BM-30 Smerch

BM-30 *Smerch*
BM-30 Smerch
	9A52-2 "Smerch" launch vehicle
Type	Multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin	Soviet Union, Russia
Service history
In service	1989–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Second Chechen War; War in Donbas; Syrian civil war; 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war; 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designer	Splav State Research and Production Enterprise
Designed	1980s
Manufacturer	Splav State Research and Production Enterprise
Produced	1989–present
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	43.7 t
Length	12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Width	3.05 m (10 ft)
Height	3.05 m (10 ft)
Crew	3
Caliber	300 mm
Barrels	12
Maximum firing range	120 km (75 mi) (9M542 rocket); 200 km (120 mi) (9M544 rocket)
Main; armament	9M55 or 9M528 rockets
Engine	D12A-525A V12 diesel engine; 525 hp (391 kW)
Suspension	8×8 wheeled
Operational; range	850 km (530 mi)
Maximum speed	60 km/h (37 mph)

The BM-30 Smerch (Russian: Смерч, lit. 'tornado', 'whirlwind'), 9K58 Smerch or 9A52-2 Smerch-M is a heavy self-propelled 300 mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union to fire a full load of 12 solid-fuelled projectiles. The system is intended to defeat personnel, armored, and soft targets in concentration areas, artillery batteries, command posts and ammunition depots. It was designed in the early 1980s and entered service in the Soviet Army in 1989.^[4] When first observed by the West in 1983, it received the code MRL 280mm M1983. It continues in use by Russia; a program to replace it with the 9A52-4 Tornado began in 2018.^[5]

9A52-2 launch vehicle of 9K58 / BM-30 Smerch MLRS

^ BM-30 Smerch and BM-27 Uragan of Syrian Army shooting at IS positions in Palmyra – Syria on YouTube
^ Ripley, Tim (8 October 2020). "Armenia and Azerbaijan trade heavy fire". Janes. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
^ "Ukraine conflict: Russian forces employ guided rockets". Janes Information Services. 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022.
^ "Военная кафедра МЭСИ" [MESI Military Department]. vk.mesi.ru (in Russian). 23 December 2007. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
^ Dmitry Fediushko (20 November 2018). "Russia refits Missile Troops and Artillery". Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.

[1] BM-30 Smerch and BM-27 Uragan of Syrian Army shooting at IS positions in Palmyra – Syria on YouTube

[2] Ripley, Tim (8 October 2020). "Armenia and Azerbaijan trade heavy fire". Janes. Retrieved 19 September 2022.

[janes11march22-3] "Ukraine conflict: Russian forces employ guided rockets". Janes Information Services. 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022.

[4] "Военная кафедра МЭСИ" [MESI Military Department]. vk.mesi.ru (in Russian). 23 December 2007. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2019.

[5] Dmitry Fediushko (20 November 2018). "Russia refits Missile Troops and Artillery". Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.

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