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.