| Valkiri | |
|---|---|
| Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
| Place of origin | South Africa |
| Service history | |
| Used by | South Africa |
| Wars | South African Border War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Denel, Somchem |
| Variants | Bateleur (40 launch tubes) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 6,400 kg (14,080 lbs) |
| Length | 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in) |
| Width | 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Height | 2.32 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Crew | 2 |
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|
|
| Cartridge | HE-Fragmentation: 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in) |
| Caliber | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Barrels | 24 |
| Effective range | 36 km (22 mi) |
|
|
|
| Engine | diesel |
| Suspension | Mercedes Benz Unimog 4×4 truck |
| Operational range |
400 km (250 mi) |
| Speed | 90 km/h (56 mph) (road) |
The Valkiri (from the Valkyrie of Norse mythology) is a South African self-propelled multiple rocket launcher developed in the 1980s by Somchem, a division of the Denel corporation.[1]
The system is based on the Soviet BM-21 Grad, examples of which were captured during Operation Savannah in Angola in 1976. Development was completed in 1981, and it was fielded in 1987 and 1988 by the South African Defense Force (SADF) in southern Angola against Cuban supported FAPLA forces, specifically during operations Hooper and Modular. An advantage the Valkiri has over other multiple-launch rocket systems is that it is easy to disguise on the battlefield. With the canopy down the Valkiri looks like any other Unimog 4x4 truck.[2]