Danish Army
Specific: Late 1995 the Danish
Army ordered 8 MLRS, with ammunition worth 662 mill. DKr,
planned to serve Danish Division. Further 4 launchers is
planned implemented at Eastern Land Command. To support
the launchers 44 ammunitions-trucks with trailers and
supply- and maintenance-vehicles will be bought.
The MLRS will replace 155 and 203 mm howitzer´s
delivered through the MDAP after WW II. The system, with initial
deliverance of 4 launchers, was implemented 26 of October
1998. The system was upgraded to A1-standard before
deliverance which gave Improved Fire Control Systems,
IFCS, and Improved Launcher Mechanical Systems, ILMS.
The purchase of the MLRS is part of a larger
replacement of equipment. The Green Archer artillery locating radar will be
superseded by a new system by Erichsson Radar, Norway
called "ARTHUR", and to gather information by
electronic means a UAV system will be purchased.
Historical: The lightly armored self-propelled
rocket artillery system, build by Lockheed Martin Vought
Systems in USA, is a stretched version of the M2 Bradley
infantry fighting vehicle. The launcher is a highly
automated self-loading and self-aiming system. It
contains a fire control computer that integrates the
vehicle and rocket launching operations. The rockets can
be fired individually or in ripples of two to twelve.
Accuracy is maintained in all firing modes because the
computer re-aims the launcher between rounds. The MLRS
launcher operates by day and night and in all weather
conditions. The purpose of the MLRS launch system is to
engage and defeat tube and rocket artillery, air defense
concentrations, trucks, light armor and personnel
carriers, as well as support troop and supply
concentrations. The MLRS crew can emplace the launcher,
fire a mission and leave the firing site without leaving
the cab. The cab also protects the crew from chemical,
biological and radiological warfare agents.
The fire control computer allows firing missions to be
carried out either manually or automatically. The
computer prompts the crew step by step through each
successive operation, and constantly checks the condition
of mission-critical functions. In both manual and
automatic mode, the crew has full control over the launch
sequence. In a typical fire mission, a command post
transmits the selected target data directly to the MLRS
launcher's computer. When activated, the computer aims
the launcher and prompts the crew to arm and fire a
pre-selected number of rounds. Multiple mission sequences
can be pre-programmed and stored in the computer.
Mounted on the rear of the vehicle hull, the launcher
loader module consists of a base, turret and cage.
Three-man crew consists of the driver, gunner and section
chief, all of whom are seated in the cab at the front of
the vehicle.
The first production system was delivered to the US Army
in early 1982 and as of September 1995, a total of 857
launchers have been delivered, 772 to the active Army and
185 to the National Guard.
Length: 6.97 m (271 inches).
Width: 2.97 m (116 inches).
Height: 2.61 m (102 inches).
Weight: 28.000 kg (61.600 lb).
Armor: N/A.
Engine: V8-cylinder Cummins, type VTA-903T, 14.800
cm3 (903 cubic inches), turbo-charged.
Horsepower: 506 at 2.600 rpm.
Transmission: General Electric HMPT 500-3EC
automatic gearbox.
Transfer case: None.
Electrical system: 24 volt, negative ground.
Brakes: Multiple plate, oil cooled.
Fording depth:
without preparation: 1.1 m (43 inches).
with deep water fording kit: N/A.
Fuel type: Diesel.
Fuel capacity: 617 liter (163 gallons).
Range: 483 km (302 miles).
Crew: 3.
Armament: The standard rocket pod
comprises 6 glass fibre tubes with 227 mm rockets. The
pods are loaded by the integral twin boom loader system
of the launcher. Without leaving the cab the crew can
within one minute launch 12 rockets (2 pods), covering an
area of 500 x 500 m, at targets up to 45 km. In
comparison a 155 mm howitzer would use 88 granates, and
be able to reach targets at a range of approx. 16 km.
Additional: The IFCS provides additional
capacity to accommodate complex munitions and modern
computer electronics, including video display, onboard
navigation with global positioning system technology,
architecture for ultra-fast signal processing and
advanced mission software. ILMS reduces the time to aim
the launcher to 16 seconds (compared to 93 seconds). The
reloading time is cut by 38%.
The combination of the IFCS and ILMS reduces the time at
the launch site by 60%, increases the reliability by 45%
and at the same time reduces the operational and support
costs., which makes the system even more fast and
accurate.
The launcher is air-portable by C-130 Hercules.
During Operation Desert Storm the United States deployed
more than 230 MLRS, while the British deployed 16.
The system is operational in the US Army and fourteen
countries have fielded or are waiting delivery of MLRS:
Bahrain, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy,
Japan, South Korea, The Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
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