Aerostar APR-40
Notes:
These are Romanian multiple rocket launchers mounted on a (in most cases)
lighter medium truck chassis. They
are essentially variants of the Russian BM-21 Grad launcher, put on
Romanian-built and designed truck chassis.
The trucks in these cases have their cargo beds removed and replaced with
the MRL and associated machinery, and a small space for vehicle tools and crew
equipment. The vehicle is normally
reloaded by a special version of the same chassis the launcher is on, which has
a crane and special racks for the rocket pods.
This resupply vehicle often tows a special trailer with racks for more
rocket pods. In addition to
Romania, the APR-40 and APRA-40 are used by Bosnia, Christian Lebanese forces,
Croatia, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, and Nigeria; the LAROM launchers are used only by
Romania. This series of launchers
are increasingly being replaced by the US M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS, though the
process has been slow due to budgetary problems, and that Romania only plans to
acquire a very limited amount of MLRS launchers.
The 122mm launchers are also slightly different from a standard BM-21, in
that the launcher mounts two 20-round rocket packs instead of one 40-round pack,
and each 20-round pack may be loaded onto the launcher independently and several
types of rockets may be loaded at the same time.
They also have other minor differences.
The 122mm launchers may launch all Grad rockets or their Romanian,
Chinese, or former Yugoslavian countries’ counterparts.
APR-40
The APR-40 is
essentially the BM-21 Grad launcher put on a different chassis which is lighter
and has a lighter launcher box. The
chassis and launcher have no sort of armor protection, though they have metal
louvers to close on the windows when the launcher is being fired.
The cab is extended to accommodate the five-man crew and has a small
space behind the rear seat for some personal equipment, though much of it must
be carried in a metal box behind the cab.
The DAC 665T
chassis is a locally-built truck powered by a D-2156 HMN 8 Diesel developing 215
horsepower and coupled to a manual transmission.
It is a 6x6 truck with the rear four wheels being the drive wheels, and
the front two used for steering. It
is considered underpowered for the weight of the vehicle, but seems to operate
reasonably despite this judgment.
The rocket packs
are mounted as above and a complete reload of both rocket packs takes about 10
minutes with appropriate equipment.
Two spare rocket packs may also be carried in an RM13 tr4ailer behind the
APR-40, but these rockets must be reloaded by hand, and this is where the extra
two members of the crew come in.
The gunner may choose single shots or ripple fire of varying sizes; the gunner
may set the launcher to ripple at a rate of 0.5 or 0.7 seconds between rocket
launches. Launching and sighting
equipment is basic.
APR-21
The APR-21 is on
a Bucegi SR-114 chassis and has the same fire control and sighting equipment,
but uses three rocket packs of seven stacked on each other. The SR-114 chassis
is a smaller vehicle with 140-horsepower engine and 4x4 suspension.
The cab is not extended and the vehicle has a smaller crew, with the
reload crew being on accompanying ammunition resupply SR-141s.
APRA-40
The APRA-40 is
an evolutionary development of the APR-40; it’s chassis is different, stronger,
and heavier, and the APRA-40 has improved fire control including a small
computer and night vision for the telescopic sight.
The chassis is the DAC 15.215 DFAEG 6x6 chassis with a German-made
turbocharged diesel engine developing 236 horsepower, automatic transmission,
power brakes, central tire pressure regulation, and puncture-resistant tires.
The cab is big as made and merely had to be arranged for the crew and to provide
a space for the crew’s equipment.
The chassis also has a winch in the front bumper with a 10-ton capacity and 60
meters of cable.
LAROM-160
The LAROM-160
(usually just referred to as the LAROM) is Romanian-made, but was designed with
assistance from Israeli Weapons Industries
and uses Israeli-designed 160mm LARS rockets.
The Romanians currently have 54 of these in their Army, where they
operate alongside HIMARS and MLRS systems. The LAROM is based on the Russian
BM-21 launcher; however, the launcher can mount two packs of 20 122mm Grad
rockets or two packs of 13 160mm LARS rockets, or a mixed load of packs.
(This launcher is known as a GradLAR launcher.) In this way, ranges from
1000 meters to 45000 meters can be covered and shelled.
The rockets are usually fired in full ripples, with one rocket firing
every 1.8 seconds, though partial ripples or mixed ripples of any size may be
launched. The chassis is a somewhat larger 25.360 DFAE truck, a 6x6 chassis with
a turbocharged diesel developing 408 horsepower, and the vehicle has an
automatic transmission, power brakes and steering, central tire pressure
regulation, antilock braking, a locking differential, and run-flat
puncture-resistant tires. When
firing, a stabilizer is lowered at each corner of the vehicle. The cab is
lightly armored and has large shutters to shield the cab during firing. (The
shutters extend partially over the doors to the cab and the crew cannot leave or
enter the vehicle if the shutters are deployed.) The cab is extended for the
five-man crew, the gunner’s firing equipment, and a space behind the cab for
crew equipment, or it is large enough for a standard military cot.
There is a large metal box behind the cab where tools are stored, and
where moist of the crew equipment can be stored if a cot is set up in the back.
A further extension at the top of the rear of the cab holds radios and
fire control equipment, as well as the GPS land navigation system and
self-surveying equipment the LAROM carries.
The fire control is also computerized, and a laser rangefinder helps with
shots if the target can be seen.
The LAROM does not need an FDC, though if an FDC is used, scatter is one-half
normal radius. Extra long-range radios allow the LAROM to communicate with units
in the battle area, including FIST units.
If counterbattery fire is expected, the rockets can be fired via a small
control board connected to the vehicle by a 50-meter wire link. When in the cab,
the crew is protected by NBC Overpressure and has an air-conditioned and heated
environment, with NBC filters.
Vehicles |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological* |
APR-40 |
$176,009 |
D, A |
513 kg |
16.44 tons |
5 |
15 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
APR-21 |
$100,318 |
G, A |
307 kg |
12 tons |
3 |
11 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
APRA-40 |
$227,162 |
D, A |
565 kg |
18.08 tons |
5 |
17 |
Image Intensification (G) |
Enclosed |
LAROM-160 |
$349,413 |
D, A |
594 kg |
13.7 tons |
5 |
13 |
2nd Gen Image Intensification (G), 2nd Gen Thermal
Imaging (G), Day/Night Long-Range CCD Camera (G), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
Vehicles |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
APR-40 |
103/72 |
29/20 |
440 |
79 |
Trtd |
W(3) |
TF1 TS1
TR1 HF1
HS1 HR1 |
APR-21 |
95/66 |
26/18 |
208 |
80 |
Trtd |
W(2) |
TF1 TS1
TR1 HF1
HS1 HR1 |
APRA-40 |
103/72 |
29/20 |
220 |
87 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF1 TS1
TR1 HF1
HS1 HR1 |
LAROM-160 |
197/138 |
55/38 |
430 |
152 |
Trtd |
W(4) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF2
HS2 HR2 |
Vehicles |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
APR-40 |
None |
None |
40-round 122mm Grad Rocket Launcher |
40x122mm Grad Rockets |
APR-21 |
None |
None |
21-round 122mm Grad Rocket Launcher |
21x122mm Grad Rockets |
APRA-40 |
+1 |
None |
40-round 122mm Grad Rocket Launcher |
80x122mm Grad Rockets |
LAROM-160 |
+3 |
None |
40-round 122mm Grad, or 26 160mm LARS, or 20 122mm and 13 160mm rockets
on GradLAR launcher, M2HB (C) |
40x122mm or 26x160mm or 20x122mm and 13x160mm Rockets, 1000x.50 |
*The Radiological rating is only for troops in the cab; troops reloading the
vehicle or otherwise outside the cab do not have this protection.