Unidentified 450mm rocket launcher

I've recently stumbled across a very unusual looking vehicle but I've been unable to find what project it was a part of or even what it was designated.
All I can find are two rather poor quality jpgs and some limited information about it. It is supposed to fire 450mm rockets at a range of 120 to 150 kilometers and that the whole system is supposed to weigh around 70 tons. It appears to be Russian and installed on a MZKT-79921. A claim on a forum was made that it was built sometime in the 80s. As no one seems able to provide so much as a name I am forced to take it all as speculation. This thing is quite the behemoth and it seems incredible that this thing could exist without widespread knowledge of its existence. It does seem memorable afterall. It is my hope that members here have happened across this vehicle before at some point and can identify it. Perhaps related in some way to the development of the Smerch?




Also, the option for image attachments does not seem to exist, and the "additional options" button as described in the "how to post images" thread of the site feedback section does not exist. (it should be directly to the left of the text box, correct?)

This vehicle - is a test launcher intercontinental ballistic missile "Topol". Instead of the container with the real missile used in equal weight and dimensions of the tube bundle.


You are not the first ones to fall into this trap. :
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Yours sincerely
Stranger_NN

haha well thanks I am glad this is cleared up. So I suppose they just bolted on sewer pipes they found around? I suppose they would need to test launch vehicles inert weight it just never occurred to me how. Thanks again for the reply.

Are these pipes empty or fill with something like cement?

That's i'm not to say. In principle, the weight of ICBMs "Poplar" is known, it is possible to calculate whether enough weight tubes. Unfortunately, wall thickness of pipe and diameter uncertain, so the estimate is very approximate. :-\

Here's similar monstrosity, prototype Orkan II, basically ZIL 135 truck with four 262mm launch tubes. One prototype built.
http://www.vs.rs/index.php?content=54fcc2af-031d-102c-8859-e480d5acdc4a

1. Yes, this is a very real MLRS М87 ОРКАН-II, the package 262 mm barrel on the launcher 9P113 (on a wheeled chassis ZIL-135LM) complex "Luna-M".

wiki said:

The simplest solution was to integrate 4 262mm launch tubes on a ZIL-135 launcher as it required minimum investment. The basic purpose of these modified launchers can be restored.

Click to expand...

2. No, it was not unique, there were at least three of these machines. Look at the number (on the door).


P.S. Additional info & photos (in serbian language)

A few images I found relating to the Orkan.

2. No, it was not unique, there were at least three of these machines. Look at the number (on the door).

Click to expand...

There is only one built. They repaint him before every military hardware fair. ;D
Yugoimport SDPR is the government owned military hardware export company. They do not have the facilities to build anything. It's the front end, marketing and sales arm for the six existing defense factories. This thing, alongside previous Orkan, Plamen and Oganj launchers, M-84 MBT AND Lazar BVT were designed and built by VTI, Military Technical Institute.

Well, I have to apologize, there are four of them. Never saw more than one at the same place and at the same time.
These are from last summer, Pasuljanske livade proving grounds.
Note the rocket exiting the tube in the second picture.

'М87 ОРКАН-II'

A very typical and practical approach of the Soviet/Russian's so as to maximise/utilise existing platforms (in this case the 9P113Luna-M) in an economical (and sensible) means - a system of practicality the West often chose to overlook, while trying to reinvent the wheel, at excessive costs!

Makes sense to me!!

Regards
Pioneer

bigvlada said:

Well, I have to apologize, there are four of them. Never saw more than one at the same place and at the same time.
These are from last summer, Pasuljanske livade proving grounds.
Note the rocket exiting the tube in the second picture.

Click to expand...

IIRC, this is a 128mm rocket used as sort of subcaliber training munition.

Pioneer said:

'М87 ОРКАН-II'

A very typical and practical approach of the Soviet/Russian's so as to maximise/utilise existing platforms (in this case the 9P113Luna-M) in an economical (and sensible) means - a system of practicality the West often chose to overlook, while trying to reinvent the wheel, at excessive costs!

Makes sense to me!!

Regards
Pioneer

Click to expand...

The M87 Orkan is actually based on the FAP2832 Truck and are of Yugoslav origin. The one shown here using the ZIL-135 is in fact the M96 Orkan II and is Serbian

Dinges said:

Pioneer said:

'М87 ОРКАН-II'

A very typical and practical approach of the Soviet/Russian's so as to maximise/utilise existing platforms (in this case the 9P113Luna-M) in an economical (and sensible) means - a system of practicality the West often chose to overlook, while trying to reinvent the wheel, at excessive costs!

Makes sense to me!!

Regards
Pioneer

Click to expand...

The M87 Orkan is actually based on the FAP2832 Truck and are of Yugoslav origin. The one shown here using the ZIL-135 is in fact the M96 Orkan II and is Serbian

Click to expand...

Prion, is that you?

kaiserbill said:

Dinges said:

Pioneer said:

'М87 ОРКАН-II'

A very typical and practical approach of the Soviet/Russian's so as to maximise/utilise existing platforms (in this case the 9P113Luna-M) in an economical (and sensible) means - a system of practicality the West often chose to overlook, while trying to reinvent the wheel, at excessive costs!

Makes sense to me!!

Regards
Pioneer

Click to expand...

The M87 Orkan is actually based on the FAP2832 Truck and are of Yugoslav origin. The one shown here using the ZIL-135 is in fact the M96 Orkan II and is Serbian

Click to expand...

Prion, is that you?

Click to expand...

Yep