The military all over the world are well acquainted with the Grad, a multiple launch rocket system that appeared in the Soviet Union in 1964. It really was a terrible weapon, against which none of the probable opponents could do anything. Nothing could survive within a radius of tens of meters - tanks, armored personnel carriers, cars, infantry - everything was swept away by a terrible explosion.
For the first time, "Grad" demonstrated its effectiveness during the conflicts with the Chinese on Damansky Island in 1969. Then several volleys simply turned the entire area of the island into a carefully plowed field. Of course, none of the Chinese who were sent to capture the Soviet island survived. However, it is still unknown how many people the enemy lost there. The estimated number reaches 3 thousand soldiers and officers.
However, even such a perfect weapon as the Grad has a certain resource. And since he stood on alert for over four decades, it was time to find a replacement for him. The honor of becoming it went to the Tornado multiple launch rocket system.
On September 25 this year, they were first tested at the Kapustin Yar test site. The exercises will be attended by the highest military ranks of both Russia and Kazakhstan.
In general, the "Tornado" surpasses the "Grad" in almost all respects - range, accuracy of combat, accuracy, topographic location and many others.
Unlike its predecessors ("Grad", "Smerch") "Tornado" has a satellite guidance system, due to which the probability of a miss will be significantly reduced. An important indicator is the fact that compared to the "Smerch", the "Tornado" multiple launch rocket system has a firing range that is three times greater than that of its predecessor and, practically, the father. Each of the projectiles is now equipped with microcircuits that control the flight. This further reduces the chance of a miss. Today "Tornado" shows a maximum firing range of 90 kilometers, which is really an excellent indicator for such systems. In this case, the shells can have a very different filling: cumulative, fragmentation, self-aiming combat elements, anti-tank mines. This allows you to achieve even more goals that can be set for him.
As practice shows, in a few minutes after the multiple launch rocket system produces a series of shots at the target, its location is subjected to a powerful bombardment, which leaves virtually no chance of survival for either the vehicle or its crew. That is why the "Tornado" can leave the position even before the first of the fired shells touches the ground. When the last shell explodes, destroying the target, the complex itself may be already several kilometers from the place from which the shooting was fired.
All this makes the "Tornado" a truly formidable weapon that is practically unmatched.
It is also interesting that there are two versions of this multiple launch rocket system: "Tornado-S" and "Tornado-G". New 122 mm. MLRS "Tornado-G" in its combat effectiveness is 2, 5 - 3 times higher than MLRS "Grad". And the modified 300-mm MLRS "Tornado-S" will be 3-4 times more effective than the MLRS "Smerch". Lieutenant General Sergei Bogatinov said that it is the Tornado-S, together with the Iskander-M tactical missile complexes, that will be able to become the main complexes with which the Russian missile forces and artillery will be armed.
