Astros II MLRS

ASTROS II (Artillery Saturation Rocket System) is a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher produced in Brazil by the Avibras company. It features modular design and employs rockets with calibers ranging from 127 mm to 450 mm ( 5-17.72 inches). It was developed on the basis of a Tectran VBT-2028 6×6 all-terrain vehicle for enhanced mobility.

ASTROS-II Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
ASTROS-II MK6
Type	Rocket artillery
Place of origin	Brazil
Service history
In service	Since 1983
Wars	Iran–Iraq War Gulf War Angolan Civil War Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) Military Intervention in Yemen
Production history
Manufacturer	Avibras
No. built	270+
Specifications
Mass	10,000 kg (22,046 lbs)[1]
Length	7 m (20 ft)
Width	2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height	2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Crew	3
Cartridge	Rocket length: 4.20 m (13 ft 9 in)[2] Rocket weight: 152 kg (335 lb)[2]
Caliber	450mm (7.08in)[2]
Maximum firing range	30km(SS-30) to 300km(AV-TM 300)[2]
Main armament	Launcher Loader Module
Secondary armament	1 × 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun[1]
Engine	Mercedes OM422 8-cylinder diesel 280 hp (209 kW)[1]
Suspension	6×6
Operational range	480 km (298 mi)
Maximum speed	90 Km/h (56 mph)

Overview

Tectran AV-UCF fire control vehicle

Astros II are normally grouped in artillery batteries consisting on average of about 13 vehicles: 6 of them are Astros II launchers, 6 are rocket resupply trucks and 1 a special radar-equipped vehicle controlling the fire-control system.[3] The launcher is capable of firing rockets of different calibres armed with a range of warheads.[4]

Each rocket resupply truck carries up to two complete reloads.[3]

Service history

The ASTROS II artillery system entered service with the Brazilian Army in 1983. The system is battle proven, having been used in action by the Iraqi Army in the Gulf Wars.

In the 1980s, Avibrás sold an estimated 66 Astros II artillery systems to Iraq. Iraq also built the Sajeel-60 which is a license-built version of the Brazilian SS-60. Sixty Astros II were sold to Saudi Arabia[5] and an unspecified number sold to Bahrain and Qatar. Total sales of the Astros II between 1982 and 1987 reached US$1 billion.[3] This fact made the Astros II multiple rocket launcher the most profitable weapon produced by Avibrás.[6]

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Avibrás worked almost exclusively with the manufacturing of rockets and multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), such as the Astros II, in addition to developing antitank and antiship missiles. At its peak, Avibrás employed 6,000 people; later it would be reduced to 900 people in the early 1990s as the arms industry demand fell. Even so, in the first Gulf War in 1991, the Astros II was successfully used by Saudi Arabia against Iraq.[7] Years earlier, the Astros II system helped Angola to defeat the UNITA.

New generation

The next step is an ambitious program, the Astros 2020 (Mk6), based on a 6x6 wheeled chassis.[8] Being a new concept, it will require an estimated investment of R$1.2 billion, of which about US$210 million will be invested solely in development. It will be integrated with the cruise missile AVMT-300 with 300-km range during the stage of testing and certification. It is said that the venture will, for example, enable the Army to integrate the Astros with defense anti-aircraft guns, paving the way for the utilization of common platforms, trucks, parts of electronic sensors and command vehicles.[9][10] The Astros 2020 will also be equipped with a 180 mm GPS-guided rocket called the SS-AV-40 with a range of 40 km (25 mi) 40 rockets carried and SS-150 newly developed rockets with a claimed maximum range of 150 km. Four of them are carried.[11] 36 Astros 2020 systems are to be acquired.[12]

Variants

SS-30, SS-40, SS-60 and an Astros MK6 the Brazilian Army.

• SS-30 – fires 127 mm rockets – Loads 32
• SS-40 – fires 180 mm rockets – Loads 16
• SS-AV-40 – fires 180 mm rockets – Loads 40
• SS-60 – fires 300 mm rockets – Loads 4
• SS-80 – fires 300 mm rockets – Loads 4
• SS-150 – fires 450 mm rockets – Loads 4
• FOG MPM - Anti-tank, anti-fortification and anti-helicopter missile
• AV-TM 300 – Cruise Missile - Loads 2

Specifications

ASTROS MK6 Malaysian Army.

Astros MK6 inside.

ASTROS MK6 naval variant of the Brazilian Marines Corps.

• Range in indirect fire mode[13] (first figure is minimum range):
  • SS-30: 9–30 km
  • SS-40: 15–35 km
  • SS-AV-40: 15–40 km
  • SS-60: 20–60 km
  • SS-80: 22–90 km
  • SS-150: 29–150 km
  • FOG MPM: 5–60 km
  • AV-TM 300: 30–300 km
• Armour: classified. Probably light composite to give protection against small-arms fire.
• Armament: one battery of 4, 16 or 32 rocket-launcher tubes
• Performance:
  • fording 1.1 m
  • vertical obstacle 1 m
  • trench 2.29 m
• Ammunition Type: High explosive (HE) with multiple warhead

Operators

Map with Astros II operators in blue

Current operators

• Angola[14]
• Bahrain
• Brazil
  • Brazilian Army 20 Astros II Mk3 more 18 Astros II Mk3M and 20 Astros Mk6
  • Brazilian Marine Corps will use a naval variant, 6 Astros 2020 Mk6 (1 battery)
• Malaysian Army 54 Astros II[15]
• Indonesian Army 36 Astros II[16]
• Iraq 66 Astros II[3][6] (also built under licence as the Sajil-60). Only with rockets of shorter range SS-40 and SS-60.
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia 76 Astros II[5]
•  Libya: It is known that he was one of the three largest buyers of the system, alongside Iraq and Saudi Arabia, having invested US $ 2 million to purchase Astros. However, the exact number is undefined.
•  Bahrain

See also

• HIMARS
• BM-21
• RM-70
• T-122 Sakarya
• Fajr-5
• TOROS
• Falaq-2

References

1. "ASTROS-II – Avibrás / Brasil". Archived from the original on 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
2. Hogg, Ian. Twentieth-Century Artillery. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2000. ISBN 0-7607-1994-2 Pg.304
3. "Page Not Found". Retrieved 28 December 2016.
4. "Astros II Artillery Saturation Rocket System". Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
5. Servaes, Army Recognition Alain. "Military army ground forces equipment Saudi Arabian Army Forces Saudi Arabia Equipements militaires armée forces terrestres Arabie Saoudite". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
6. "Export Controls In Brazil" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2006-02-21. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
7. "BBC News - BUSINESS - Cruise missiles 'Made in Brazil'". Archived from the original on 29 March 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. "Governo se torna sócio da Avibrás Aeroespecial". Archived from the original on 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
10. "ANA株主優待券は安く買おう！便利な株主優待券の使い方！". Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
12. Brazilian army will continue to upgrade Astros rocket launchers Archived 2013-01-02 at the Wayback Machine – Armyrecognition.com, December 29, 2012
13. "ASTROS (Artillery SaTuration ROcket System)". Archived from the original on 2006-04-21. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
14. "Brazil releases funds to develop surface to surface missile system for the Army". Merco Press. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
15. "Kosmo! Online - Negara". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
16. "ЦАМТО / Главное / Компания "Авибрас" поставит СВ Индонезии РСЗО "Астрос-2"". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

External links

• Astros II Artillery Saturation Rocket System, Brazil
• FAS Military Analysis Network