On September 5, 2023, in a development concerning the Nagorno-Karabakhconflict, Azerbaijani Armed Forces unveiled the deployment of the KRL-122Ghazab 122mm Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), as reported in a tweetby Conflict Watch PSF.
This move has taken place amidst escalating tensions between Azerbaijan andArmenia in the region. The KRL-122 Ghazab, a formidable piece of militaryequipment, is derived from the Russian BM-21 Grad system.
The KRL-122 MLRS is a rocket launcher system that finds its origins in theBM-21 Grad MLRS but has undergone modifications to enhance itscapabilities. Initially, it was mounted on an Isuzu truck chassis and lateradapted to the Reo M35 truck platform. Some sources even refer to thissystem as Gadab. Notably, the KRL-122 has the capacity to launch bothoriginal Soviet rockets and the domestically developed Yarmuk Rocket byPakistan Ordnance Factories. It boasts a remarkable maximum range of over40 kilometers with its upgraded 122mm rockets.
This versatile rocket launcher can be affixed to vehicles or utilized as atrailer-mounted system for ease of towing. In this specific instance, it isobserved to be based on a Ural-375D six-by-six truck chassis, similar tothe original BM-21 Grad. It is powered by a water-cooled V-8 180 hpgasoline engine ZIL-375, enabling the truck to achieve a maximum road speedof 80 km/h, a range of up to 800 kilometers on roads, and the capability toford depths of up to 1.5 meters.
The KRL-122 is distinguished by its electric firing mechanism, operablefrom within the vehicle’s cabin or remotely from a sheltered positionsituated approximately 50 to 60 meters away from the launcher through acable-connected remote-control device.
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This advanced system offers a 180° traverse capability and allows forelevation adjustments from 0 to 55°, providing operators with both electricand manual control options.
Equipped with 30 tubes for rocket launching, the KRL-122 predominantlyemploys standard 122mm Grad fin-stabilized rockets produced by PakistanOrdnance Factories. Additionally, the system demonstrates the capacity tofire the 122mm HE (MBRL) Yarmuk rocket, specially designed forground-to-ground engagements.
The Yarmuk rocket is intended for use against personnel and lightmaterials, delivering a combination of fragmentation and blast effects.With specific dimensions and a range of up to 20 kilometers, the Yarmukrocket is a formidable addition to the KRL-122’s arsenal, boasting a muzzlevelocity of 400 meters/second and a back blast extending up to 50 meters tothe rear
