The ASTROS II
(Artillery SaTuration ROcket System) was developed by Avibras, which was
developing multiple launch rocket systems since the early 1960s. It
features modular design and employs rockets with calibers ranging from
127 mm to 300 mm. It was developed on the basis of a Tectran VBT-2028
6x6 all-terrain vehicle for enhanced mobility.
The ASTROS II are normally grouped in artillery batteries consisting
on average of about 13 vehicles: 6 of them are Astros II launchers, 6 are
rocket resupply trucks and 1 a special radar-equipped
vehicle controlling the fire-control system. The
launcher is capable of firing rockets of different calibres armed with a range
of warheads.
The ASTROS II has
a modular design of launching containers. It can be fitted with four standard
containers with rockets. The ASTROS II fires four types of rockets. The SS-30
127-mm rockets, SS-40 180-mm rockets, SS-60 300-mm rockets and SS-80 300-mm
extended range rockets. Depending on the caliber a single container holds
eight, four or one rocket.
The ASTROS II artillery system entered service with the Brazilian Army in
1983. The system is battle proven, having been used in action by the Iraqi Army
in the Gulf Wars.
In the 1980s, Avibrás sold an estimated sixty-six ASTROS II artillery
systems to Iraq. Iraq also built the Sajil-60 which
is a license-built version of the Brazilian SS-60. Sixty ASTROS II were sold to Saudi Arabia and an unspecified number sold to Bahrain
and Qatar. Total sales of the ASTROS II between 1982 and 1987 reached US$1
billion. This fact made the ASTROS II multiple rocket launcher the most
profitable weapon produced by Avibrás.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, Avibrás worked almost exclusively with the
manufacturing of rockets and multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), such as the
ASTROS II, in addition to developing antitank and antiship missiles. At its
peak, Avibrás employed 6,000 people; later it would be reduced to 900 people in
the early 1990s as the arms industry demand fell. Even so, in the first Gulf
War in 1991, the ASTROS II was successfully used by Saudi Arabia against Iraq. Years
later, the ASTROS II system helped Angola to
defeat the UNITA.
The next step is an ambitious program, the ASTROS in 2020. Being a new
concept, it will require an estimated investment of R$ 1.2 billion, of which
about US$210 million will be invested solely in development. It will be
integrated with the cruise missile TM AV-300-km range during the stage of
testing and certification. It is said that the venture will, for example,
enable the Army to integrate the ASTROS with defense anti-aircraft guns, paving
the way for the utilization of common platforms, trucks, parts of electronic
sensors and command vehicles. The ASTROS 2020 will also be equipped with a
180 mm GPS-guided rocket called
the SS-AV-40 with a range of 40 km (25 mi). 30 Astros 2020 systems
are to be acquired.
