Valkiri
| Valkiri | |
|---|---|
| Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
| Place of origin | South Africa |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1982 – present |
| Used by | South African National Defence Force |
| Wars |
South African Border War Angolan Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Denel, Somchem |
| Variants | Bateleur (40 launch tubes) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 6,400 kg (14,080 lbs) |
| Length | 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in) |
| Width | 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Height | 2.32 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Crew | 2 |
|
|
|
| Cartridge | HE-Fragmentation: 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in) |
| Caliber | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Barrels | 24 |
| Effective firing range | 36 km (22 mi) |
|
|
|
| Engine | diesel |
| Suspension | Mercedes Benz Unimog 4×4 truck |
|
Operational
range |
400 km (250 mi) |
| Speed | 90 km/h (56 mph) (road) |
The Valkiri is a South African self-propelled multiple rocket launcher. It is a 127mm system with a wheeled launcher vehicle, disposable pods, and fire control equipment developed by Denel Land Systems. Contemporary models consist of a single launch module with five eight-cell rocket pods on a Unimog or SAMIL-100 carrier. Its mission is to engage in counter-battery strikes against hostile artillery and air defences as far as 22 km (13 mi) away. A full salvo of 40 127mm ripple fired projectiles with the HE submunition warhead will saturate a 1,500 m2 area with 388,000 anti-personnel bomblets in less than a minute. Other potential warheads include cluster and an anti-tank mine dispenser.
The system is based on the Soviet BM-21 Grad, which was deployed against South African expeditionary forces in Angola during Operation Savannah. Development was completed in 1981. Valkiris played a key role in Operation Alpha Centauri and Operation Moduler during the late 1980s.
Bateleur 40 tube Multiple Rocket Launcher on SAMIL 100 armoured four door cab truck
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Wikipedia