"The Israeli Army MAR-290 system mated the rocket rack of the Soviet Katyusha system with the chassis of an American or British combat tank."
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the MAR-290 Tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
VARIABLE: 1 x Engine developing between 400 and 650 horsepower. Installed Power
22 mph 35 kph Road Speed
280 miles 450 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the MAR-290 Tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
4 (MANNED) Crew
24.6 ft 7.5 meters O/A Length
11.1 ft 3.38 meters O/A Width
11.2 ft 3.4 meters O/A Height
65,036 lb 29,500 kg | 32.5 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the MAR-290 Tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
1 x 290mm Rocket Launcher Unit.
AMMUNITION: Variable - dependent upon rocket launcher installation and reloads carried by accompanying resupply vehicle (if any).
Variants Notable series variants as part of the MAR-290 family line.
MAR-290 - Base Series Designation
MAR-290 (Sherman) - Katyusha launcher on Sherman Medium Tank chassis.
MAR-290 (Centurion) - Katyusha launcher on Centurion Main Battle Tank chassis.
Having captured large stocks of Soviet-made BM-24 "Katyusha" unguided rocket-launching systems from its neighboring enemies, the nation of Israel reconstituted these weapons for their own service. What resulted as a new series of tracked Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRSs) which went to carry to the designation of "MAR-290". The conversion began in the late 1960s and eventually involved two combat tank chassis - the American M4 Sherman Medium Tank (of World War 2 vintage) and the British-made Centurion Main Battle Tank (MBT) - serving as carrier vehicles.
The modification saw arrangement of a four-tube launcher unit sat over the existing tank chassis - as such the vehicle retained its performance capabilities including favorable off-road mobility. The launcher was designed to face the rear of the vehicle while elevation was controlled through a hydraulic arm which angled the launcher to the required degree. The four launch tubes were 290mm in caliber and seated either High Explosive, FRAGmentation (HE-FRAG) or anti-personnel cluster munition rockets that were 5.45 meters in length and weighed some 600 kilograms apiece. Engagement ranges were out to 25,000 meters with a firing window of just 10 seconds needed. Reloading could be accomplished in 10 minutes. The finalized vehicle featured a typical crew complement of four and was locally defensed by a single 7.62mm medium machine gun as well as any personal weapons carried by the crew.
MAR-290 vehicles were first used in anger during the 1982 Lebanon War.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the MAR-290. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 100 Units Contractor(s): State Factories - Israel
[ Israel ]
Going Further... The MAR-290 Tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) appears in the following collections:
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.
