During the VIDEX-2022 international defense exhibition in Vietnam russian company Splav presented its multiple launch rocket system under the index 9A52-4 on the KamAZ-63501 chassis.
Such a machine can be called a "mini-version" of the Smerch MLRS, or a "six-tubed version" of the Smerch system, developed specifically for the conditions of Southeast Asia, as Janes reports.
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It is significant that the Splav did not even show a prototype at VIDEX-2022, but only an exhibition model of their mini-Smerch. Although the first presentation of such a system under the index "Kama" for Vietnam took place 12 years later. And judging by the photo from open sources, the prototype of the 9A52-4 system is still there, and it was a "participant" in various russia’s propaganda exhibitions.
Rosoboronexport claims that the mini-version of the Smerch system can fire at a range of 20 to 120 km, depending on the types of ammunition used. And that only 2 people will be able to manage such a system.
Why russians have not yet been able to sell their product to the markets in Southeast Asia remains an open question. But it should not be ruled out that russians can set up the production of the mini-Smerch under the index 9A52-4 directly for the needs of the russian army.
All the more so that during his briefing today, the Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Brigadier General Oleksiy Gromov, emphasized that russia wants to turn the war "into a prolonged armed confrontation aimed at exhausting Ukraine and our partners." Therefore, for example, the Kremlin is "increasing the indicators of its own production of equipment, in particular at the expense of reducing the quality of products." The launch of serial production of the mini-Smerch for the russian army is fully in line with the described trend.
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