RM-70/85 (Vampire) Slovakian 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher (MRL)
RM-70/85 Vampire, RM-70 (1972)
333mm Long-Range Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
Other
Basic Information
Name
RM-70/85 (Vampire) Slovakian 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher (MRL)
Designation
RM-70/85 Vampire, RM-70 (1972)
Alternate Designation
RM-70/85 Vampire, RM-70 (1972)
Equipment Type
333mm Long-Range Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
Manufacturer
—
Date of Introduction
1972
Description
The RM-70/85 Vampire is a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) developed to replace the old RM-51. The vehicle which has the NATO designation of M1972, was first seen in 1972 during a military parade in Czechoslovakia. The RM-70/85 is based on a Tatra 813 (8 × 8) truck chassis with an all-steel forward control cab, which usually has one or two circular observation hatches in the roof. The cab is pressurized and is provided with an effective ventilation system.
Ground Specifications
Crew
4
Mobility Type
Wheeled (8x8)
Main Weapon
122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher (MRL)
Engine
Diesel (360 hp)
Active Protection
None
Max Speed
85.0 km/h
Range
1000.0 km
Variants
RM-70/85
Unarmored version of the RM-70, based on the Tatra T815 VPR9 8x8.1R truck with 265 hp engine T3-930-51. Combat weight: 26.1 t. Sometimes called RM-70M.
RM-70/85M
Modernized vehicle with new fire control and navigation equipment, can use a new type of rocket with a range of 36 km. Slovakia has ordered 50 upgrade packages.
RM-70 Modular
In December 2000, the Slovak Ministry of Defense and Delta Defence started the RM-70 Modular German-Slovak modernization project. RM-70 Modular allows this artillery system to launch either twenty-eight 122mm rockets, or six 227mm rockets as used on the M270 MLRS. This way the system became fully NATO interoperable. The truck cabin is entirely armored. The Slovak Republic signed for 26 upgraded artillery systems with the first one delivered on May 20, 2005. RM-70 Modular is being offered as an upgrade for RM-70 owners.
Vz.92 "Križan" VMZ
Engineer vehicle, based on the Tatra T815 36.265 with a lightly armored cabin. The vehicle comes in different configurations, the standard being a 40-round rocket launcher (for "Kuš" and "Krizhna-R" rockets), a mechanical mine layer for anti-tank mines (PT Mi-U or PT Mi-Ba-III) and two dispensers for anti-personnel mines (PP Mi-S1).
RM-70 Vampire
Upgraded version integrated on a Tatra T-815-7 truck chassis powered by a Tatra T3C V8 engine with 270 kW of output, coupled with a Tatra 10 TS 210 N gearbox, with semi-automatic Tatra Norgen drive system and an additional gearbox Tatra 2.30TRS. It has a range of around 1,000 km (620 mi) and a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) with an armored and NBC-protected crew cabin.
LRSV-122 M-96 "Tajfun"
Modified version with 4 rows of 8 launch tubes on an unarmored Tatra T813 truck. Like the M-77 Oganj and the Chinese Type 90A, the launcher and reloading pack are covered by a collapsible awning for protection and camouflage when traveling. Combat weight: 23.5 t. Only a very small number was built.
System
Alternative Designation
RM-70/85 Vampire, RM-70 (1972)
Type
122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher (MRL)
Crew
4 ea
Mission
Main role of this artillery rocket system is to engage area targets, such as concentrations of troops and armored vehicles, artillery batteries, and other targets.
Chassis
Based on a Tatra T815-7 heavy high mobility truck chassis.
Displacement Time
INA
Emplacement Time
INA
Note
It takes around 2 minutes to reload all 40 launch tubes. This integral reloading system significantly increases firepower of the vehicle, as the single RM-70 Vampir launcher vehicle can rapidly launch two salvos. The launch tubes can be also reloaded manually by the crew within around 7 minutes. Reloading usually takes remotely from the firing position, in order to avoid counter battery fire.
Dimensions
Length
9.97 m
Width
2.5 m
Height
INA
Weight, Combat
25.89 t
Automotive
Engine Name
Tatra T3C
Engine Type
Diesel
Engine Power
360 hp
Cruising Range
1,000 km
Speed, Maximum Road
85 km/h
Speed, Average Cross
INA
Speed Maximum Swim
Not Amphibious
Gradient
60 %
Side Slope
40 %
Vertical Step
0.6 m
Trench
2 m
Fording
1.5 m
Main Weapon System
System
Name
RM-70 Vampir
Type
Multiple launch rocket system
Caliber
122
Number of Tubes
40
Firing Range
20 km
Full Salvo
30 seconds
Reloading Time
2 minutes
Ammunition
Type
HE Rocket
Caliber
122 mm
Rocket Length
2.87 m
Rocket Weight
66.35 kg
Warhead Weight
18.4 kg
Basic Load
40
Types of Warheads
Rockets with various warheads are available, including incendiary, smoke, illumination warheads. Also there are cluster warheads with anti-tank or anti-personnel submunitions, as well as specialized warheads
Fire Control
Name
INA
Computerized FCS
INA
Direct Fire
Yes
Indirect Fire
Yes
Protection
Hull Armor
INA
Applique Armor
No
Explosive Reactive Armor
No
Active Protection System
No
NBC Protection
INA
Smoke Equipment
INA
Image Sources
Notes
https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2022/01/rm-70-vampir-122mm-mlrs-multiple-launch.html?view=flipcard; https://www.czdefence.com/article/excalibur-army-and-pt-republik-defensindo-have-signed-an-agreement-on-the-production-of-rocket-launchers-in-indonesia; https://www.defense-aerospace.com/excalibur-offers-modernized-rm70-multiple-rocket-launcher/;
Details
Category
Rocket Artillery Systems
Land > Artillery > Rocket Artillery Systems
Filter Label
R
Classification
Domain
Ground
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
9.97 m
Width
2.5 m
Height
—
Weight
25890 kg
Operators (18)
Poland
Angola
Azerbaijan
Cambodia
Congo, Republic of the
Ecuador
Finland
Georgia
Greece
Indonesia
Libya
Nigeria
Rwanda
Slovakia
Sri Lanka
Uganda
Zimbabwe
CFE Treaty
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