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A transporter erector launcher (TEL) is a missile vehicle with an integrated tractor unit that can transport, elevate to a firing position and launch one or more rockets or missiles.
Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles. Early on, such missiles were launched from fixed sites and had to be loaded onto trucks for transport, making them more vulnerable to attack, since once they were spotted by the enemy they could not easily be relocated, and if they were it often took hours or even days to prepare them for launch once they reached their new site.
Usually a number of TELs and TELARs are linked to one command post vehicle (CP or CPV). They may use target information from target acquisition, designation and guidance radar (TADAGR or TAR).
A transporter erector launcher and radar (TELAR) is a type of TEL that also incorporates part or all of the radar system necessary for firing the surface-to-air missiles. Such vehicles have the capability of being autonomous, greatly enhancing their effectiveness. With this type of system each vehicle can fight regardless of the state or presence of support vehicles. The vehicle may have to aim the missile, usually through a rotating turret, or they may fire straight up.
A transporter launcher and radar (TLAR) is the same as a TELAR without the erector capability, because the missile in question is transported in the launch-ready position as default. An example is the 9K330 Tor, which mounts a vertical launching system (VLS)-style block of SAMs that correct their trajectory using rockets on the missile body itself.
The Patriot missile system has a towed launch vehicle or mobile erector launcher (MEL). [1]
Another sub-set of the TEL are erector-launchers mounted to pallets, which can then be carried by suitable vehicles to create a TEL. The MBDA iLauncher used to launch the Sky Sabre missile is one example; a 15-tonne unit which is carried by MAN HX trucks in British Army service. [2] [3]
In spaceflight, TELs are support structures used to transport a rocket launch vehicle horizontally from an assembly facility to a nearby fixed launch pad where it is raised vertical for launch. It is similar to TELs, except the fact that most space rockets must be erected and launched with the appropriate infrastructure, such as those found in a spaceport. This system is used by several space-launch agencies; the Soyuz has a TE that can be transported by railway, SpaceX for its launch vehicles Falcon 9 and Heavy (but not Starship).
Some small-lift launch vehicles, such as Russian Start-1 and Chinese Kuaizhou series, can be launched from ordinary TELs from unprepared pads.
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The RT-2PM Topol was a mobile intercontinental ballistic missile designed in the Soviet Union and in service with Russia's Strategic Missile Troops. As of 2014, Russia planned to replace all RT-2PM ICBMs with versions of Topol-M. In December 2023, the last Topol regiment was taken off combat duty.
The Buk is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the Soviet Union and its successor state, the Russian Federation, and designed to counter cruise missiles, smart bombs and rotary-wing aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles. In the Russian A2AD network, Buk is located between the S-200/300/400 systems above and the point defense Tor and Pantsir type systems below.
Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) is a state-run automotive manufacturer association in Belarus, one of the largest in Eastern Europe.
The MAZ-543/MAZ-7310 "Uragan" is a Soviet/Belarusian 8×8 artillery truck designed and developed by MAZ, in what is now Belarus.
The MAZ-7917 is a Soviet and Russian army 14×12 Twelve-wheel drive transporter-erector-launcher designed and developed by the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) in Belarus.
The TAIAN TA580/TAS5380 is a 20-ton 8x8 special heavy duty truck developed and built by Taian Special Vehicle Manufactory and used by the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China as a transport/Transporter erector launcher.
The WS2400 is a 8x8 special heavy-duty truck developed and built by Wanshan Special Vehicle and used by the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China as a transporter erector launcher (TEL) platform and is a reverse engineered version of the MAZ-543 missile Transporter erector launcher.
GM is a series of tracked vehicle chassis. Generally, the series is produced by Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant. Some older series were developed and produced by Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ).
MZKT is a manufacturer of heavy off-road vehicles, especially military trucks, based in Minsk, in Belarus; it was formerly a division of MAZ. MZKT civilian trucks are branded VOLAT. MZKT specializes in the production of on-road and off-road heavy-duty vehicles and trailers for them, as well as special wheeled chassis for installation of various equipment for enterprises and transport organizations of the construction, oil and gas and engineering industries.
A missile vehicle, also known as a missile carrier, missile truck, or missile launcher vehicle, is a military vehicle that is purpose-built and designed to carry missiles, either for safe transportation or for launching missiles in combat. Missile vehicles include transporter erector launchers (TEL) and multiple rocket launchers (MRL).
Wanshan Special Vehicle, officially Hubei Sanjiang Space Wanshan Special Vehicle Co., Ltd (Ch:湖北三江航天万山特种车辆有限公司), is a truck and bus manufacturer in China. Its WS-series military trucks are used by the People’s Liberation Army; it is a major manufacturer of transporter erector launchers (TEL).
The MZKT-79221 is a Soviet and Russian army 16x16 transporter-erector-launcher designed and developed by the MZKT in Belarus.
MAZ-7907 is a Soviet army 24X24 transporter erector launcher prototype for the SS-24 ICBM designed and developed by the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) in Belarus.
Belarus had third by volume part of automotive industry of the Soviet Union with near 40,000 annual production. Since that times Belarus specializes on production of own designed superheavy, heavy and middle trucks mainly plus post-Soviet developed buses, trolleybuses and trams. Auto manufacturers in Belarus include MAZ, BelAZ and Neman.
MZKT-7930 Astrolog is a Russian army 8×8 transporter-erector-launcher designed and developed by the MZKT in Belarus. It was first developed in the early 1990s, with the first prototype being made in 1994.
The WS51200 is an extremely large heavy goods vehicle built by Wanshan Special Vehicle in China, converted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea into a single-use transporter erector launcher (TEL). The WS51200 is one of the largest in the WS family of transport trucks and TELs. The size of the WS51200 allows it to carry intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
KAMAZ-7850 (Platforma-O) is a new unified family of wheeled very heavy load transporters developed by KAMAZ for the Russian Ministry of Defence. It will replace the Belarusian-made MZKT transporter erector launchers that are currently carrying Russian ICBMs. Platforma-O comprises KAMAZ-7850 16x16 vehicle with a capacity of 85 t, KAMAZ-78509 12x12 with a capacity of 60 t, KAMAZ-78504 8x8 capable for towing of a 90 t semi-trailer, and KAMAZ-78508 8x8 for the transportation of aircraft on airfields. One of the applications will be carrying RS-24 Yars missiles. State tests were completed in August 2018 and it entered service in March 2019. The Russian military is to receive five versions of the vehicle, namely, 8x8, 12x12 and 16x16 heavy transporters with payload capacities of 25 t, 50 t, and 85 t, respectively, an 8x8 semi-trailer with a towing capacity of 165 t, and an 8x8 ballast tractor with a towing capacity of 400 t. The 12x12 and 16x16 tractors will be used as transporter erector launchers, while other vehicles will carry various support systems.
MZKT-6922 is a Russian army 6×6 transporter erector launcher designed and developed by Danial Zakaria in Belarus. It carries Tor, Osa, and Buk surface-to-air missile systems.
The TAIAN TA5450/TAS5450 is a 25 ton transporter erector launcher that primarily carries ballistic missiles. However, it is also able to carry other weapon systems such as rockets and conventional missiles. Despite sometimes being called the TA5450, the actual official designation of the vehicle is the TAS5450. The TA5450 is actually the designation of the vehicle's base chassis, while the TAS5450 refers to the vehicle itself.
The Taian HTF5680A1 is a large transporter erector launcher with a 12x12 configuration. The vehicle comes in two primary variants. The conventional HTF5680 is a 12x12 flatbed vehicle for transport purposes. However, the most common and famous variant is the HTF5680A1 which carries ballistic missiles, most famously, the DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile.