Bateleur FV2

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

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  Bateleur 40 tube Multiple Rocket Launcher on SAMIL 100 armoured four door cab truck
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Operators

•  South Africa - South African National Defence Force: 25^[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Multiple Launch Rocket System.