| LAROM | |
|---|---|
LAROMs during a military exercise |
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| Type | Multiple Rocket Launcher |
| Place of origin | Romania, Israel |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 13.7 tonnes |
| Length | 7.35 m |
| Width | 2.40 m |
| Height | 3.10 m |
| Crew | 5 |
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| Main armament |
LAR Mk.4 160mm rockets |
| Secondary armament |
122mm rockets |
The LAROM is a Romanian modern, highly mobile, native-made multiple rocket launcher, attached to a DAC-25.360 6X6 truck, in service with the Romanian Land Forces, built in collaboration with Israel. Currently, there are 24 systems in service, all operated by the 8th Mixed Artillery Brigade. Most likely it was influenced by the BM-21 Grad 122 mm multiple rocket launcher (MRL) system which entered service with the Soviet Army in 1963 talso utilising a six-by-six truck chassis fitted with a bank of 40 launch tubes arranged in a rectangular shape that can be turned away from the unprotected cabin
Contents |
The LAROM standard launch pod containers hold 13 LAR Mk IV rockets or 20 GRAD rockets, with two pods on a launcher.
The LAROM can operate with the standard 122mm rockets, as well as with the more advanced 160mm rocket, with a strike range between 20 to 45km. The GRAD 122mm rocket is utilised to suppress and annihilate concentrated targets. It has a 18kg HE warhead, a range of approximately 20km and can be fired in salvos of up to 2 rounds per second.
The LAR Mk IV 160mm rockets employ composite solid propellants. The rocket is spin-stabilizing in flight via wraparound stabilizing fins deployed upon rocket exiting launcher. The Mk IV rocket is capable of taking various warheads and commonly fitted with either a HE-COFRAM type or a cluster warhead. The cluster warhead operates by a remotely-set electronic time-fuse which opens the bomblet canister at the calculated height to give area coverage of about 31,400 m2 for each cluster warhead. The LAR Mk IV has a minimum range of 10 km and maximum range of 45 km and can be fired in salvos of up to 1 round/1,8 seconds.