New French LRU multiple launch rocket systems have arrived in Ukraine. This was announced by the country’s Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov on Twitter.
“From France LRU came to Ukraine. This is the visible result of the friendship between Vladimir Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron. thanks [министру вооруженных сил Франции] Sebastien Lecorne, the government and people of France,” wrote Reznikov.
The head of the defense department did not specify exactly how many LRU systems Kiev received. It is possible that we are talking about only one car. It became clear in October that these MLRSs were delivered by Paris. Initially, the Europeans promised to transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine three facilities that previously served in the French army. It was not stated whether they would be provided with ammunition along with the systems.
What is LRU?
The Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU) is an upgraded “European” version of the American M270 MLRS jet system. This is a NATO-style tracked MLRS. By October, Kyiv had received about a dozen units of the MLRS family of various modifications from foreign partners.
Since the 1980s, France received about 60 MLRS M270 MLRS of the first modification with ground forces operated until the early 2000s. They could only fire unguided munitions. Later, it was decided to modernize the system with the participation of Germany, Italy and France. In 2011, Paris ordered the upgrade of 13 existing M270s to LRUs. The remaining old MLRS was sent for storage. In Germany, the upgraded machines were called MARS II, and the Italians – MLRS-I. MARS II has already been delivered to Ukraine, the differences between them, the Italian version and the LRU are minimal.
LRU has a new fire control system developed by Munich-based Airbus Defense and Space. This system allows you to fire M31, M31A1, M32, AT2 and 110 mm missiles, but does not allow the use of cluster munitions – unlike the United States, European countries have signed the Cluster Munition Convention, which prohibits the use, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions. such bullets. According to information from open sources, the cost of an installation is approximately $730,000.
Conceptually, the LRU differs little from its 1980s predecessor. Currently, it is a tracked chassis with high buoyancy that houses a two-container launcher. Modern electric drives have appeared to replace the old hydraulic steering drives. The basic guided missiles of the M31 family have a flight range of at least 80 km and a high hit rate thanks to the satellite navigation system. All of them have a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 91 kg.
Calculation of the combat vehicle – three people. Allows you to fire a salvo every 48 seconds. The declared demolition area is 25 thousand square meters. The main task of the LRU as rocket artillery is to defeat the enemy’s manpower, infrastructure of fixed facilities and tank groups.
Will the new RZSO help Kiev?
With idea “Military Review”, the transfer of the French MLRS to Kiev will not significantly strengthen their own rocket artillery. The three machines in question will allow you to create only one fire platoon. In recent months, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received about a dozen systems of the same type, some of which, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, were destroyed. New installations from France will only increase Ukraine’s reserves of such MLRS by 20-30%.
The main limitation of the use of the LRU is the inability to use cluster munitions, which allow, for example, to mine a large area from afar (just as with the PFM-1 petal mines in Donetsk – the Grad and Uragan rocket systems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will deliver cassettes with them).
In addition, despite the rather high hit rate of LRU ammunition, almost all missiles of this family, previously launched by Ukrainian troops, were successfully destroyed by Russian air defense systems. Additionally, when firing, the LRU unmasks itself.
Experts of the “Military Review” concluded that France transferred to Ukraine systems with limited capabilities, the like of which had previously been successfully destroyed by Russian troops. And a small number – three parts – will not allow to significantly change the picture on the contact line.
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.