The Republic of Serbia has test fired the 0-series of the modernised “Oganj” rocket launcher in the “Nikinci” Weapons and Military Equipment Testing Centre.
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The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia announced that the factory reception of the 0-series of the modernised “Oganj” rocket launcher was completed and that the launcher was test-fired. An "ALAS" programmable guided missile was launched from the container mounted on the modular “Oganj” for the first time, as well as "grad" rockets.
"Our power has significantly increased with the digitalised "Oganj", a modernisation we have been doing for the first time since 1977. In addition to having a new INS (inertial navigation system), and to being digitalised to a great extent and receiving numerous improvements in communication systems, this model has achieved what is most important in modern warfare - it provides a much greater speed of use. It only takes three minutes for the digitalised “Oganj” to fire the weapon load after the arrival of the battalion to the fire position," said the Serbian Minister Aleksandar Vulin.
He added that this is a considerable change in modern warfare where everything is done in a matter of minutes and seconds "and where there is nothing more important than to arrive safely, fire your ammunition accurately and get out of the firing position as quickly as possible."
After attending the test, the Defence Minister revealed that the Serbian Armed Forces are to receive one and a half batteries in its composition early July, and that the modernisation process will continue.
Development of this rocket launcher finished in 2019 with the participation of several Serbian defence enterprises. “Prva petoletka” company is responsible for the serial modernisation of the launcher and it provides main sub-systems. Another participant in this project is the Technical Overhaul Institute “Čačak”.
" This is highly automated equipment that will significantly improve the capabilities of our artillery, primarily by dramatically reducing preparation time for delivering fire. Completely new digital electronics, inertial navigation system and other sub-systems that accelerate the action of a battery at the fire position have been installed," said the Assistant Minister for Material Resources, Nenad Miloradović.
Miloradović added that a similar modernisation of at least one more battery is planned until the end of the year. Furthermore, he said that the development of a new generation of ammunition for this weapon is nearly completed.
"We are carrying out a complex, systematic equipping of the artillery of the Serbian Armed Forces, which was our priority, so in addition to modernized weapons, the initial unit will get a new fire control system, a reconnaissance vehicle with optoelectronics and other devices and a fire-control computer system for the battery commander, and it will also get a new generation of ammunition," added Miloradović.
The next phase of the development of Serbia's rocket artillery is going to be the modular “Oganj”. This is claimed to be a weapon with the capability to fire all existing types of unguided rocket projectiles, including the 40 km-range projectiles that have already been developed and 50 km-range rocket projectiles that are being developed, including the rocket with flight path correction.
"The weapon is intended for firing at targets at long distances. It has a lightly armoured cabin that protects the crew from shrapnel and rifle ammunition. It allows the use of all available rockets that we have in our armament and those that we will develop. The "ALAS" system is integrated into it - an anti-armour guided rocket - said Lieutenant Colonel Puhača from the Development and Equipping Department of the General Staff.
