M-1993 North Korean 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher (MRL)

The M-1993 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher is a North Korean version of the Czechoslovakian RM-70. The RM-70 (raketomet vzor 1970) multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovakian army version and a heavier variant of the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, providing enhanced performance over its parent area-saturation rocket artillery system that was introduced in 1971 (the NATO designation is M1972). RM-70 was developed in Czechoslovakia as a successor for the RM-51, achieving initial operational capability with its Army in 1972. The launcher was being produced in Dubnica nad Váhom (Slovakia). Originally, it was sold to East Germany. After the Soviet Union collapsed and the split of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, it was sold to several states in Africa, America, Asia, and Europe. RM-70 replaced the Ural-375D 6x6 truck with a Tatra T813 "Kolos" 8x8 truck as a carrier platform for the 40-round launcher. The new carrier vehicle provides enough space for carrying 40 additional 122mm rockets pack for reloading. Nevertheless, RM-70 performance remains near the same as Grad even in terms of the vehicle's speed and range. This rocket launcher can fire both individual rounds and volleys, principally by means of indirect fire. It is designed for concentrated fire coverage of large areas (up to 3 hectares in one volley) by high explosive fragmentation shells. The fire is robust with almost 256 kg of explosives used in one volley of 40 rockets. The rockets used are either the original Soviet 9M22 and 9M28, or locally developed models. These are the JROF with a range of 20.75 km, the JROF-K with a range of 11 km, the "Trnovnik" with 63 HEAT-bomblets and with a range of 17.5 km, the "Kuš" with five PPMI-S1 anti-personnel mines or the "Krizhna-R" with 4 anti-tank mines PTMI-D and with a range of 19,450 m. The vehicle is provided with a central tire-pressure regulation system (to allow its adaptation to the nature of the traversed ground), a headlight with white light on the forward cab roof, and, if necessary, with snow plow SSP 1000 or a dozer blade BZ-T to arrange its own emplacement or to remove obstacles.