 billion rubles. equivalent to about 29.94 million rubles each (about 453,600 USD).