The military demonstrates the internal content of the Russian Tornado-S rocket

The Ukrainian military dismantled a captured Russian guided rocket from the Tornado-S multiple rocket launcher, produced in 2023. The corresponding video was posted on social media. The missile basic load of the Russian Smerch 300mm multiple rocket launcher includes two 9?544 and 9?549 guided rockets.

Both rockets have different warheads, but they barely differ visually. It is difficult to identify the exact type of ammunition from the published video, but it is noticeable that its guidance unit belongs to the Tornado-S system series of precision missiles.

The servicemen in the video explain that the marking of seals on the modules of the rocket electronics indicates that it was made in February 2023. The author also notes that the electronics of the system are made in China, but it was not possible to verify this by video.

Seal on the Tornado-S rocket module with the date "February 1, 2023", August 2023
Board with microchips of the Russian Tornado-S rocket, August 2023

Board with microchips of the Russian Tornado-S rocket, August 2023
Board with microchips of the Russian Tornado-S rocket, August 2023

At the same time, back in September last year, a team of Conflict Armament Research experts analyzed the debris of Russian guided rockets of this type. The analysis discovered the components of "non-military" class electronics in control units that could be purchased from commercial stores such as Aliexpress.

These are, in particular:

  • 2 chips in the TSOP66 case (memory modules are usually assembled on such chips. Russia does not produce chips in such cases);
  • tantalum SMD capacitors (sold in civil markets);
  • DB15 connector (not available in Russia);
  • SMA connector (not available in Russia);
  • 3 chips in the LQFP64 housing (low profile chips).
???????? ???????????? ??????????? ????? ????????? ???????? /p p9?544 ??? ???? "???????-?" Imported components of the Russian 9M544 rocket control unit for the Tornado-S MRL

It is unknown for certain how the use of consumer electronics under high load conditions affects the accuracy and reliability of the rocket. It is characteristic that the Russian military silences the parameters of the circular error probable of these rockets.

Chips and other microelectronics produced by Western companies were also found in the control units, which indicates Russia bypassing sanction restrictions on the supply of dual-use products.

In general, the date of manufacture of the rocket indicates the successful establishment of the production of guided missiles by Russia, even in terms of dependence on foreign components and numerous Western sanctions introduced on their supply.

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