Valkiri

The Valkiri is a South African self-propelled multiple rocket launcher. It is a 127mm system with a wheeled launcher vehicle, and fire control equipment developed by Armscor. Contemporary models consist of a single launch module with five eight-cell rocket pods on a Unimog or SAMIL-100 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.

Background
In history, there are many examples of the use of these type of vehicles. In the second world war, its use by Soviet Union became famous: Katyusha rocket launcher or "Stalin's organ".

The system is inspired by the Soviet BM-21 Grad, which was deployed against South African expeditionary forces in Angola during Operation Savannah. Development was completed in 1971. Valkiris played a key role in Operation Alpha Centauri and Operation Moduler during the late 1980s.

South Africa developed its arms industry in the follow-up of the international sanctions against apartheid, which foreclosed its access to the international arms market. The UN voted for voluntary sanctions by 1963 and made these compulsory by 1977.

Variants

 * Valkiri-22 Mk 1 (original version): 24 launch tubes mounted on a Unimog light 4x4 truck.


 * Bateleur (current version): 40 launch tubes mounted on an armoured Samil 100 6x6 truck.


 * Valkiri-5 a shortened lighter trailer-mounted version for airborne use. It has 12 launch tubes and uses a shortened version of the 127 mm rocket that has a maximum range of 5500 metres.

Operators

 * 🇿🇦 - South African National Defence Force: 76 in reserve.