This compilation depicts two of the myriad types of technical vehicles in service in Ukraine. The first segment features an improvised “mini Grad” 122-milimeter rocket launcher, mounted on what appears to be a Nissan Frontier. The 108th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces use this system in Zaporizhzhia to fire on Russian positions. The second segment depicts a much newer MLRS system- the Sivalka VM5.

While both systems are improvised, they use vastly different technology to solve the same problems. The “mini-Grad” system depicted in the first segment is based upon the “Grad” launch system first developed in the 1960s by the Soviet Union. Since then, the overall system has been adapted to be fired from many platforms, from 40-tube configurations mounted on Ural trucks, to the more mobile 3-tube configuration seen here. Its scalability and widespread use by many countries, as well as the ability to improvise its construction and deployment, as seen here, ensures that Grad-esque launchers and technicals will be a common sight in conflicts for years to come.

By contrast, the Sivalka VM5 is a much newer piece of hardware, first formally revealed in late 2022. The VM5 is an adaptation of an aircraft-based launcher, which fires up to 16 57mm rockets (designation S-5). This makes for a much lighter, more rapidly-deployable MLRS system which is suitable for a wide range of targets thanks to the S-5's wide variety of warheads, from HEAT to fragmentation. As recently as June 2023, Russian APCs have been spotted with similar, adapted S-5 launchers.

About the Author

Cole Simms

Cole Simms is an Air Guardsman, NASA enthusiast, police officer, and security contractor with particular experience in austere environments. Outside of work, he volunteers as a Stop The Bleed instructor for area schools. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and blends his knowledge and experience to write analysis for Funker530.

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