Rosoboronexport together with NPO Splav and the Indian Ministry of Defense signed on August 27, 2012 in New Delhi a Memorandum of Cooperation in organizing the production and after-sales service of rockets for the Smerch MLRS in India. The technologies for the production of rockets will be fully transferred to the Russian-Indian joint venture that is being created.
In their work, both parties will be guided by the current legislation of the Russian Federation and the Republic of India and will take all measures to protect information and materials containing confidential information.
The signing of the Memorandum on the establishment of a joint venture for the production of shells for the MLRS "Smerch" confirms the fact that military-technical cooperation between India and Russia is based on large-scale projects and mutual trust, friendship and geopolitical strategic partnership of the highest level.
Today, both countries progressively and on a mutually beneficial basis are strengthening the existing interstate relations. Receiving Russian military technology, India is rapidly mastering what other states need decades to do. And such an increase in the share of Indian industry in the development and production of Russian military equipment and weapons for the Indian army and navy is in the interests of both states.
At present, OJSC Rosoboronexport, OJSC NPO Splav and the Department of Artillery Plants of the Defense Production Department of the Indian Ministry of Defense are actively working on drawing up a business plan for the joint venture.
FOR REFERENCE:
The 300-mm shells of the Smerch MLRS have a classic aerodynamic configuration and are equipped with an efficient solid-propellant engine running on mixed fuel. A distinctive feature of the projectiles is the presence of a flight control system that corrects the trajectory of pitch and yaw (see the diagram of the electronic timing device and the control system unit). Due to the use of this system, the accuracy of hits of the "Tornado" was increased 2 times (does not exceed the value of 0.21% of the salvo range, that is, about 150 m, which brings it closer to artillery in accuracy), and the accuracy of fire - 3 times … Correction is carried out by gas-dynamic rudders driven by high-pressure gas from an onboard gas generator. In addition, the stabilization of the projectile in flight occurs due to its rotation around the longitudinal axis, provided by preliminary unwinding during movement along the tubular guide and supported in flight by installing the blades of the drop-down stabilizer at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.
With a range of up to 70 km:
9M55F projectile with monoblock high-explosive fragmentation warhead;
9M55K projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with fragmentation warheads;
9M55K1 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with Motiv-3M self-aiming submunitions (see the trajectory diagram);
9M55K3 projectile with cluster warhead for anti-personnel mining of the terrain;
9M55K4 projectile with a cluster warhead for anti-tank mining of the terrain;
9M55K5 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with HEAT-fragmentation submunitions;
9M55K6 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with 9N268 self-aiming submunitions;
9M55K7 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with small-sized self-aiming warheads;
9M55S projectile with thermobaric warhead;
Variants of the following projectiles with a maximum firing range of 90 km were being worked out, most of which remained design work:
9M525 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with fragmentation warheads;
9M526 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with Motiv-3M self-aiming submunitions
9M527 projectile with a cluster warhead for anti-tank mining of the terrain;
9M528 projectile with high-explosive fragmentation warhead;
9M529 projectile with thermobaric warhead;
9M530 projectile with a penetrating high-explosive warhead;
9M531 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with cumulative fragmentation submunitions;
9M532 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with small-sized self-aiming warheads;
9M533 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with 9N268 self-aiming submunitions;
9M534 projectile, equipped with a small reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle;
9M536 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with penetrating fragmentation submunitions;
9M537 projectile with a cluster warhead equipped with non-contact detonation fragmentation submunitions.
Shooting can be carried out with single shells or in a volley. A salvo of one car covers an area of 672 thousand square meters.
According to forecasts of military experts, the Smerch system will remain in service until approximately 2020-2030, since it contains a number of basic solutions that ensure the further improvement of the combat installation.
The unique "lethal" technologies of the Tula gunsmiths predetermined the development of tactical weapons at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century.
"ROSOBORONEXPORT" press release 2012-05-09
