The Bateleur is a South African self-propelled multiple rocket launcher. It is a 127mm system with a wheeled launcher vehicle, disposable pods, and fire control equipment developed by Denel Land Systems.[2] Based on a mine protected Kwêvoël 100 10 ton 6x6 carrier. Its mission is to engage in counter-battery strikes against hostile artillery and air defences as far as 36 km (22 mi) away. Other potential warheads include cluster and an anti-tank mine dispenser.[3] The weapon can fire up to 40 127mm pre-fragmented high explosive warheads to ranges of 7.5km to 36km at sea level singly or using ripple fire, firing up to 1 rocket per second. Reload can take less than 10 minutes and in/out-of-action time is one and two minutes respectively. The system is supported by a Kwêvoël 100 ammunition truck carrying 96 rockets and crew who help with the reloading.[4]

The system was previously called the Valkiri MkII as it was developed from the Valkiri MRLS which is itself based on the Soviet BM-21 Grad.

Variants

  • Bateleur FV2 (current version): 40 launch tubes mounted on an armoured Samil 100 6x6 truck.
  • Modified version to fire 122mm rockets
  • Bateleur 40 tube Multiple Rocket Launcher on SAMIL 100 armoured four door cab truck
    Bateleur 40 tube Multiple Rocket Launcher on SAMIL 100 armoured four door cab truck

Operators

References

  1. ^ "Denel FV2 Bateleur Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)". defenceweb.co.za. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Denel FV2 Bateleur Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)". 27 January 2011.
  3. ^ ARG. "Bateleur Multiple Launch Rocket System | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Denel FV2 Bateleur Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)". 27 January 2011.
  5. ^ Leon Engelbrecht (27 January 2011). "Denel FV2 Bateleur Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)". Retrieved 5 November 2014.