WM-120 multiple launch rocket system

The WM-120 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) is designed for suppression and destruction of enemy strongholds, long-range artillery and missile forces, groups of armored military equipment and tanks, command posts, etc.

WM-120 RSF was developed by Chinese industrial corporation NORINCO and is a further development of WM-80 system. Among the advantages of the system as compared to the prototype are its longer range (120km), high strategic mobility, efficiency and flexibility in carrying out the assigned combat mission.

According to the unsigned contract /1/, the WM-120 system was supposed to be supplied to the Peruvian Armed Forces. The availability of information in English in the Spanish version of the contract suggests that the English version of the contract has also been prepared. A possible buyer for this system could be the United States of America, which also carries out work on a 120 km maximum range rocket and has previously purchased several copies of the WM-80 system. In late August 2011, it was reported that Jordan, which had purchased the WM-80 system in 2008, planned to upgrade it to the WM-120 version.

Composition:

According to /4/ the composition of the WM-120 is included in the RSFs:

military means
- combat vehicle (BM);
- rockets;
- transport and charging machine (TZM);
command and control firepower
- Division Command and Staff Machine (CSCM);
- battery command and staff vehicle;
- meteorological radar station (meteorological complex);
reconnaissance and targeting equipment
- a reconnaissance vehicle;
- an unmanned aerial vehicle;
maintenance facilities
- maintenance machine (MTO) of mechanical equipment;
- electronic equipment maintenance machine.

The WM-120 is a part of the WM-120 rocket launcher:

273 mm WM-80 corrective projectile with shrapnel and cassette head (see diagram).
273 mm WM-120 guided missile with shrapnel-arbiturst head and a range of up to 120 km (see picture).

Battery Link KShM

The KShM battery is placed on a 4×4 off-road vehicle chassis. The vehicle is equipped with a satellite navigation and topographic system, communication and fire control system of battery combat vehicles, air conditioning system. The commander's workplace is equipped with a multifunction display.

Meteorological complex

The 702D meteorological complex of the WM-120 system includes a meteorological radar station (radar) and a technical support vehicle, which are located on a car chassis of high passability.

The 702D radar complex operates in the range of 1780±8MHz and has a range of up to 200km. The station is equipped with an antenna lifting mechanism and jacks, an autonomous uninterruptible power supply source, switching equipment and air conditioning.

The radar is equipped with an automated data processing system, means of orientation and top linking, means of communication and information exchange (Intercom) with combat vehicles and KSHM complex WM-120. Communication facilities are represented by a VHF radio station (VHF RADIO) and equipment for data and voice transmission via wire channels.

The technical support machine is equipped with an autonomous power supply system, switching equipment and communication systems. The machine provides transportation and launch of the balloon probe, is equipped with a hydrogen filling system, lifting and transportation equipment.

Maintenance machine for electronic equipment

Electronic Equipment MTO (see photo) provides maintenance of electronic equipment of all WM-120 system facilities. The chassis of Beiben truck is used as the base of the vehicle. In the body there is an operator's workplace, equipment diagnostics and fault detection system, emergency lighting system, temperature and humidity control devices, air conditioning, spare parts and accessories box (SIP), two-way communication system with the cabin, RGD5000 diesel generator, battery and other auxiliary equipment.

Machine maintenance for mechanical equipment

MTO of mechanical equipment (see photo) is intended for routine and repair work to ensure the performance of various units of the system. The machine provides charging as well as loading/unloading of storage power sources of machines from the WM-120 system.

Composition of WM-120 RSZO division according to the source /1/:

ASCM Division - 1 pcs.
AKM batteries - 3 pcs.
Fighting machine WM-120 - 12 pcs.
TZM - 12 pcs.
Meteorological Radar 702D - 1 pcs.
Radar 702D technical support machine - 1 pc.
MTO of mechanical equipment - 1 pcs.
MTO of electronic equipment - 1 pcs.

Characteristics:

Technical specifications of the combat vehicle
Length, mm	9550
Width, mm	3070
Height, mm	3400
Maximum weight of the machine in the state of equipment (URS and calculation numbers), t	38
Type of guide	rail
Number of guides	8
Guide length, mm	5500
Localization time, min	3
Time to transfer the BM from camping to combat, min	15
Time to transfer the BM from combat to camping, min	5
Recharging time, min	12
Maximum elevation angle, °	60 (56)
Minimum elevation angle, °	20 (27)
Range of angles of horizontal guidance, °	-20 ÷ +20
Aiming mode	manual/ semiautomatic/automatic
Error in data calculation:
at an elevation of a thousand, deg	1(0,05625) (1 σ)
Horizontal firing, thousandth, deg	0,5 (0,028125) (1 σ)
GPS differential error
△Х, △Y	10 (1σ)
△Z	15 (1σ)
Firing mode	single ORS/zalp
The interval between the shells going off, s	5
DRM speed when off the rail, m/s	40
Chassis	off-road truck TA-580
Wheel formula	8×8
Clearance, mm	340
Minimum turning radius, m.	13,5
Engine power, kW	386
Maximum speed on the highway, km/h.	80
Power reserve, km	500
Maximum slope to be overcome, %	35
Radio VHF (VHF) Communication Range	at least the actual bandwidth of this radio channel
Number of calculation numbers	4

Technical specifications of the TZM
Length, mm	11900
Width, mm	3070
Height, mm	3450
Gross weight, t	38
Wheel formula	8×8
Engine power, kW	386
Maximum slope to be overcome, %	35
Power reserve, km	500
Maximum load capacity (probably crane), t	6
Maximum torque when lifting the load, t/m	33
The boom length of the crane, m	8,2
Lift height (at 5.5 m radius), m	>6,45
Lift speed, m/min:
low speed	8,8
high velocity	15,8
Angle of rotation	>90°
Radio VHF (VHF) Communication Range	at least the actual bandwidth of this radio channel

Technical characteristics of the guided jet projectile
Caliber (maximum projection), mm	273
Full length, mm	5500
Total weight, kg	540
Weight of shrapnel head part, kg	120
Weight of shrapnel headgear equipment, kg	42
Number of ready-made steel ball hitting elements, pcs.	≥4000
Radius of effective radius of splinters, m	70
Minimum flight range, m	34000
Maximum flight range, m	≥120000
Circular probable deviation, m.	≤50
Life cycle, years.	10

Technical specifications of KSHM
Vehicle type	BEIBEN 1928А
Number of calculation numbers	4
Opportunities within a division (number of serviced units):	up to 3 batteries, 1 Radar 702D, and 2 technical support machines
Opportunities in the battery:	up to 8 BM, 1 Radar 702D and 2 technical support machines.
Error in the calculation of the firing data, thousands:
aloft	≤1(1σ)
shelling	≤0,5(1σ)
GPS: Relative location error
△X, △Y	≤10 м(1 σ)
△Z	≤15 м(1 σ)
Location difference determination time	≤5 min
Communication method	cable or radio
Distance for communication:
high frequency range (HF)	at least the actual bandwidth of this radio channel
very high frequency range (VHF)	at least the actual bandwidth of this radio channel
Communication by cable	8 km
Ability to store and process information about:
these objectives	120
safe areas	10
barriers	5
meteorological data	2

Main technical characteristics of the meteorological complex
Frequency of work	1780±8MHz
Detection altitude, km	0 ~ 25
Detection range (detection range)	от 300 m до 200 km
Range of meteorological data:
temperature	-90°C ~ +55°C
moisture	0 ~ 100%RH (relative humidity)
atmospheric pressure	1060gPa ~ 10gPa (hectopascal)
speed change, m/s	0 ~ 100
wind direction,°	0 ~ 360
Accuracy of meteorological data:
temperature, °С	0,5
moisture	5% relative humidity (air pressure ≥300gPa)
	10% relative humidity (air pressure <300gPa)
atmospheric pressure	2 hPa (air pressure ≥500gPa)
	1 hPa (air pressure <500gPa)
wind velocity	1 m/s (wind speed ≤10 m/s)
	10% wind speed (wind speed > 10 m/s)
wind direction	5° (wind speed > 25 m/s)
	10° (wind speed ≤25 m/s)
Operation time, h	8
Transfer time from idle to working condition, min.	≤20
Time of transfer from working to non-working condition, min.	≤20
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), h	200
Average Restart Time (MTTR), min	30
Telemetry accuracy, m	≤20
Accuracy of angular alignment, °	≤0,1
Antenna operating range, °:
azimuth	0 ~ 360
inclination and elevation angles	-3 ~ 90
detection height	300 m ~ 200 km
Operation mode	manual, automated
Adaptation to environmental conditions:
storage temperature,°C	-30 ~ +60
operating temperature, °C	-20 ~ +50
relative humidity	95% ±3% (30°C, non-condensing)

Technical specifications of electronic equipment MTO
Chassis model	1928A
Wheel formula	4×4
Total weight in equipment, kg	≤ 13000
Body length, mm	4500
Body width, mm	2300
Body height, mm	2000
Operating temperature range, ° C	-20 ~ +55
Storage temperature, ° C	-25 ~ +65
Number of calculation numbers	3

Technical specifications of the MTO mechanical equipment
Chassis model	1928А
Wheel formula	4×4
Body length, mm	4500
Body width, mm	2300
Body height, mm	2000
Operating temperature range, ° C	-20 ~ +55
Storage temperature, ° C	-25 ~ +65
Number of calculation numbers	3

Testing:

It should be noted that 14 years after the end of the Great Patriotic War, in the course of work on the development of the projectile engine for "remote mining", in his letter (out. 5/V 59) to the Director of Research Institute-582 State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on Defense Technology, Comrade S.I. Chichkov. (Balashikha 1, Moscow region), Deputy Director of Research Institute-147 (now FSUE "SNPP" Splav "(Tula) Alexander Nikitovich Ganichev reported: "...I recommend for the variant of an optic non-rotating projectile to use the launch rails for the projectile M-31 /BM-31-12/ which requires the diameter of the cassette to change to 300 mm".