| BM-30 Smerch | |
|---|---|
 9A52-2 "Smerch" launch vehicle | |
| Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union, Russia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1989–present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | Second Chechen War War in Donbas Syrian Civil War[1] Second Nagorno-Karabakh War[2] Russian invasion of Ukraine[3] |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Splav State Research and Production Enterprise |
| Designed | 1980s |
| Manufacturer | Splav State Research and Production Enterprise |
| Produced | 1989–present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 43.7 t |
| Length | 12 m (39 ft 4 in) |
| Width | 3.05 m (10 ft) |
| Height | 3.05 m (10 ft) |
| Crew | 3 |
| Caliber | 300 mm |
| Barrels | 12 |
| Maximum firing range | 120 km (75 mi) (9M542 rocket) 200 km (120 mi) (9M544 rocket) |
Main armament | 9M55 or 9M528 rockets |
| Engine | D12A-525A V12 diesel engine 525 hp (391 kW) |
| Suspension | 8×8 wheeled |
Operational range | 850 km (530 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 60 km/h (37 mph) |
The BM-30 Smerch (Russian: Смерч, lit. 'tornado', 'whirlwind'), 9K58 Smerch or 9A52-2 Smerch-M is a heavy self-propelled 300 mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union to fire a full load of 12 solid-fuelled projectiles. The system is intended to defeat personnel, armored, and soft targets in concentration areas, artillery batteries, command posts and ammunition depots. It was designed in the early 1980s and entered service in the Soviet Army in 1989.[4] When first observed by the West in 1983, it received the code MRL 280mm M1983. It continues in use by Russia; a program to replace it with the Tornado-S began in 2018.[5]
- ^ BM-30 Smerch and BM-27 Uragan of Syrian Army shooting at IS positions in Palmyra – Syria on YouTube
- ^ Ripley, Tim (8 October 2020). "Armenia and Azerbaijan trade heavy fire". Janes. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
- ^ "Ukraine conflict: Russian forces employ guided rockets". Janes Information Services. 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022.
- ^ "Военная кафедра МЭСИ" [MESI Military Department]. vk.mesi.ru (in Russian). 23 December 2007. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ Dmitry Fediushko (20 November 2018). "Russia refits Missile Troops and Artillery". Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.