/Tornado-S-Rocket-Launcher.jpg "Ukrainian soldiers prepare a self-propelled 220 mm multiple rocket launcher \"Bureviy\" to fire towards Russian positions on the front line, eastern Ukraine on November 29, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo: Anatoli Stepanov/Getty Images)")
In a video, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that one of the country's most potent weapons, the Tornado-S rocket launcher system, has been deployed in Ukraine. The system's destructive power is comparable to that of a small nuclear bomb.
A recent report from the U.S. Congress analyzed the extent to which the Russian military's activities have changed since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict. In the wake of the initial setbacks, the Russian side has not only improved communication between troops but also transformed the campaign into an all-out war. The most important aspect of this is the extensive use of artillery, with rocket launchers playing a special role.
The effective range of 120 kilometers
Since 2016, the recently deployed 9K515 Tornado-S rocket launcher has been part of the Russian military's arsenal. It has been tested in the Syrian civil war and is currently being implemented in Ukraine. The Tornado differs from its predecessor in that it can launch guided missiles against targets up to 120 kilometers away, as opposed to 70 kilometers.
Designers have developed a variety of warheads in addition to satellite guidance and increased range. Among these, one of the most terrifying is the thermobaric warhead, which not only burns its surroundings but also literally suffocates people.
A single Tornado-S is as effective as twenty-one conventional BM-21 Grad serial launchers and can devastate tens of hectares at maximum firepower. Six launchers can halt an entire division or obliterate a small town. This is why its combat effectiveness is compared to nuclear weapons.
