Ukrainian soldiers from the 118th Mechanized Brigade spoke, for the 5 Kanal television, about their experience with the Romanian APR-40 rocket launchers, reports the publication Militarnyi. Although these vehicles were caught on a train at one point and appeared in a video clip made in Ukraine, the Romanian state has not confirmed their transfer to Kyiv. Moreover, Bucharest does not provide details about the support offered to Ukraine.
The APR-40 is a Romanian rocket launcher that uses 122 mm projectiles. The system, produced by Aerostar Bacău (former Întreprenea de Reparat Avioane /IRAv) in the 70s and 80s, is a Romanian copy, made under license, of the BM-21 Grad.
The APR-40 has the same launcher as the Russian model, but mounted on a different vehicle – the DAC 665T.
A Ukrainian APR-40 crew member told the television station that the vehicle he serves is about 40 years old, which is why it breaks down often.
“I drove this car 550 kilometers and stopped every 10 hours and poured 10-15 liters of water into it because it was ‘boiling’,” said the gunner. He added that the system was received defective but was repaired and put into combat.
The military said it takes its already experienced crew just 1.5 minutes to launch the missiles. A salvo of 40 missiles, with a maximum range of 20.5 km, can be fired in 30 seconds.
There are also more modern rockets, notably Serbia’s 122 mm Grad 2000 ER, which can be launched at a distance of 40 km. According to Militarnyi, Ukraine possesses such projectiles.
Tags: vehicle received defective hours engine boiled Romania give details weapons Kiev
