LAR-160

LAR-160

LAR-160 multiple rocket launcher mounted on a Lynx vehicle
Type Single Stage Ballistic Missile
Place of origin  Israel
Service history
Used by  Israel
 Argentina
 Azerbaijan
 Georgia
 Kazakhstan
 Romania
 Venezuela
 Chile
Production history
Manufacturer Israel Military Industries
Specifications
Weight 100kg Mk.I, 110kg Mk.II
Length 3.4m
Detonation
mechanism
Impact Fuze or Proximity fuze

Operational
range
45km
Guidance
system
ACCULAR - 2003 onwards
Launch
platform
Mobile (many including AMX-13 and HMMWV)

The LAR-160 is a light artillery rocket (hence LAR) with a 160mm calibre, a minimum range of 12 km and a maximum range of 45 km, from a multiple rocket launcher. Each standard launcher holds two 13 rocket Launch Pod Containers (LPC's), 18 rocket LPC's are also manufactured. A light version is also manufactured which can be carried by helicopters and towed behind vehicles such as a HMMWV.

Development

The LAR-160 was designed in the late 1970s by Israel Military Industries, it was adopted by the Israeli Defense Forces in 1983

Armament

The LAR-160s rocket has undergone continuous development and has resulted in the Mk. I, Mk. II and Mk.IV rockets.

Mk. I Rocket

The Mk. I rocket is 3.4m long and has a diameter of 160mm fueled by solid propellant. The Mk. I is 100 kg and has a 40 kg HE-COFRAM warhead which is activated by an impact fuze or proximity fuze. The Mk. 1 was first used by the Venezuelan Army on an AMX-13 hull.

Mk. II Rocket

The Mk. II rocket weighs 110 kg and has a 46 kg warhead which is either HE-COFRAM or a cluster warhead containing 104 CL-3022-S4 AP/AM submunitions. A remotely set electronic fuze opens the canister at the appropriate height to give area coverage of about 31,400 m2.

All 26 rockets can be fired in under 60 seconds and re-loaded in under five minutes from a conventional truck with a 15 t/m crane.

Launcher

Detached LAR-160 multiple rocket launcher

The LAR-160 incorporates a modern command, control, communications and intelligence system called ACCS, which has a total interface capability to all common artillery elements including meteorological unit, forward observers as well as mapping, GPS and other items.

Elevation and traverse of the launchers are performed by an electrohydraulic system, which is backed up by a manual system. When the system is fitted on a wheeled chassis, two hydraulically operated stabilisers are lowered to the ground to provide a more stable firing platform.

Service history

The system was used extensively by the Georgian Army against Russian and South Ossetian Forces in the 2008 South Ossetia War.

Romania uses a domestic version of the LAR-160, called LAROM and Argentina uses a domestic version as well called TAM VCLC.

Operators

LAR-160 Operators

External links

References