BM-27 Uragan#Variants

{{Short description|Soviet multiple launch rocket system}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox weapon

| name = BM-27 Uragan (9P140)
БМ-27 Ураган (9П140)

| image = 300px
300px

| image_size = 300

| caption = BM-27 Uragan
BM-27M Uragan-1M

| origin = Soviet Union

| type = Multiple rocket launcher

| is_artillery = yes

| is_vehicle = yes

| is_UK = yes

| service = 1975–present

| used_by = See Operators

| wars = Soviet–Afghan War
War in Abkhazia (1992–1993){{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=37}}
First Chechen War{{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=37}}
Second Chechen War{{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=37}}
Russo-Georgian War{{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=37}}
War in Donbas{{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=37}}
Iran-Israel proxy conflict{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/10/israel-fires-barrage-missiles-syria-accusing-iranian-forces/|title=Israel strikes back against Syrian targets and threatens 'storm' on Iran after Golan Heights attack|first=Raf|last=Sanchez|date=10 May 2018|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}
Syrian Civil War{{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=37}}
Second Nagorno-Karabakh War
Russian invasion of Ukraine{{cite web|last1=Salem|first1=Harriet|title='I Couldn't Move for Five Minutes from Fear': An Investigation into Cluster Bombs in Eastern Ukraine|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/i-couldnt-move-for-five-minutes-from-fear-an-investigation-into-cluster-bombs-in-eastern-ukraine/|website=Vice.com|date=22 October 2014 |publisher=Vice|access-date=23 October 2014}}

| designer = Splav State Research and Production Enterprise

| design_date = 1970s

| manufacturer = Splav State Research and Production Enterprise

| unit_cost =

| production_date = 1975–present

| number =

| variants = See Variants

| spec_label =

| weight = 20 tonnes (44,092 lbs)

| length =

| part_length =

| width =

| height =

| diameter =

| crew = 6

| cartridge =

| caliber = 220 mm (8.66 in)

| barrels = 16

| action =

| rate =

| velocity =

| range = 35 km (22 mi)

| max_range = >70km

| feed =

| sights = PG-1 panoramic telescope

| breech =

| recoil =

| carriage =

| elevation =

| traverse =

| armour =

| primary_armament =

| secondary_armament =

| engine = Two engines, with separate gearboxes and drive shafts, that are longitudinally mounted, one on each side of vehicle immediately behind cab

| engine_power =

| transmission =

| payload_capacity =

| fuel_capacity =

| pw_ratio =

| suspension = 8×8 wheeled

| clearance =

| vehicle_range = 500 km (311 mi)

| speed =

| guidance =

}}

The BM-27 Uragan ({{langx|ru|БМ-27 Ураган|lit=Hurricane}}; GRAU index 9P140) is a self-propelled 220 mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union to deliver cluster munitions. The system began its service with the Soviet Army in the late 1970s, and was its first spin and fin stabilized heavy multiple rocket launcher.

An updated version known as Uragan-1M was commissioned in 2008. The truck vehicle has no similarities.{{cite news |title=Uragan-1M Multiple launch rocket system |url=https://www.military-today.com/artillery/uragan_1m.htm |access-date=5 February 2023 |publisher=ARG}}{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Description

The BM-27 Uragan is capable of launching 220 mm rockets from 16 launch tubes mounted on the rear of a ZIL-135 8×8 chassis.{{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=36}} This vehicle is extremely similar to that used in the FROG-7 free flight rocket system. It has two gasoline engines that power its 20 tonnes to a maximum speed of 65 kilometers per hour. One engine drives the four wheels on the left of the truck, while the other engine drives the four wheels on the right. The ZIL-135 has eight wheel drive, but only the front and rear axles are used for steering. It has a maximum cruising range of 500 kilometers.

The cab of the ZIL-135 is NBC protected, allowing the rockets to be fired without exposing the crew to possible contaminants.Red Steel: Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of the Cold War, by Russell Phillips, pub Shilka, 2013, p140.[http://weaponsystems.net/weaponsystem/DD05%20-%20BM-27%20Uragan.html WeaponSystems.net], BM-27 Uragan. The six-man crew{{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=36}} can emplace or displace the system in three minutes.

Before firing, stabilizing jacks must be lowered and the blast shield raised to protect the cab and its occupants. Indirect fire aiming is achieved with the use of a PG-1 panoramic telescope. Although there are no night vision sights, the driver of the launch vehicle is equipped with a night vision device.

The BM-27 can use HE-FRAG, chemical, explosive or scatterable mine (PTM-3 or PFM-1) submunition equipped rockets, all of which are detonated by electric timing fuses. (However, chemical munitions have been officially off service in Russia since 2017.) Each rocket weighs 280.4 kilograms. The warheads weigh between 90 and 100 kilograms, depending on type. A full salvo of 16 rockets can be fired in 20 seconds and can engage targets within a range of 35 kilometers.

Because of the size of the warhead, the range of the rocket and the speed that a salvo can be delivered, the BM-27 is very effective at mine laying. Each 220 mm rocket can scatter 312 anti-personnel PFM-1 mines. Minefields can be laid behind a retreating enemy or even be used to trap an enemy by encircling them with mines. Tactics such as this were often used by the Soviets in Afghanistan.

Once the rockets have been fired, 9T452 (another ZIL-135 based vehicle) is used to assist in reloading. It carries additional rockets and a crane to transfer the rockets from the reload vehicle to the launcher.{{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=36}} The entire reloading procedure takes around 20 minutes.

File:BM-27 Uragan MLRS.jpg|The 9P140 missile launcher vehicle as a monument to A.N. Ganichev near Splav State Research and Production Enterprise, Tula city

Image:9T452 Uragan.jpg|The 9T452 transporter-loader vehicle at the St Petersburg Artillery Museum

Image:Учебный центр Минобороны в Саратове получит новые РСЗО «Ураган» и САУ «Акация» до конца года.jpg|Uragan firing

=Rockets=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
width=80px | [https://old.weaponsystems.net/weaponsystem/DD05%20-%20BM-27%20Uragan.html BM-27 Uragan]. Weapon Systems.net.[https://weaponsystems.net/system/1045-220mm+9M27 220mm 9M27]. Weapon Systems.net.

! width=20% | 9M27F

! width=20% | 9M27K1

! width=20% | 9M27K2

! width=20% | 9M27K3

! width=20% | 9M59

Diameter

| colspan=5 |220 mm

Length

| {{cvt|4.832|m|abbr=on}}

| colspan=2|{{center|{{cvt|5.178|m|abbr=on}}}}

| {{cvt|5.2|m|abbr=on}}

| {{cvt|5.178|m|abbr=on}}

Weight

| {{cvt|280|kg|abbr=on}}

| colspan=4|{{center|{{cvt|270|kg|abbr=on}}}}

Warhead

| {{cvt|100|kg|abbr=on}} unitary HE-Frag ({{cvt|51.7|kg|abbr=on}} of HE)

| {{cvt|90|kg|abbr=on}} container for 30 9N210 anti-material bomblets

| {{cvt|89.5|kg|abbr=on}} container for 24 PGMDM/PTM-1 anti-tank mines

| 90 kg container for 312 PFM-1 anti-personnel mines

| 89.5 kg container for 9 PTM-3 directional charge bottom attack anti-tank mines

Range

| colspan=3|{{center|{{cvt|10-35|km|abbr=on}}}}

| {{cvt|8-34|km|abbr=on}}

| 10–35 km

Also 9M27S incendiary rockets.

=Operational history=

  • On 7 March 2022, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian military barracks on Mykolayv killing and wounding several soldiers.{{cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3773672-oborona-marinki-vid-vognanih-valiv-do-rukopasnih-suticok.html|title=Оборона Мар'їнки: від вогняних валів до рукопашних сутичок|date=14 October 2024}}
  • On 9 July 2022, a missile attack on Chasiv Yar left at least 48 persons killed. A Uragan launcher was employed.{{Cite news |url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/v-gorode-chasov-yar-pod-zavalami-posle-obstrela-mogut-bytj-desyatki-lyudey/31936726.html |title=Число жертв удара по городу Часов Яр достигло 15 |newspaper=Радио Свобода |date=10 July 2022 |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |access-date=10 July 2022 |archive-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710141915/https://www.svoboda.org/a/v-gorode-chasov-yar-pod-zavalami-posle-obstrela-mogut-bytj-desyatki-lyudey/31936726.html |url-status=live }}

Variants

  • 9P140 Uragan: Standard variant on ZIL-135 truck.

=Uragan-M=

{{Main|9К512 Uragan-1M}}

  • {{vanchor |Uragan-1M}}: Variant presented to the public in 2007; all processes are automated. Can also fire the 300 mm rockets of the BM-30 Smerch system.[http://warfiles.ru/show-94303-bikalibernaya-rszo-uragan-1m-proshla-gosudarstvennye-ispytaniya.html Бикалиберная РСЗО «Ураган-1М» прошла государственные испытания] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20150825064945/http://warfiles.ru/show-94303-bikalibernaya-rszo-uragan-1m-proshla-gosudarstvennye-ispytaniya.html |date=25 August 2015 }}, warfiles.ru, Retrieved: 25 August 2015 (Russian) Reloading is simplified by substituting barrels; can be fitted with two banks of six 300 mm launch tubes or fifteen 220 mm launch tubes. Deliveries to the Russian Army started as of September 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/0916/160037116/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Серийные поставки реактивных систем залпового огня «Торнадо-С» планируется начать в 2017 году|website=armstrade.org|access-date=13 April 2018}}[http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/russian_armed_forces_will_receive_new_uragan-1m_multi-caliber_multiple_launch_rocket_system_tass_12209161.html Russian armed forces will receive new Uragan-1M multi-caliber multiple launch rocket system] – Armyrecognition.com, 22 September 2016{{cite web|url=http://vpk-news.ru/news/35188|title=Новейший реактивный "Ураган-М1" (видео) – Еженедельник «Военно-промышленный курьер"|website=vpk-news.ru|access-date=13 April 2018}} Can fire guided 220 mm rockets with a range of {{cvt|70|km|abbr=on}}.[https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2018/october-2018-navy-naval-defense-news/6557-russian-navy-artillery-units-to-get-uragan-1m-mlrs-for-coastal-defence.html Russian Navy Artillery Units to Get Uragan-1M MLRS for Coastal Defence]. Navy Recognition. 13 October 2018. On Belarusian MZKT 8x8 military truck chassis.

=Uragan-U=

  • {{vanchor |9A53 Uragan-U}}: Successor with 2 × 15 launch tubes; presented in 2009 on 8×8 MZKT-7930. Thanks to its modular assembly the BM-30 Smerch and BM-21 Grad rockets can also be fired.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

=Ukrainian models=

File:1h9a8005.jpg

  • Bastion-03: Prototype by Ukrainian company AvtoKrAZ, presented in 2010. Installed on a 6×6 truck type KrAZ-63221RA.[https://issuu.com/avtokraz/docs/milvehicles/6 KrAZ Military Vehicles], issuu.com, Retrieved: 19 February 2016
  • Bureviy (meaning "Storm"): Prototype by Ukroboronprom involving a new digital fire control system capable of target sharing and mounted on a Tatra 8x8 T815-7T3RC1 chassis, which can fire with modified armament up to 65 km (40 mi).{{Cite web|url=https://defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/novitnja_ukrajinska_rszv_burevij_projshla_vognevi_viprobuvannja_ekskljuzivne_video-2104.html|title = Новітня українська РСЗВ "Буревій" пройшла вогневі випробування: ексклюзивне відео | Defense Express}}

Operators

=Current Operators=

  • {{flag|Angola}} – 3-4 BM-27M Uragan-M in service as of 2024.{{cite book |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2024 |date=2024 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-040-05115-3 |language=en |ref={{SfnRef|IISS|2024}} |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies }}{{Cite web |last=SIPRI |title=SIPRI Arms Transfer Database |url=https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/TransferRegister |access-date=12 December 2024 |website=SIPRI}}
  • {{BLR}} – 36 in service as of 2024.
  • {{ERI}} – 9 in service as of 2024.
  • {{GUI}} – 3 in service as of 2024.
  • {{KGZ}} – 6 in service as of 2024.
  • {{MDA}} – 11 in service as of 2024.
  • {{RUS}} – 218 BM-27 Uragan and 6 BM-27M Uragan-M in service with a further 550 Uragan in storage as of 2024.
  • {{SYR}} – An unknown number in service as of 2024. Serviceability is uncertain. 36 received from Russia in 1987-88.
  • {{TKM}} – 60 in service as of 2024.
  • {{UKR}} – 35 BM-27 Uragan and Bureviy in service as of 2024.
  • {{UZB}} – 48 in service as of 2024.

=Former Operators=

  • {{AFG}}{{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=37}} – 180 (not functional){{citation needed|date=January 2019}}
  • {{GEO}} – Saw limited usage during Abkhazia War, out of service.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}
  • {{KAZ}} – 180 were in storage in 2016.{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=185}} No longer in service.
  • {{flag|Soviet Union}}: Passed on to successor states.
  • {{TJK}} – {{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=37}}
  • {{TAN}} – {{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=37}}
  • {{YEM}}{{sfn|Prenatt|Hook|2016|p=37}} – Over 50. Saw intensive action in the ongoing civil war.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} Does not appear to be in service as of 2024. 7 received from Moldova in 1994.

See also

  • {{annotated link|Astros II}}
  • {{annotated link|BM-24}}
  • {{annotated link|BM-30 Smerch}}
  • {{annotated link|Fajr-5}}
  • {{annotated link|Falaq-2}}
  • {{annotated link|M142 HIMARS}}
  • {{annotated link|Katyusha rocket launcher|Katyusha}} BM-13 of World War II
  • {{annotated link|MAR-290}}
  • {{annotated link|M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System}}
  • {{annotated link|Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher}}
  • {{annotated link|TOROS artillery rocket system|TOROS}}
  • {{annotated link|9A52-4 Tornado}}

References

{{reflist}}

Bibliography

  • {{cite book|first1=Jamie|last1=Prenatt|first2=Adam|last2=Hook|title=Katyusha – Russian Multiple Rocket Launchers 1941–Present|series=New Vanguard 235|publisher=Osprey Publishing|place=Oxford|year=2016|isbn=978-1-4728-1086-1}}
  • {{cite book|title=The Military Balance 2016|date=February 2016|volume=116|isbn=9781857438352 |publisher=Routlegde|ref={{harvid|Military Balance 2016}}|author=International Institute for Strategic Studies|author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies}}
  • {{cite book|title=The Military Balance 2021|date=February 2021|volume=121|isbn=9781032012278 |publisher=Routledge|ref={{harvid|The Military Balance 2021}}|author=International Institute for Strategic Studies|author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies}}