Belarus highlights Flute MRL at Victory Day parade in Minsk

Belarus took the opportunity at the Victory Day parade in Minsk on 9 May to showcase its Flute 80 mm multiple rocket launcher (MRL).

The self-propelled Flute MRL has been developed by BSVT-New Technologies and was unveiled to the public in January.

Field trials of the system are ongoing and are expected to be completed by September 2020, the company confirmed to Jane’s .

The Flute MRL is based on the Asilak SHTS 4×4 armoured vehicle which is equipped with an armoured undercarriage to provide anti-mine protection. The baseline vehicle has a combat weight of 6,970 kg with a 2,150 kg payload capacity.

The Asilak is a Belarusian-licensed version of the Russian Buran family of armoured vehicles made on the chassis of a GAZ-3308 Sadko truck.

The 80-round launcher is configured in a 5×16 arrangement and traverses on an elevating launcher assembly fitted on the rear deck immediately behind the two-person cabin.

The launcher takes up to 60 seconds to enter firing mode and can launch a full rocket salvo within 30 seconds when fully deployed.

The Flute MRL is equipped with the Alliance automated control system, which enables data to be shared with a command centre or other MRLs. This arrangement enables several launchers to be networked together for simultaneous fires.

The ammunition comprises the S-8 family of 80 mm unguided rockets with a firing range of 1-3 km and a flight speed of up to 750 m/s.

The S-8 rocket was originally developed for use by rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. Jane’s Weapons: Air-launched