According to a news released by INQUIRER.net, the K136 Kooryong multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) acquired from South Korea will be entered in services with the Philippine Army. The Philippine Department of National Defense is still in the planning stage on how to pick up the rocket systems from South Korea. The costs of the transfer will be shouldered by the Philippines. The training of the Army personnel that will operate the systems has also yet to be discussed.
The Philippine Army on October activated the 2nd Multiple Launch Rocket System (MRLS) Battery at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija in anticipation of the impending delivery of the rocket systems. The upcoming K136 Kooryong MRLS can be used for both internal and external threats and will play a vital role in their efforts in fighting terrorism and communist insurgency. It will be the first time for the Philippine Army to have this artillery capability.
The K136 Kooryong is a South Korean multiple rocket artillery system that was deployed in 1986. A total of 150 of these multiple launch rocket systems were built and are currently in service with the South Korean Army. The rocket tube arrangement is a single rectangular bank of four layers each with 9 tubes. It can fire two types of rockets, the standard K30 and K33 extended range rocket. The K30 has a maximum range of 23 km, while the K33 has a maximum range of 36 km. The rockets can be equipped with two types of warheads including the conventional HE and pre fragmented HE, containing 16 000 steel balls.
The rocket launcher pod is mounted on KM809A1 6×6 truck chassis powered by a diesel engine, developing 236 horsepower. The vehicle has a full-time all-wheel drive and is fitted with a central tire pressure system. It can run at a maximum road speed of 80 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 550 km. This K136 Kooryong MLRS is reloaded manually in about 10 minutes. Reloading usually takes place away from the launch position to avoid counter-battery fire. Reload rockets are carried by escorting KM813A1 6×6 resupply truck, which carries 72 rockets.
