Vilkha-M MRL
Ukraine has used an indigenous guided artillery rocket with greater range than the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) provided by the US and allies. The Vilkha-M can strike a target 110 kilometers (68 miles) away, the first deputy head of the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries, Ivan Vinnyk, told The War Zone 03 March 2023. In comparison, the GMLRS round, fired from the HIMARS and the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, has a range of 80 kilometers (50 miles).
Ivan Vinnyk said that currently the manufacturers plan to modify "Vilkha-M" to increase its range to 150 km. He refused to specify when exactly the missiles might be ready and how many of them will be produced. " Let's put it this way, we hope, just in time for a counteroffensive, the likelihood of which is expected in the south, in the direction of the Sea of Azov ," he said . " The tests will take place on the battlefield ."
Meanwhile, the Vilha missile is operating at the front. The relatively new development of the ZSU has already been tested in real combat operations against the Russian army. " Yes, the "Alder" was used in combat operations ," Vinnyk said. The high accuracy of missiles, according to Vinnyk, is ensured by the use of so-called "gas dynamic rudders" - dozens of small transverse rocket motors - they help to adjust the direction of the missile's flight based on the GPS signal.
On 30 August 2019, the tests of modernized missiles of the "Vilkha-M" multiple launch rocket system with increased strike radius took place in the Odesa region. The firing was completed successfully. This was reported by Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Serhiy Kryvonos after the tests were completed. Mr. Kryvonos noticed that the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine had adopted a number of decisions to ensure the early adoption and supply of new missiles for multiple launch rocket systems.
Oleksandr Turchynov reported 04 April 2019 the modernized "Vilkha-M" missile system has been tested, with its missiles being capable of striking the target almost twice as long as those that are currently on armament of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was reported by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov after the completion of the tests at the military proving ground in the Odesa region.
The NSDC Secretary reminded that last year, the mass production of the "Vilkha" missile system was launched; the system was put on armament of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, "its missiles hit the target precisely at a distance of 70 km". "But our designers and manufacturers continued to work on the further improvement of missilery, and very important tests of the modernized "Vilkha-M" system, with its new missiles striking at a distance of 130 km, have been carried out today".
According to Turchynov, the use of missiles for the destruction of targets at the maximum range, as well as the accuracy and efficiency of the target destruction was checked. "The missiles confirmed the specified characteristics, precisely destroying the targets at a distance of 120 and 130 kilometers", - he said adding that the work of the new command system, the effectiveness of the navigation equipment, and the quality of the new missile fire control system were also checked.
"Within the shortest time, we received a more powerful missile, and I want to emphasize that the work of our scientists and designers within the framework of the implementation of the missile program approved by the NSDC, continues systematically", - the NSDC Secretary noticed. He informed that in the near future, it is expected to complete the development of a new generation of missiles of this class, capable of striking targets at distances of 200 and more kilometers.
"Vilkha-M" missiles were developed by designers of the state enterprise "State Kyiv Design Bureau "Luch" in cooperation with other state and private Ukrainian defense enterprises. Missiles will be produced in Ukraine in the closed cycle.
Vilkha is a Ukrainian 300 mm multiple rocket launcher, developed on the basis of the Soviet 9K58 Smerch MLRS. Its creation took place in cooperation with about 15 Ukrainian enterprises, including Luch Design Bureau, State joint-stock holding company Artem, Pavlograd Chemical Plant, Orizon-Navigation and others.
Standard Vilkha missiles (product P624), which have been used at the frontline since the first weeks of the great war, have a range of up to 70 km and a warhead weighing 250 kg, against 92 km and 91 kg of GMLRS M30 and M31 missiles of various modifications, which Ukraine will receive from allies for M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS MLRS systems.
Modified Vilkha-M missiles already slightly overlap GMLRS M30 / M31 – they can “bring the occupiers a gift" weighing 170 kg at a range of up to 110 km. The new version of the Vilkha-M1, which Vynnyk told The War Zone about, has an even greater range – up to 150 km when using the same 170 kg warhead, or 110-120 km with a 236 kg warhead.
Even more advanced Vilkha-M2 (P624M-2) will be able to deliver a warhead weighing 170 kg to a range of up to 200 km. According to Vynnyk, modified missiles are under development and will be tested directly in combat conditions, during the upcoming offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the east and south of Ukraine.
The multiple launch rocket system was test-fired several times in 2018, while the tests were also conducted at a military training ground in the Odesa region of Ukraine in August 2019. The Ukrainian Army accepted the Vilkha M system in 2018, while the serial production of the missile complex began in 2019. The MLRS also received interest from multiple foreign customers. The first export contracts for the MLRS were announced in April 2021. State tests of the Vilkha M system with 120 km range were conducted in October 2021. The trails evaluated the tactical and technical characteristics of missiles, guidance systems, and flight range.
The Vilkha / Vilkha-M missiles are guided. The Vilkha M missile employs a GPS-free guidance system to avoid the risk of signal loss due to satellite-navigation jamming or deceiving attacks. Powered by a solid motor, the rocket can be attached with different types of warheads. It also features an inertial correction system. Vilkha M system is manned by a crew of four and is capable of firing missiles in single or salvo modes. The launch mass of each 300mm Vilkha missile is 800kg. The MLRS is capable of destroying the enemy targets located at a distance of 130km. The system can fire 12 missiles in 45 seconds and engage the targets with a circular error probability (CEP) of less than 30m.
Flight correction takes place with the help of special gas engines/rudders in the front part of the missiles. This makes it possible to deploy rockets of one round at a distance of up to 1.5 km. By the way, a round with a package of 12 individual guidance missiles can be executed in just 48 seconds. The circular error probable at a distance of more than 100 km is 30 m.
It was not known how many ready-to-use Vilkha installations the Armed Forces of Ukraine had as of early 2023. The number of missiles of various modifications that remained or were manufactured was also unknown. But while the US was hesitating whether or not to give Ukraine ATACMS tactical missiles, the Vilkha-M can be a good alternative in preparation for the liberation of the occupied territories.
By June 1919 the development of several versions of the modified Vilha-M missiles was planned, which, in addition to the increased range, will have warheads of different weights. The R-624M "Vilkha-M" product had a warhead weighing 170 kg and a range of 123 km, work is currently underway to increase the range to 140 km due to the use of a new type of fuel. The new version of the product - R-224M1 "Vilkha-M1" with a warhead of 170 kg on old fuel would be able to destroy targets at a maximum distance of 140 km, and when using new fuel - up to 154 km. For this modification, the use of a warhead weighing 236 kg is provided, respectively, the range will be 108 km and 121 km on a new type of fuel. R-224M2 "Vilkha-M2" will be able to reach a range of 141 km and 202 km with a new type of fuel, while maintaining a warhead weighing 170 kg.
"Vilkha-M" is considered a fairly accurate ammunition, but the manufacturer does not disclose the exact distance of the maximum permissible deviation of the missile from the target. According to some information, this distance can be 10-15 meters and this indicator does not depend on the range of the missile. If extended, the Vilkha-M would have the same range as the GLSDB high-precision bomb ordered by the United States , but with a much larger warhead and much higher kinetic energy.
Militarnyi wrote that Ukrainian high-precision Vilkha missiles (not to be confused with Vilkha-M) began to be used against the occupiers in March 2022. The Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out fifty launches of guided missiles against military targets of the Russian Federation. The damage was inflicted by R-624 "Vilkha" missiles, which were produced in small quantities by order of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Presumably, all stocks of these missiles were exhausted during the first months of hostilities, because in a short period of time reports of their use disappeared. However, evidence has begun to appear again that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are using high-precision guided missiles "Alder" against Russian strategic objects in the deep rear. So, in March 2023, a photo appeared of a part of a missile allegedly found near Donetsk, which can be accurately verified as "Vilkha" thanks to the characteristic gas-dynamic rudders. The fact that the photo was taken by civilians and in the winter season adds credibility.
Also , targets around occupied Mariupol were shelled for several nights. This city is located more than 80 kilometers from the nearest point of the battle line. Such a distance is at the edge of the capabilities of the American high-precision GMLRS missiles, so it can be assumed that in this case the corrected "Alder" missiles were used.
The appearance in 2023 of evidence of the use of Vilkha missiles after a long pause may indicate the resumption of production of these missiles in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Such an assumption organically fits into the general trend of increasing the work of the domestic military-industrial complex.
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