ASTROS
Notes:
This is a multiple rocket launcher mounted on a VBT-2028 6x6 armored
truck chassis with a 280-horsepower engine with an automatic transmission.
It is used by Brazil, Iraq, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Israel and India seriously tested the ASTROS system, but later decided to
go their own way, largely with artillery guns.
The New Iraqi forces also have bought the ASTROS system.
ASTROS systems were supplied temporarily to Angola to defeat UNITA
insurgents.
Four versions
are available, with rockets of 127mm, 180mm, 300mm, and long-range 300mm size.
The launcher and associated equipment completely fills the load area of
the truck, leaving only the cab for the crew and their gear. The cab is extended
and armored, with NBC Overpressure; the rockets pods are normally reloaded by a
similar vehicle to the ASTROS which can remotely remove the expended rocket pod
and mount a new one. The pods are
interchangeable and one launcher may fire any of the different types of rockets.
The ASTROS has an inertial navigation and a mapping module, as well as a
self-surveying system; though it is preferred that the ASTROS use an FDC, it can
generate fire coordinates on its own. (however, at long range, scatter will
double without an FDC.) The ASTROS has a modicum of fire control; on the roof of
the cab is a small pod containing a telescopic sight, an indirect fire sight,
and night vision gear. The roof has a hard ring above the commander’s position,
with a heavy or light machinegun.
Originally known
as the ASTORS TM during development, the SS-AV-40 is essentially a SS-40 rocket
with a guidance section using inertial guidance/GPS to guide the missile to a
range of 300 kilometers using a larger propellent section.
The inertial navigation is used to provide the initial launch
information, with the GPS taking over at mid-course, with further corrections as
the missile gets closer to its target. The sacrifice for all this is a reduced
warhead section. The gunner must
also have Tac Missile, Guided Weapon, or Electronics skill (with the ELC skill
being applicable at one level less).
The AV-TCM, also
known as the MTC-300 and AV-TM 300 during its development, is essentially a
cruise missile that Brazilian engineers developed after the Brazilian MoD
decided that the price for US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles were too high.
The AV-TCMs basically look like a Tomahawk, but are only about two-thirds
the size and half the weight (with much composites used in its construction),
with a smaller fuel tank for its engine and a smaller warhead section.
The guidance section does not use the Tomahawk’s TERCOM; instead, it uses
a combination of inertial navigation, GPS, and a transponder to guide itself.
Skill requirements are the same as the SS-AV-40.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Examples captured from Iraq during the 1991 Persian Gulf War were used by
Kuwait in the Twilight War.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
127mm SS-30 |
$198,976 |
D, A |
500 kg |
11 tons |
4 |
10 |
Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification (G, AG) |
Shielded |
180mm SS-40 |
$273,746 |
D, A |
494 kg |
11.23 tons |
4 |
10 |
Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification (G, AG) |
Shielded |
300mm SS-60 |
$441,977 |
D, A |
480 kg |
13.54 tons |
4 |
10 |
Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification (G, AG) |
Shielded |
350mm SS-80 |
$446,444 |
D, A |
477 kg |
14.04 tons |
4 |
10 |
Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification (G, AG) |
Shielded |
450mm SS-150 |
$1,958,308 |
D, A |
471 kg |
15.04 tons |
4 |
10 |
Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification (G, AG) |
Shielded |
180mm SS-AV-40 |
$3,153,667 |
D, A |
490 kg |
12 tons |
4 |
12 |
Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification (G, AG) |
Shielded |
300mm AV-TCM |
$4,572,710 |
D, A |
478 kg |
14 tons |
4 |
13 |
Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification (G, AG) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
127mm SS-30 |
191/97 |
53/27 |
700 |
103 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF3 HS3
HR3 |
180mm SS-40 |
189/95 |
52/26 |
700 |
105 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF3 HS3
HR3 |
300mm SS-60 |
162/82 |
44/22 |
700 |
116 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF3 HS3
HR3 |
350mm SS-80 |
158/79 |
43/22 |
700 |
118 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF3 HS3
HR3 |
450mm SS-150 |
149/75 |
41/21 |
700 |
122 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF3 HS3
HR3 |
180mm SS-AV-40 |
179/90 |
50/25 |
700 |
110 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF3 HS3
HR3 |
300mm AV-TCM |
158/79 |
43/22 |
700 |
120 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF3 HS3
HR3 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
127mm SS-30 |
+2 |
None |
32-Round SS-30 Rocket Launcher, M2HB (C) |
32x127mm Rockets, 500x.50 |
180mm SS-40 |
+2 |
None |
16-Round SS-40 Rocket Launcher, M2HB (C) |
16x180mm Rockets, 500x.50 |
300mm SS-60 |
+2 |
None |
4-Round SS-60 Rocket Launcher, M2HB (C) |
4x300mm Rockets, 500x.50 |
300mm SS-80 |
+2 |
None |
4-Round SS-80 Rocket Launcher; M2HB (C) |
4x300mm LR Rockets, 500x.50 |
350mm SS-150 |
+2 |
None |
4-Round SS-150 Rocket Launcher; M2HB (C) |
4x450mm LR Rockets, 500x.50 |
180mm SS-AV-40 |
Special |
None |
4-Round SS-AV-40 Missile Launcher, M2HB (C) |
4x180mm SSMs, 500x.50 |
300mm AV-TCM |
Special |
None |
2-Round AV-TCM Cruise Missile Launcher, M2HB (C) |
2x300mm Cruise Missiles, 500x.50 |
*Only the launcher box, cab, and vehicle underside are so protected, and only
the cab is Shielded and has NBC Overpressure protection.