Reference photo · Configuration may differ
Credit
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Hunter Carpenter · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
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At a glance
M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systemlarger figure on 5 of 5
Valkirilarger figure on 0 of 5
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Operational; Operational range
Single sourceEffective; M26
Single sourceEffective; M26A1/A2
Single sourceEffective; M30/31
Single sourceMaximum; ATACMS : 103 or 165 or
Single sourceMaximum; Maximum firing range
Single sourceM26 : 20 mi (32 km) M26A1/A2: 28 mi (45 km) M30/31: 57 mi (92 km)[source]
ATACMS : 103 or 186 mi (165 or 300 km)[source]
300 mi (483 km)[source]
Operational; Operational range
Single sourceEffective; Effective firing range
Single sourceCummins VTA-903 diesel engine at 2600 rpm
Single sourceM270A1
Single sourceCummins VTA-903 diesel engine 500 hp (373 kW) at 2600 rpm 600 hp (447 kW) (M270A1)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
Configuration
| Specification | M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System | Valkiri |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Multiple rocket launcher[source] | Multiple rocket launcher[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | South Africa[source] |
| In service | 1983–present[source] | 1972–present[source] |
| Used by | See Operators[source] | South African National Defence Force[source] |
| Wars | Persian Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War Russo-Ukrainian War Russian invasion of Ukraine Gaza war[source] | South African Border War Angolan Civil War[source] |
| Designer | Ling-Temco-Vought[source] | Armscor , Somchem[source] |
| Designed | 1977[source] | — |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Diehl BGT Defence Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Aérospatiale - Matra[source] | — |
| Unit cost | Domestic cost: $2.3 million per one launcher (FY 1990) $4.9 million (in 2024) per one launcher $168,000 per one M31 GMLRS (FY 2023) Export cost: $434,000 per one M31ER GMLRS (FY 2022)[source] | — |
| Produced | 1980–present[source] | — |
| Variants | M270, M270A1, M270A2, MARS II , LRU, MLRS-I[source] | Bateleur (40 launch tubes)[source] |
| Rate of fire | M26 : ~3s per round ATACMS : ~30s per round[source] | — |
| Armor | 5083 aluminum hull, 7039 aluminum cab[source] | — |
| Main armament | 12 × MLRS or 4 x PrSM or 2 × MGM-140 ATACMS[source] | — |
| Power/weight | 18.9 hp/ST (15.5 kW/t) (M270)[source] | — |
| Suspension | Torsion bar[source] | Mercedes Benz Unimog 4×4 truck[source] |
| Transmission | Cross-drive turbo transmission, fully electronically controlled[source] | — |
| Entered service | 1982, US Army[source] | — |
| First use in action | 1991, Gulf War[source] | — |
| Weight loaded | 54,578 pounds (24,756 kg)[source] | — |
| Height (stowed) | 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m)[source] | — |
| Height (max. elevation) | not available[source] | — |
| Maximum road speed | 40 mph (64 km/h)[source] | — |
| Cruise range | 300 miles (480 km)[source] | — |
| Reload time | 4 minutes (M270) 3 minutes (M270A1)[source] | — |
| Average unit cost | $2.3 million per launcher (FY 1990), $168,000 per M31 GMLRS rocket (FY 2023)[source] | — |
| Barrels | — | 24[source] |
| Filling | — | HE-Fragmentation 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in)[source] |
| Engine | — | diesel[source] |
| Reported operators |
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