RM-70 multiple rocket launcher

Last updated
RM-70
T813 army2.JPG
RM-70 of the Czech Land Forces, mounted on Tatra 813 truck
Type Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin Czechoslovakia
Service history
In service1972–present
Used bySee users
Wars Western Sahara War [1]
Russo-Georgian War
Sri Lankan Civil War
First Libyan Civil War
Afghanistan conflict (1978–present)
2013 Kivu Offensive
Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war
Russian invasion of Ukraine
2025 Cambodian–Thai clashes [2]
Specifications
Mass33.7 tonnes (74,295 lb)
Length8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
Width2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Crew6

Caliber 122.4 mm (4.8 in)
Barrels40
Maximum firing range40 km (25 mi)

Armor Steel
Secondary
armament
Universal machine gun vz. 59
EngineT-903-3 V12 multi-fuel
250 hp (184 kW)
Suspension8×8 wheeled
Operational
range
400 km (250 mi)
Maximum speed 85 km/h (53 mph)

The RM-70 (Raketomet vzor 1970) multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovak Army version and 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 [3] (the NATO designation is M1972).

Contents

Overview

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 collapse and the split of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, it was sold to several countries in Africa, America, Asia and Europe.

RM-70 replaced the Ural-375D 6x6 truck by a Tatra T813 "Kolos" 8x8 truck as carrier platform for the 40-round launcher. The new carrier vehicle provides enough space for carrying 40 additional 122 mm rockets pack for automatic reload. Nevertheless, RM-70 performance remains near the same as Grad even in terms of 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 (30,000 m2) 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 a range of 17.5 km, the "Kuš" with five PPMI-S1 anti-personnel mines or the "Krizhna-R" with four PTMI-D anti-tank mines and a range of 19.45 km. Ukraine has also used the RM-70 to fire Serbian G-2000 rockets with a range of 40.5 km. [4] [5] RM-70 systems have been used by Ukraine to attack the Russian city of Belgorod. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

The vehicle is provided with a central tyre 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 a snow plough SSP 1000 or a dozer blade BZ-T to arrange its own emplacement or to remove obstacles.

Variants

RM-70 Vampire 4D RM-70 Vampire 4D.jpg
RM-70 Vampire 4D

Czech Republic and Slovakia

Operators

Map of RM-70 operators in blue with former operators in red RM-70 operators.png
Map of RM-70 operators in blue with former operators in red
RM-70 Slovak army. Slovakia army 889.jpg
RM-70 Slovak army.
Indonesian Korps Marinir RM-70 unit firing RM 70 in Indonesia.jpg
Indonesian Korps Marinir RM-70 unit firing

Current operators

Former operators

Unknown operational status

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 RM-70 MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHES WITH POLISARIO FORCES AAIN UM SERUSA POLISARIO CAMP, WESTERN SAHARA (SANITIZED) (Report). Central Intelligence Agency. March 26, 1982. Archived from the original on January 23, 2017.
  2. "Thailand and Cambodia exchange fire in deadly border clashes". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  3. "Československé vojenství - Vaše dotazy - Odpovědi na dotazy 1231. - 1245". Vojenstvi.cz. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  4. "Ukraine Is Arming Its Grad Systems With Serbian Rockets - Technology Org". 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  5. "Ukrainian gunners use Serbian ammunition". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
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  7. Times, The Moscow (2024-05-09). "Ukrainian Attacks on Russia's Belgorod Injure 8 as Moscow Marks Victory Day". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  8. 代艳. "7 killed, 18 injured in Ukrainian rocket attack on Russia's Belgorod". global.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
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  11. Krasteva, Gergana (2024-02-15). "Ukraine's 'Vampire' projectiles strike Russian shopping centre, killing six". Metro. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
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  13. "CZK - vz. 70/85 (122mm raketomet) :: Československo / ČR / SR (CZK/CZE/SVK) :: Raketomety a taktické raketové systémy". Forum.valka.cz. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  14. "SVK - RM 70/85M (122mm raketomet) :: Československo / ČR / SR (CZK/CZE/SVK) :: Raketomety a taktické raketové systémy". Forum.valka.cz. 26 May 2004. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  15. "SVK/DEU - RM 70/85 Modular (122mm / 227mm raketomet) :: Československo / ČR / SR (CZK/CZE/SVK) :: Raketomety a taktické raketové systémy". Forum.valka.cz. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
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