The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS) is a multiple rocket launcher, a type of rocket artillery.
Since the first M270s were delivered to the U.S. Army in 1983, the MLRS has been adopted by several NATO countries. Some 1,300 M270 systems have been manufactured in the United States and in Europe, along with more than 700,000 rockets. The weapon was used in the Gulf War and Iraq War, where it proved practical and effective. The production of the M270 ended in 2003, when a last batch was delivered to the Egyptian army.
* Entered service: 1982 (U.S. Army)
* First used in action: 1991 (First Gulf War)
* Crew: 3
* Weight loaded: 24,756 kg
* Length: 22 ft 6 in
* Width: 9 ft 9 in
* Height (stowed): 2.57 m (8 ft 5 in)
* Height (max elevation): not available
* Max road speed: 64 km/h
* Cruise range: 480 km
* Reload time: 4 min (M270) 3 min (M270A1)
* Engine: Turbo-charged V8 Cummins VTA903 diesel 500 hp ver2.
* Crossdrive turbo transmission fully electronically controlled
* Average unit cost: $2.3 million[10]
Operators
* Bahrain: Bahrain Army (9) (no longer in service)
* Denmark: Royal Danish Army (12) (no longer in service)
* Egypt: Egyptian Army (26) (no longer in service)
* Finland: Finnish Army (22, called 298 RsRakH 06)
* France: French Army (44)
* Germany: German Army (called MARS Mittleres Artillerie Raketen System) (50+202)
* Greece: Hellenic Army (36)
* Israel: Israel Defense Forces (called "Menatetz" מנתץ)
* Italy: Italian Army (22)
* Japan: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (90)
* Netherlands: Royal Netherlands Army (no longer in active service; sold to Finnish Army) (30)
* Norway: Norwegian Army (12) (no longer in active service)
* South Korea: Republic of Korea Army (58+38)
* Turkey: Turkish Army (12)
* United Kingdom: Royal Artillery (67)
* United States: United States Army (840+151)
Operators
Bahrain: Bahrain Army (9) (no longer in service)
Denmark: Royal Danish Army (12) (no longer in service)
Egypt: Egyptian Army (26) (no longer in service)
Finland: Finnish Army (22, called 298 RsRakH 06)
France: French Army (44)
Germany: German Army (called MARS Mittleres Artillerie Raketen System) (50+202)
Greece: Hellenic Army (36)
Israel: Israel Defense Forces (called "Menatetz" מנתץ)
Italy: Italian Army (22)
Japan: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (90)
Netherlands: Royal Netherlands Army (no longer in active service; sold to Finnish Army) (30)
Norway: Norwegian Army (12) (no longer in active service)
South Korea: Republic of Korea Army (58+38)
Turkey: Turkish Army (12)
United Kingdom: Royal Artillery (67)
United States: United States Army (840+151)
Scud
Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and exported widely to other countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies. The Russian names for the missile are the R-11 (the first version), R-17 and R-300 Elbrus (later developments). The name Scud has been widely used to refer to these missiles and the wide variety of derivative variants developed in other countries based on the Soviet design.
NATO codename Scud-A Scud-B Scud-C Scud-D
U.S. DIA SS-1b SS-1c SS-1d SS-1e
Official designation R-11 R-17/R-300
Deployment Date 1957 1964 1965? 1989?
Length 10.7 m 11.25 m 11.25 m 12.29 m
Width 0.88 m 0.88 m 0.88 m 0.88 m
Launch weight 4,400 kg 5,900 kg 6,400 kg 6,500 kg
Range 180 km 300 km 550 km 300 km
Payload 950 kg 985 kg 600 kg 985 kg
Accuracy (CEP) 3000 m 450 m 700 m 50 m
Operators
Afghanistan- (Scud-B, Scud-C?)
Armenia- (Scud-B, Scud-C) [35]
Azerbaijan- (Scud-B)
Bulgaria- (Scud-B)-retired
Democratic Republic of the Congo- (Scud-B)
Czech Republic- (Scud-B)-retired
East Germany- Egypt
- (Scud-B, Hwasong-6)
Hungary- (Scud-B)-retired
Iraq- (Scud-B, Al-Hussein, Al-Abbas)
Iran- (Scud-B, Hwasong-5, Shahab-1, Shahab-2, Rodong-1)
Kazakhstan- (Scud-B)
Libya- (Scud-B)
North Korea- (Scud-B, Scud-C, Hwasong 5, Hwasong-6, Rodong-1)
Poland- (Scud-B)-retired
Romania- (Scud-B)-retired
Russia- Retired
South Yemen
Soviet Union
Slovakia- (Scud-B)-retired
Syria- (Scud-B, Hwasong-6)
United Arab Emirates- 25 Hwasong-5s purchased from North Korea in 1989. The UAE military were not satisfied with the quality of the missiles, and they were kept in storage.[10]
Ukraine- (Scud-B)
- United States
- c. 30 Scud-B missiles and four TELs acquired in 1995, and converted into targets by Lockheed Martin.[5]
Vietnam- (Scud-B, Hwasong-6?)
Yemen- (Scud-B)
Yugoslavia- (Scud-B)-retired
