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.

Belarus displayed its Flute MRL system to the public for the first time during the Victory Day parade on 9 May.

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