Astros II

Astros II (Artillery Saturation Rocket System) is a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher produced in Brazil by the Avibras company. It features modular design and employs rockets with calibers ranging from 127 to 450 mm (5–17.72 inches). It was developed on the basis of a Tectran VBT-2028 6×6 all-terrain vehicle for enhanced mobility based on Mercedes-Benz 2028 truck chassis.^[3]

Astros II
An Astros II MK6 of the Brazilian Army
Type	Multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin	Brazil
Service history
In service	Since 1983
Wars	Iran–Iraq War Gulf War Angolan Civil War Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) Military Intervention in Yemen
Production history
Manufacturer	Avibras
No. built	270+
Specifications
Mass	10,000 kg (22,046 lbs)^[1]
Length	7 m (20 ft)
Width	2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height	2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Crew	3
Cartridge	Rocket length: 4.20 m (13 ft 9 in)^[2] Rocket weight: 152 kg (335 lb)^[2]
Caliber	450mm (7.08in)^[2]
Maximum firing range	30 (SS-30) to 300 km (AV-TM 300)^[2]
Main armament	Universal Multiple Launcher Module 127–450 mm
Secondary armament	1 × 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun^[1]
Engine	Mercedes OM422 8-cylinder diesel 280 hp (209 kW)^[1]
Suspension	6×6
Operational range	500 Km
Maximum speed	100 Km/h

Overview

 

Astros II MK6 Brazilian Marine Corps.

A full Astros system includes 1 wheeled 4×4 Battalion level Command Vehicle (AV-VCC), which commands 3 batteries, and a series of 4x4 and 6×6 wheeled vehicles.^[3] Each battery consists of:

• 1 wheeled 4×4 Battery-level Command vehicle (AV-PCC)
• 1 wheeled 6×6 Radar Fire Control vehicle (AV-UCF)
• 6 wheeled 6×6 Universal Multiple Rocket Launchers vehicle (AV-LMU)
• 6 wheeled 6×6 Ammunition Resupply vehicles (AV-RMD)
• 1 wheeled 6×6 Field repair/workshop vehicle (AV-OFVE)
• 1 wheeled 4×4 Mobile Weather Station vehicle (AV-MET).

In the older version of the system, the fire control vehicle were listed as optional vehicle in a battery. The command vehicles and weather stations are recent additions, designed to improve overall system performance on newer versions. All vehicles are transportable in a C-130 Hercules.^[3] The launcher is capable of firing rockets of different calibers armed with a range of warheads.^[4]

Each rocket resupply truck carries up to two complete reloads.

Service history

The Astros II artillery system entered service with the Brazilian Army in 1983. The system is battle proven, having been used in action by the Iraqi Army in the Gulf Wars.

In the 1980s, Avibrás sold an estimated 66 Astros II artillery systems to Iraq. Iraq also built the Sajeel-60 which is a license-built version of the Brazilian SS-60. Sixty Astros II were sold to Saudi Arabia^[5] and an unspecified number sold to Bahrain and Qatar. Total sales of the Astros II between 1982 and 1987 reached US$1 billion. This fact made the Astros II multiple rocket launcher the most profitable weapon produced by Avibrás.^[6]

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Avibrás manufactured almost exclusively rockets and multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), such as the Astros II, in addition to developing antitank and antiship missiles. At its peak, Avibrás employed 6,000 people; later it would be reduced to 900 people in the early 1990s as the arms industry demand fell. Even so, in the first Gulf War in 1991, the Astros II was successfully used by Saudi Arabia against Iraq.^[7] Years earlier, the Astros II system had helped Angola to defeat the UNITA.

New generation

 

Astros II Mk6 of Indonesian Army firing SS-09TS rocket.

The next step is an ambitious program, the Astros 2020 (Mk6), based on a 6×6 wheeled chassis.^[8] Being a new concept, it will require an estimated investment of R$1.2 billion, of which about US$210 million will be invested solely in development. It will be integrated with the cruise missile AVMT-300 with 300-km range during the stage of testing and certification. It is said that the venture will, for example, enable the Army to integrate the Astros with defense anti-aircraft guns, paving the way for the utilization of common platforms, trucks, parts of electronic sensors and command vehicles.^[9] The new MK6 system will use Tatra Trucks’ T815-790R39 6×6 and T815-7A0R59 4×4 trucks instead of the original Mercedes-Benz 2028A 6x6 truck. ASTROS 2020 offers several basic improvements including an improved armored cabin, modern digital communications and navigation systems, and a new tracking radar that replaces the AV-UCF's Contraves Fieldguard system.^[3] The new tracking radar used by MK6 AV-UCF was latter revealed to be the Fieldguard 3 Military Measurement System from Rheinmetall Air Defence.^[10] The Astros 2020 will also be equipped with a 180 mm GPS-guided rocket called the SS-AV-40G with a range of 40 km (25 mi) and SS-150 newly developed rockets with a claimed maximum range of 150 km. Four of them are carried.^[8] 36 Astros 2020 systems are to be acquired.^[11]

Rocket variants

 

Astros II in Malaysian Army digital camouflage.

• SS-09TS – fires 70 mm rockets – Loads 40
• SS-30 – fires 127 mm rockets – Loads 32
• SS-40 – fires 180 mm rockets – Loads 16
• SS-40G – fires 180 mm rockets – Loads 16 (GPS Guided)
• SS-60 – fires 300 mm rockets – Loads 4
• SS-80 – fires 300 mm rockets – Loads 4
• SS-80G – fires 300 mm rockets – Loads 4 (GPS Guided)
• SS-150 – fires 450 mm rockets – Loads 4 (GPS Guided)
• AV-TM 300 - fires 450 mm cruise missile – Loads 2
• FOG MPM - fiber optics guided multi-purpose missile – anti-tank, anti-fortification and anti-helicopter missile
• FOG MLM - fiber optics guided multi-purpose missile

Specifications

 

Astros II MK3 Iraq.

• Range in indirect fire mode^[12] (first figure is minimum range):
  • SS-09TS: 4–10 km
  • SS-30: 9–30 km
  • SS-40: 15–40 km
  • SS-40G: 15–40 km
  • SS-60: 20–60 km
  • SS-80: 22–90 km
  • SS-80G: 22–90 km
  • SS-150: 29–150 km
  • AV-TM 300: 30–300 km
  • FOG MPM: 5–60 km
• Armour: classified. Probably light composite to give protection against small-arms fire.
• Armament: one battery of 2, 4, 16 or 32 rocket-launcher tubes
• Performance:
  • fording 1.1 m
  • vertical obstacle 1 m
  • trench 2.29 m
• Ammunition Type: High explosive (HE) with multiple warhead

Operators

 

Map with Astros II operators in blue

•   Angola^[13]
•   Brazil
  • Brazilian Army: 38 Astros II Mk3, 18 Astros II Mk3M and 22 Astros II Mk6
  • Brazilian Marine Corps: 6 Astros II Mk6
•   Indonesian Army: 63 Astros II Mk6 (first batch of 36 ordered in 2012 and second batch of 27 delivered in 2020).^[14]
•   Iraq: 66 Astros II^[6] (also built under license as the Sajil-60). Only with rockets of shorter range SS-40 and SS-60.
•   Libya: It is known that the country was one of the three largest buyers of the system, alongside Iraq and Saudi Arabia, having invested US$2 million to purchase Astros. However, the exact number is undefined.^{[citation needed]}
•   Malaysian Army: 54 units of Astros II^[4][15][16]
•   Qatar^[17]
•   Saudi Arabia: 76 Astros II^[5]

Potential operators

•   Ukraine: On December 4, 2022, the Brazilian media reported a Ukrainian interest in the ASTROS system, to equip the Army in the Russo-Ukrainian War efforts. The sale was blocked by the Bolsonaro administration.^[18] Also was reported a diplomatic effort by the United States to dissuade the president-elect of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to unblock the deal.^[18]

See also

• HIMARS
• BM-21
• RM-70
• T-122 Sakarya
• 9A52-4 Tornado
• Fajr-5
• TOROS
• Falaq-2
• Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher

References

1. "Astros II – Avibrás / Brasil". Área militar. from the original on 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
2. Hogg, Ian 2000. Twentieth-Century Artillery. New York: Barnes & Noble Books. ISBN 0-7607-1994-2 p.304
3. "Astros 2020 MLRS: Brazils Industrial Investment in Precision Strike". Defense Industry Daily. Retrieved 2021-04-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
4. "Astros II Artillery Saturation Rocket System". Army technology. 2013-08-31. from the original on 31 August 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
5. Servaes, Alain. "Military army ground forces equipment Saudi Arabian Army Forces". Army recognition. from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
6. "Export Controls In Brazil" (PDF). UGA. (PDF) from the original on 2006-02-21. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
7. "Cruise missiles 'Made in Brazil'". News – Business. BBC. from the original on 29 March 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
8. "Astros III". Military today. from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-03.
9. Godói, Roberto. "Governo torna-se sócio da Avibrás Aeroespecial". Estadão. from the original on 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
10. "Follow-up order from Brazil for Rheinmetall's Fieldguard 3 measurement system". Archive. Rheinmetall Defence. 2018. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
11. Brazilian army will continue to upgrade Astros rocket launchers 2013-01-02 at the Wayback Machine, Army recognition, December 29, 2012
12. "Astros (Artillery SaTuration ROcket System)". FAS. from the original on 2006-04-21. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
13. "Brazil releases funds to develop surface to surface missile system for the Army". Merco Press. 31 August 2011. from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
14. "Indonesian army takes delivery of MLRS Avibras Astros II Mk 6 from Brazil". Army recognition. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
15. . Kosmo! (Online ed.). MY. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
16. Mahadzir, Dzirhan (2019-04-05). "Malaysia's Defence Doldrums". Asian Military Review. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
17. Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (6 March 2021). "Qatar's Purchase of BP-12A SRBMs: A Guppy Sprouts Teeth". Oryx Blog.
18. "O que Biden quer de Lula" [What Biden wants from Lula]. O Antagonista (in Portuguese). December 4, 2022.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to ASTROS II.

• Astros II Artillery Saturation Rocket System, Brazil
• FAS Military Analysis Network