"The Israeli Army MAR-290 system mated the rocket rack of the Soviet Katyusha system with the chassis of an American or British combat tank."
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the MAR-290 Tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
VARIABLE: 1 x Engine developing between 400 and 650 horsepower. Installed Power
22 mph 35 kph Road Speed
280 miles 450 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the MAR-290 Tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
4 (MANNED) Crew
24.6 ft 7.5 meters O/A Length
11.1 ft 3.38 meters O/A Width
11.2 ft 3.4 meters O/A Height
65,036 lb 29,500 kg | 32.5 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the MAR-290 Tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
1 x 290mm Rocket Launcher Unit.
AMMUNITION: Variable - dependent upon rocket launcher installation and reloads carried by accompanying resupply vehicle (if any).
Variants Notable series variants as part of the MAR-290 family line.
MAR-290 - Base Series Designation
MAR-290 (Sherman) - Katyusha launcher on Sherman Medium Tank chassis.
MAR-290 (Centurion) - Katyusha launcher on Centurion Main Battle Tank chassis.
Having captured large stocks of Soviet-made BM-24 "Katyusha" unguided rocket-launching systems from its neighboring enemies, the nation of Israel reconstituted these weapons for their own service. What resulted as a new series of tracked Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRSs) which went to carry to the designation of "MAR-290". The conversion began in the late 1960s and eventually involved two combat tank chassis - the American M4 Sherman Medium Tank (of World War 2 vintage) and the British-made Centurion Main Battle Tank (MBT) - serving as carrier vehicles.
The modification saw arrangement of a four-tube launcher unit sat over the existing tank chassis - as such the vehicle retained its performance capabilities including favorable off-road mobility. The launcher was designed to face the rear of the vehicle while elevation was controlled through a hydraulic arm which angled the launcher to the required degree. The four launch tubes were 290mm in caliber and seated either High Explosive, FRAGmentation (HE-FRAG) or anti-personnel cluster munition rockets that were 5.45 meters in length and weighed some 600 kilograms apiece. Engagement ranges were out to 25,000 meters with a firing window of just 10 seconds needed. Reloading could be accomplished in 10 minutes. The finalized vehicle featured a typical crew complement of four and was locally defensed by a single 7.62mm medium machine gun as well as any personal weapons carried by the crew.
MAR-290 vehicles were first used in anger during the 1982 Lebanon War.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the MAR-290. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 100 Units Contractor(s): State Factories - Israel
[ Israel ]
Going Further... The MAR-290 Tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) appears in the following collections:
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