Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Taiwan RT-2000 (also known as LT-2000 “Thunder”) multi-barrel rocket launcher

According to Russia’s “military Messenger” magazine reported on March 16, although mainland China the relationship between Taiwan and the recent relative ease, but still close military and political leaders in Taipei against mainland China could launch a military threat to sea landing operations in preparation for mass production RT-2000 “Thunder” new multiple rocket launchers designed to destroy sea travel is People’s Liberation Army transport ship approaching the island, killing has been the vanguard ashore.

Russian media said, in fact, Taiwan’s defense systems business as early as last year, has already begun coordinating RT-2000 (also known as LT-2000 “Thunder”) multiple rocket launchers of production issues. Even the media reported that, in order to protect the island to prevent the other side of the landing operations, Taiwan’s first seemed ready to RT-2000 a new multi-barrel rocket launchers, coastal defense and even deployed to the Golden Gate. Although Taiwan’s military refuted the news, but some Western authoritative sources confirmed that Taipei did decide to deploy the first in the Golden Gate branch RT-2000 multi-barrel rocket launchers even for the evaluation and unit tests fire.

Although Taiwan’s military claimed that “Thunder 2000″ tactical and technical performance unique fighting stronger, but few recognize the weapons development process is slow, the delays in the production period of the facts, and the scheduled phase than, now delayed for five years. In addition, the development side, Zhongshan Science and Technology Research Institute of Taiwan R & D process of weapons encountered in many technical and technological problems, has not yet been completely eliminated. RT-2000 in April 2001, Taiwan’s first public demonstration of the Army combat exercise performance, when the test went very smoothly, successfully covering the target of gunfire, that a retired battleship. But the second year of a similar exercise was not successful, then in the end what happened is unclear, sources said, occurred at a very unpleasant surprises. In the elimination of the previously identified deficiencies, the Taiwan military to restore RT-2000 fire test, but failed again in 2003.

Taiwan’s military development from as early as 1996, the new RT-2000 multi-barrel rocket system, then decide to use Austrian World Kashmir (Oshakosh) produced the M977 truck heavy truck 8X8 wheeled chassis, developed in 1997 a first set of samples using this chassis. It is said that Taiwan’s military was once considered switching to MAN HX81 truck 8X8 wheeled chassis. Taiwan in the development of RT-2000 when the full draw of the U.S. Lockheed – Martin developed the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket concept, initially intended to be used to enhance the firepower of artillery rocket troops. Now the RT-2000 multi-barrel rocket launchers catheter can be replaced, can use three types of rockets, including 117 mm MK15 rocket shells can be assembled two or three groups of 20 rounds, a range of 15 km; 180 mm MK30 Model rocket two groups, the 9 made a range of 30 km; 230 mm rockets, two MK45, all six rounds, a range of 45 km. Large-caliber rockets are mainly used for marine traffic approaching the island to destroy the People’s Liberation Army landing ships, but also in the defense forces can not fast forward to the landing area with long-distance destruction are approaching the shore or have landed troops and weapons, and 117 mm rockets have landed on the island is mainly used for the bombing of the vanguard.

In 1993, Taiwan’s “Chinese Academy of Sciences,” began the development of worker bees to replace the six types of new-vehicle multi-barrel rocket system, called Thunder -2000 (RT-2000), and in June 1997 Han light exercise in 13 debut. In 2000, Thunder -2000 Jiupeng base in Pingtung, conducted live tests. Thunder-2000 prototype used by the U.S. Olympic World Kashmir’s M-977 eight trucks as the chassis, and Patriot missile launchers, M-983 heavy duty trucks belong to the same scalable mobile truck (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck, HEMTT) series. Compared to the track chassis, wheeled off-road capability is more inferior, but in general road and machine power is much better than the former, and the acquisition, logistics, maintenance and training costs are much lower, funding for road traffic and less developed sufficient Taiwan.

RT-2000 system operational team consists of five members, fighting weight of 13.7 tons, per hour highway speed of 60 km road trip 500 km, equipped with modern fire control system, equipped with a satellite navigation system signal receiving device, can be automatically determine the artillery position and height. RT-2000 rocket’s warhead can use various types, diameter and number of cluster bombs, which MK15 anti-infantry rocket blast warhead with 6400 of 6.4 mm diameter steel ball, MK30 rocket warhead can carry 267 M77DPICM multi-purpose sub-munitions, or 8 mm diameter 18300 steel ball against infantry, MK45 rocket can carry 518 M77 submunitions or 25000 multi-purpose 8 mm diameter steel ball. It is said that Taiwan’s military are also being developed RT-2000 rockets to use other types of warheads.

Russian media said, after the Spring Festival this year, new, and the development of Taiwan’s military party claims, RT-2000 MLRS test found that all problems have been resolved, can be mass-produced. Taiwan’s military insist on ordering the first batch of 50 sets of RT-2000, there is news that ordered a total of 57 tanks and 54 sets of intercropping loading transport vehicles. Under the current military construction projects, Taiwan’s land, sea and air forces will be equipped with this new multi-launch rocket systems, each equipped with at least one battalion, with each camp under the jurisdiction of three, each connected with six sets of RT-2000 system. At the same time, Taiwan’s arms makers have begun to actively promote the international arms market, according to the U.S., “Defense News” weekly said in Taipei back in 2003 when Abu Dhabi International Exhibition had publicized anti-RT-2000, However, the purchaser has no supply contracts signed with Taiwan on this or entered into a collaboration reported. Although the RT-2000 MLRS has considerable appeal, but it has a major flaw, namely 117 mm and 180 mm rockets, range far enough. In contrast, the same Russian “hail” 122 mm 40-barrel rocket launchers in a range of 20-40 km, 220 mm “Hurricane” 16 rockets with a range of 35 km, United States 227 mm M270 type of rocket range of 32-60 km, The famous Russian “Tornado” rocket range of not less than 70-90 km. (Compiled: Shu-shan)