302 mm multiple launch rocket system WS-1B (WS-1)

The WS-1B multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) is designed to strike critical targets located deep in the enemy's defense, including military bases, troop concentration sites, missile launchers, airports and transportation hubs, administrative and industrial centers.

The WS-1B MLRS (WeiShi-1B) was developed by Sichuan Aerospace Industry Corporation (SCAIC, Chengdu), a Sichuan general space industry company, and is the result of upgrading the WS-1 multiple launch system. The development of the WeiShi family began in the 1980s, and in 1990, the first salvo fire system of this family, WS-1, was put to trial. In 1993 the modernized WS-1B system with extended range and combat efficiency was demonstrated for the first time. The systems were not accepted for service by Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Currently, the WS-1B is offered in international markets by China National Precision Machinery Corporation (CPMIEC).

In 1996 a Turkish-Chinese contract worth 150 million dollars was signed for the supply of WS-1. In accordance with this agreement, CPMIEC supplied a battery of WS-1 RSMO (5 combat vehicles) to the Turkish Armed Forces in 1997 and provided technical assistance in organizing the independent production of 5 more upgraded batteries. These systems under the designation "Kasirga" are in service with the Turkish Army. Later on, licensed production of WS-1B RSWs under the designation of "Jaguar" was organized.

At the international aviation and astronautics exhibition "Airshow China 2004". (Zhuhai) SCAIC presented the latest model of WeiShi range - WS-2 with extended range up to 200 km, and rockets equipped with trajectory correction system.

Composition:

Composition of RESO WS-1B:

HF-4B launcher ;
unguided rockets (NURS) WS-1B;
QY-4B(QY-88B) transport and charging machine;
command post DZ-88B.

The starter unit is a package of 4 cylindrical cross-shaped guides mounted on a modified truck chassis Tiema XC2200 6x6. The machine is equipped with a hydraulic system, by means of which the drives for guidance package and jacks are actuated. There is a manual duplicating of the pointing drives. Guiding pack of guides is provided vertically on an angle from 0 to 60° with a speed up to 3 degrees per second and on azimuth from -30° to +30° from a longitudinal axis of starting unit with a speed up to 4 degrees per second. The time to move the launcher from the camping position to the combat position is approximately 20 minutes. The crew consists of 3 persons.

The developers also offer a variant of placing the package of 6 guides on the car chassis with the wheel arrangement 8*8.

Command post DZ-88B is equipped with communication equipment for data transmission and voice communication, GPS system, a set of meteorological equipment, gyro-orientation system and IR night vision devices. The DZ-88B control room is equipped with a modern digital firing control system, equipment control and testing system, as well as personnel training. Crew - 5 people.

The WS-1 unguided rocket projectile is equipped with the FG-42 solid fuel single-mode engine and has a maximum flight speed of up to 4.2M, maximum trajectory height of 30 km, minimum range of 20-30 km and maximum range of 100 km. The flight time for the maximum range is 170 s. The FG-42 has a maximum flight speed of up to 4.2M. The Circular Probable Deviation is about 1% of the range. The NURS WS-1 has a weight of 524 kg and a weight of 150 kg. During the flight, the projectile is stabilized by strong-bonded blades of the stabilizer unit, installed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the NURS to ensure rotational motion at a given speed.

NURS WS-1B is equipped with an upgraded single-mode FG-43 engine with a solid fuel charge based on a polybutadiene copolymer with hydroxyl end groups (Hydroxy Terminated Polybutadine). The FG-43 engine has a maximum thrust of 275 kN, weight of the fuel charge - 370 kg, operating time - 5.3s. For NURS WS-1B there are developed: ZDB-2 general purpose fragmentation and SZB-1 cassette head unit to destroy congregates of vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles and other light armored targets. The ZDB-2 is equipped with a 70kg explosive charge, 26,000 ready to engage elements and provides a range of up to 70m. Cassette SZB-1 is equipped with 466 cumulative shrapnel fighting elements with armor penetration of 70 mm. Maximum projectile velocity reaches 5M, trajectory height 60 km, minimum range - 80 km, maximum - up to 180 km. Circular probable deviation is 1-1.25%. Starting weight - 708 kg, HF - 150 kg. There is information about the development of the head end of the volume detonation action.

The WS-1B RSZO battery includes a DZ-88B command post, 6-9 HF-4 launchers and the same number of QY-88B transport and charging machines with 20 rounds of ammunition each.

Characteristics:

	WS-1	WS-1B
Caliber, mm	302	302
The length of the projectile, mm	4732	6182-6376
Starting weight of projectile, kg	524	708-725
Weight BC, kg	150	150
Maximum flight speed	4.2М	5.2М
Minimal range of fire, km	40	60
Maximum firing range, km	80-100	180
Rejection	1%	1~1.25%
Recharging time, min	20	20

Testing:

According to data dated July 2018, the Soviet side sold the rockets and other components of the Hurricane system (it is worth understanding the Hurricane MLRS) to the Syrian side. Some of these rockets were handed over to the Hezbollah movement in the early 2000s.

In 2002, Alyazhedinov Vadim Rashitovich, Skirda Viktor Andreevich was awarded the S.I. Mosin Prize for his work on the topic: "The Hurricane multiple launch rocket system with increased accuracy and heap of fire.

Sergei Sivtsov - designer of control system elements. He made a significant contribution to the development of correcting switchgears for the angular stabilization systems of Smerch and Uragan Rocket Launcher Systems. He took direct part in working out of the given elements, tests and their introduction in a batch production.