en M-77 Oganj

M-77 Oganj
M-77 Oganj
	M-77 Oganj of the Serbian Army
Type	Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin	Yugoslavia
Service history
In service	1977–present
Wars	Yugoslav Wars
Production history
Designer	Military Technical Institute
Designed	1968–1975
Manufacturer	BNT (Bosnia and Herzegovina); Krušik (Serbia); 14. oktobar (Serbia)
Produced	1975
Specifications
Mass	22.4 tonnes (49,383 lbs)
Length	8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
Width	2.49 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height	3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Crew	5
Cartridge	Length: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in); Weight: 65 kg (143 lb); Warhead: 20 kg (44 lb)
Caliber	128 mm (5.0 in)
Barrels	32
Maximum firing range	20.6 km (12.8 mi); 40 km (25 mi) (modernized); 50 km (31 mi) (with new missiles with trajectory correction);
Secondary; armament	NSV or M2 Browning machine gun
Maximum speed	80 km/h (50 mph)

The M-77 Oganj (from Serbian: огањ, lit. 'fire') is a 128mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher developed in the former Yugoslavia. Its NATO designation is YMRL-32.

Development

Development of the system began in 1968. Professor Obrad Vučurović, mechanical engineer and Chief Operating Officer of the Military Technical Institute's Artillery Department, was responsible for overseeing its development and production.^[1]

The six pre-serial production models were based on a FAP 2220 6x6 truck and were shown to the public for the first time in 1975. Serial production commenced two years later. The serial production variant is mounted on FAP 2026 BDS/A 6x6 truck bed. The rocket system is placed on the back of the platform and contains 32 128mm launch tubes capable of reaching targets 20.6 kilometres (12.8 mi) away. The system is operated by five personnel.^[2] One of its unique features is its retracting canvas, which allows the rocket launcher to be easily disguised and makes it difficult for the enemy to spot until the crew is ready to fire. It is thus an effective means of military deception.^{[citation needed]} In 1994, Serbia developed a new version called the M-94 Oganj C, which could fire the rockets M91 (cluster-type warhead with 40 submunition grenades) and M77 (HE warhead). This version featured a 32-rocket reloading system which makes it possible to fully reload and launch a second salvo within three minutes.^{[citation needed]}

Modernization

The Military Technical Institute has prepared a modernization package for the system on request from the Serbian Armed Forces which includes a modern navigation and fire control system. The rocket launcher was also modified to be able to fire several different types of rockets, including the 122mm BM-21 Grad. As part of the modernization program, a new 128mm rocket with a range of 50 kilometres (31 mi) and improved circular error probable (CEP) will be produced by Krušik. For the needs of the Serbian Army, the modernization process entailed a switch to modern digitalized technology, which enables the crew to occupy a firing position, fire their rockets and leave three minutes without exiting the vehicle, whereas it previously took 26 minutes to assume a position and fire a salvo. At that time, it included occupying the orientation position and determining the coordinates of the firing position, directing the weapon in the azimuth of the basic direction, calculating the initial elements, correction and group shooting. Due to the new automatic aiming line, automatic determination of the coordinates of the firing position and shooting elements, as well as the new inertial navigation system and GPRS navigation, the modernized variant is able to open fire much faster, more precisely and with a greater effect on the target. New M-18 missiles with a range of up to 40 kilometres (25 mi) have also been introduced, as has a new rocket with path correction and with a range of up to 50 kilometres (31 mi). The latter has entered serial production for delivery to the Serbian Army.

Further development of the M-77 concept and the LRSVM Morava led to the creation of the new modular rocket launcher M-18 Oganj, which contains an armored cabin on a 6x6 chassis for up-close battlefield action. It is also capable of launching the Košava 1 and ALAS missiles, among others.^[3]^[4]