Guided projectiles of multiple launch rocket system “Tornado-S”
© Press Service of the State Corporation Rostec.
The Russian military has been using 9M54-series precision-guided artillery rockets against Kiev forces, Russian sources reported on June 25.
The first use of the precision-guided artillery rockets was reported in the early days of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. The most recent strike with the rockets was on June 22. The target was positions of Kiev forces near Donetsk city in the Donbass region.
The 9M54-series rockets are guided by an inertial navigation system aided by a GLONASS satellite navigation system. Rockets of this series have a circular error probability of around one meter and a range of up to 120 kilometers. The 300 mm rockets can be armed with cluster munitions or a high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
The precision-guided rockets are typically launched from 9K515 Tornado-S multiple launch system, which a deeply upgraded version of the BM-30 Smerch.
FILE IMAGE: Tornado-S.
The Tornado-S and 9M54-series rockets are considered the Russian equivalent of the US-made M142 HIMARS multiple launch system and M30/M31 GMLRS precision-guided rockets, which were recently supplied to Kiev forces.
The 9M54-series rockets were designed to destroy military infrastructure, fortified positions as well as gatherings of personnel and equipment near the frontlines. The Russian military will likely use these precision-guided rocket more extensively as its forces and allies push deeper into Donbass.
