Thailand’s Defense Technology Institute (DTI) has conducted test-fires demonstration with the local-made 122mm DTI-2 rockets from the Chinese-made SR4 MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System mounted on 6×6 military truck chassis at Royal Thai Army Artillery Center Range, Lopburi province, on 11 November 2020. Two types of combat vehicles were used to test-fire the local-made DTI-2 122mm rocket including the T-85 based on the Chinese-made Type 85 tracked armored APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) also referred in China as Type YW 531 H and the SR4 4×4 MLRS (Multiple Rocket Launcher System) in service with the Thai army.
The DTI-2 is the multiple launch rocket system research and development project designed and developed by DTI from the prior body of knowledge of the DTI-1 project. By the time that project was implemented during 2010-2014, DTI explored and analyzed research and knowledge development to design a multiple rocket launcher system “DTI-2,” which is a 122 mm multiple ground rocket launcher with a 10 km firing range, and also developed tracked type launch platforms and a mockup of the rocket tube to serve a statistic and dynamic test. DTI has been continuously conducting research and development on the DTI-2 of the 122 mm rocket with different firing ranges for statistic and dynamic tests.
Multiple Rocket Launch System (MRLS) SR4 is designed to engage manpower, military equipment, fortifications, army control points, administrative and population centers of the enemy. The SR4 MLRS is a further development of the Chinese Type 81 BM, which was developed on the basis of the BM-21 (Grad MLRS). Instead of a permanent package of guides of the BM SR4, the design of the artillery unit includes replaceable transport and launching containers (TLC). At present, SR4 MLRS is offered for export by the Chinese foreign trade corporation NORINCO (North Industries Corporation). The first buyer of SR4 system was Thailand.
Royal Thai Army Successfully Test-fires First Indigenous DTI-2 122mm Rockets (Photo by Thai Defense Blog)/caption]