3. INTRODUCTION
It is produced by the Splav State Research
and Production Association, Tula, Russia,
which also manufactures the Uragan, Grad
and Prima rocket launchers. Smerch was
developed in the early 1980s and entered
service with the Russian Army in 1988. I
5. LAUNCHER
The launch vehicle is based on the MAZ-543M 8x8
wheeled truck chassis on which is mounted a 12-tube
launcher.
The vehicle is manufactured by Minsk Auto Zavod (MAZ).
The tubes are arranged as two blocks of four with a
single row of four above.
The launcher has a crew of four and is capable of single
or salvo firing.
7. TRANSLOADER
The transloader is based on the MAZ-543A 8x8
wheeled truck chassis which carries a further 12
rockets.
The transloader provides for mechanised
loading of the launch vehicle, by means of a
hydraulic crane mounted on the vehicle.
9. FIRE CONTROL
The fire control system for Smerch is the Vivari FCS which can
function automatically or under manual control.
One Vivari system controls the six Smerch launchers in a unit and is
housed in a separate command vehicle.
It has either one or two E-175 computers to calculate ballistic and
targeting data for each launcher.
The command vehicle has both satellite and radio
communications systems to link to both subordinate units and
headquarters.
11. RECONNAISSANCE
It has been reported that a miniature aerial vehicle, R-
90, containing a stabilised camera is being developed
which could be fired from the Smerch launcher,
enabling realtime battlefield surveillance data to be
relayed to the Smerch commander.
The aerial vehicle, which uses GPS (Global Positioning
System), has the same 70km range as the 9M55K rocket
and can transmit data for up to 30 minutes.
