During the Great Patriotic War, it became clear that rocket artillery could well compete with the usual - barrel artillery. The relative high cost of rockets was more than offset by their power - action on the target. For example, it is sometimes said about the legendary Katyusha that its shells had a thermite warhead. It should be noted that such an option was really tested, but due to the special fuse of the "original" rocket, termite was not needed - the targets in the affected area were already burnt to the ground.
But the questions of range, area of destruction and expansion of types of shells have not been canceled. Therefore, after the war, when the development and introduction of new models ceased to adversely affect mass production, the designers directly engaged in new ammunition and increasing the firing range.
The results were not long in coming - already at the beginning of the 60s the Grad system appeared, covering almost 15 hectares in one salvo at a distance of up to 20 kilometers. It was possible to shoot from the "Grad" high-explosive, anti-tank, smoke and jamming shells. In the 70s, the BM-27 "Uragan" system was put into production, hitting at 35 km and striking 42.5 hectares. But this was not enough, and new research began.
At this time, the potential adversary also did not sit still. The development of the MLRS M270 MLRS was in full swing. But engineers at Lockheed's rocket department have come to the conclusion that 35-40 kilometers is the ultimate range for unguided projectiles. Further, the dispersion of missiles takes on completely unsatisfactory dimensions. And "full-fledged" guided missiles for MLRS are not economically more profitable than aviation ones. But the Americans nevertheless decided to increase the firing range by using homing guided missiles. However, their systems with such missiles are more reminiscent of tactical missile systems.
Since the late 60s, the TULGOSNIITOCHMASH enterprise in Tula has also studied the prospects of multiple launch rocket systems. And in the course of the work, they found several ways to increase not only the range, but also the accuracy of the fire. First of all, it is a relatively simple inertial control system. At the same time, as far as it is known from open sources, the "brain" of the rocket tries not to hit the target with the whole rocket, but at the right time to separate the warhead or open the ammunition cartridge. For this, the control system analyzes a number of flight parameters and makes corrections to the time set by the operator for the separation of the warhead.
In 1976, a government decree was issued on the beginning of the development of a new multiple launch rocket system based on a new missile. The development of the system, called the 9K58 "Smerch" or BM-30, at NPO Splav (the new name is "TULGOSNIITOCHMASH") began under the general designer of the enterprise A. N. Ganichev, but in connection with his death G. A. Denezhkin.
Despite the change of the general designer, the work was completed on time, and a new complex was presented for testing. It included a 9A52 combat vehicle based on the MAZ-79111 vehicle, a 9A52B control vehicle, a transport-loading vehicle based on the MAZ-79112 and several types of projectiles of the 9K55 line of 300 mm caliber.
The tests showed good fighting qualities - one launcher fired all 12 missiles in 40 seconds, preparation for a salvo "from wheels" took 3-4 minutes, and the time required for an urgent return to the stowed position and leaving the position did not exceed 2-3 minutes …The result of such a "five-minute" was also impressive: at a distance of 20 to 70 km, one installation set up an absolute hell on an area of 65-70 hectares (five times more than the "Grad").
Despite the perestroika funding cuts, the Ministry of Defense found the forces to put into service the new "Smerch", and in 1987 the system went to the troops. And the engineers of the Tula "Splav" continued work on the modernization of the complex. The most notable of them is the replacement of the base car of all vehicles of the complex with MAZ-79111 with MAZ-543M. The characteristics of the new chassis made it possible to change the design of the rocket and increase its range to 90 km - the new projectile with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead was designated 9M528.
Now the Smerch ammunition nomenclature looks like this:
9M55K. A 300 mm projectile with a cluster warhead. The latter contains 72 elements, 96 heavy and 360 light ready-made fragments to defeat lightly armored vehicles and enemy manpower. Most effective in open areas (field, steppe, desert, etc.).
9M55K1. Also has a cassette warhead. But this projectile carries 5 self-aiming combat elements (SPBE) of the Motiv-3N type. These elements are ejected from the cassette over the target, after which, descending by parachute, they independently search for the target using infrared sensors. At the appropriate height, the element shoots a kilogram copper blank at a speed of about 2 km / s, which is enough to penetrate armor up to 70 mm thick at an angle of impact of up to 30 ° to the normal.
9K55K4. Carries 25 PTM-3 anti-tank mines in a cassette. It is intended for quick mining of a tank hazardous direction from a safe distance.
9M55K5. A missile equipped with cumulative fragmentation elements - about 600 metal cylinders weighing 240 g each. When hit normal, the element penetrates up to 160 mm of homogeneous armor.
9M55F - high-explosive fragmentation projectile with a detachable warhead. By design, it is similar to the 9M55K.
9M528. Long-range missile (up to 90 km) with high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Equipped with a contact fuse with the ability to set the explosion time.
The only long-range serial projectile
9M534. An experienced rocket projectile for delivering an unmanned reconnaissance vehicle to the battlefield. The project is currently closed.
In 2007, at the MAKS-2007 showroom, Motovilikhinskiye Zavody presented a new version of the Smerch - 9A52-4 Kama. This MLRS is mounted on the basis of the KamAZ-63501 truck and has not 12, but 6 projectile guides. This lightweight design allows the unit to move on soft soils and bridges with low carrying capacity.
At present, the "Smerch" system is in service with 14 countries, its light version is still at the stage of concluding contracts.
