BM 27 Uragan Multiple Launch Rocket System

BM-27 Uragan Multiple Launch Rocket System

The BM-27 Uragan (hurricane) multiple launch rocket system was developed in the early 1970's. It is also referred as the 9K57. The Uragan entered service with the Soviet Army in 1975. Currently it is in service with at least 10 countries, including Russia. Export operators are Angola, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen and some other countries. The Uragan was the largest and most powerful system of its type in service until the late 1980s, when the Smerch was introduced. This artillery rocket system saw combat during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, both Russian wars in Chechnya and the recent Russia-Georgia war. It was also used by the Syrian Army at the first stage of the war against Israel at the beginning of the 1980s. Recently it saw combat during a military conflict in Ukraine.

Launching vehicle of the Uragan artillery rocket system is designated as the 9P140. It has has 16 launching tubes for 220 mm rockets. A standard rocket is 4.8 m long and weights 280 kg. Warhead weight is 90-100 kg, depending on the type. This system fires training, HE-FRAG, chemical, incendiary, fuel-air explosive, cluster rockets with scatterable anti-tank or anti-personnel mines. These are used for remote mine laying. It can also fire leaflet dispensing rockets. The BM-27 fires single rockets or full salvos. A full salvo of this artillery system covers area of 4.3 hectares. Maximum range of fire is up to 34 km.

A crew of four prepares this system for firing within 3 minutes. It might take up to 12 minutes to prepare this artillery system for firing, if position is unprepared. Vehicle leaves firing position within 3 minutes. Rockets can be launched directly from the cab or remotely from the launch vehicle, via a 60 m long cable.

The BM-27 Uragan uses chassis of a ZiL-135LMP 8x8 heavy high mobility vehicle. It is powered by two ZiL-375 petrol engines, developing 180 horsepower each. Engines are located behind the cab. Each engine is mated to its own 5-speed gearbox and is driving 4 wheels on each side. So the vehicle has 2 gearboxes. There were also 2 transfer cases and special synchronizers to control all of these mechanisms and deliver power to the wheels. So the design with 2 engines was overly complicated, not reliable, and troublesome to service. However back in the 1970s soviets had no suitable engine for this vehicle. The Uragan has a fiberglass cab, equipped with NBC protection system. Vehicle is fitted with a central tyre inflation system, which improves mobility over difficult terrain, such as mud, sand and snow. It has a climatic operational range from -40°C to +50°C. This artillery rocket system can be airlifted by Il-76, An-22 or An-124 military transport aircraft.

The Uragan launching vehicle is supported by a 9T452 reloading vehicle. The reloading vehicle is also based on the same ZiL-135LMP 8x8 chassis and has a crew of two. It is fitted with a crane and carriers a full set of 16 reload rockets. The launcher pack is reloaded within 15-20 minutes. Reloading usually takes place remotely from the firing position, to avoid counter-battery fire.

An improved version of the Uragan, the Uragan-1, was developed in the Soviet Union during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Its prototype was based on a BAZ-6950 heavy high mobility vehicle with an 8x8 configuration. However the Uragan-1 never reached production.

Production of the Uragan's wheeled chassis ended years ago. The Uragan might be replaced in service with a new Uragan-1M artillery rocket system, which was recently developed in Russia. The new system has two modular rocket pods with 220 mm and 300 mm rockets. Launcher of the Uragan-1M is based on a Belarusian MZKT-7930 heavy high-mobility chassis with 8x8 configuration.

Other operators of the Uragan, including Belarus and Ukraine developed their modernized versions in order to keep these artillery systems in service. The Belarusian Uragan-M is based on a MAZ-6317 military truck chassis with 6x6 configuration. It entered service in 2019. Ukrainian Bastion 3 is based on a KrAZ 6x6 chassis. However it was not adopted due to limited funding.