Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that field trials of the upgraded multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) Uragan-M are in progress in the Osipovichsky exercise area of the 51st Guards Artillery Brigade. Official trials, including those involving live firing, are in progress to check and maintain combat, technical, and operational characteristics of prototypes of the combat vehicle 9P140MB and the transporter-loader vehicle 9T452MB.
During the field trials the upgraded Uragan-M fired live missiles and the vehicles had to go through a difficult terrain and deal with impassable roads. Thanks to new technologies and innovative ideas the prototypes demonstrated good results and compliance with the parameters specified by the Defense Ministry for developing a Belarusian multiple-launch rocket system. Chief of the Missile Forces and Artillery Command of the Armed Forces, Chief of the Missile Forces and Artillery Office of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus, Major-General Gennady Kozlovsky also watched the trials.
During the field trials the upgraded MLRS fired live missiles and the vehicles had to go through a difficult terrain and deal with impassable roads. Thanks to new technologies and innovative ideas the prototypes demonstrated good results and compliance with the parameters specified by the Defense Ministry for developing a Belarusian multiple-launch rocket system. Not only the developers but personnel of a reactive artillery squadron of the 51st Guards Artillery Brigade are taking part in the state trials.
These prototypes represent an upgraded version of the MLRS Uragan-M. They have been created by the Belarusian company OAO Volatavto over the course of two years. Instead of the outdated truck Zil-135LM the company used the MAZ-6317 truck as the basic chassis. The upgraded Uragan MLRS has been fitted with modern communications and automation solutions. The BM-27 Uragan (Hurricane; GRAU index 9P140) is a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher system designed in the Soviet Union. It began its service with the Soviet Army in the late 1970s, and was its first modern spin and fin stabilized heavy multiple rocket launcher.
