M2016 'Sade'

M2016 Sade
Place of origin	Nordic Federation
Service history
In service	2016-present
Used by	Nordic Federation
Production history
Designer	Saab
Designed	2013-2016
Manufacturer	Saab
Unit cost	$4.1 million
Produced	2016-present
No. built	318
Specifications
Weight	27 tons (26 long tons, 29 short tons)
Length	8m
Width	2.9m
Height	2.8m
Diameter	130mm (M1971) 239mm (M2016 GMS) 400mm (M2019 BDM-LR) 600mm (M2016 N-TBM)
Crew	3
Rate of fire	40rpm (M1971) 12rpm (M2016 GMS)
Effective firing range	36km (M1971) 80km (M2016 GMS) 230km (M2019 BDM-LR) 280km (M2016 N-TBM)
Armor	RHA Universal Armor Module
Engine	Volvo B-X12 500hp
Fuel capacity	250L
Operational range	480km
Speed	80kph
Guidance system	GPS assisted INS
Accuracy	2m CEP (M2016 GMS) 5m CEP (M2019 BDM-LR, M2016 N-TBM)

The M2016 Sade ('Rain') is a Nordic rocket artillery system developed in 2013 and adopted in 2016 to replace the aging M1971 Rakeita in the Grand Army.

Development

Originally developed in 2013, the M2016 Sade was designed to bring the Nordic Federation on par with other guided rocket artillery around the world, particularly the American M142 HIMARS or the Brazilian Astros II platforms, and to allow Nordic rocket artillery to be capable of performing precision counter-battery fire against Russian artillery. While originally designed around the 130mm unguided rockets from the M2017 Rakeita platform and the new 239mm Guided Missile System (GMS), by 2016 the M2016 Nordic Tactical Ballistic Missile (N-TBM) had been successfully tested with the platform and adopted by the Grand Army. Since then, the Grand Army has perused several upgrades to the platform, eventually adopting the 400mm M2019 Bunker Defeat Munition-Long Range (BDM-LR), a dedicated bunker-busting missile.

Design

The M2016 Sade is a dedicated multiple rocket launch system (MRLS) capable of firing several guided or unguided artillery rockets. The Sade is designed around a pair of modular rocket pods, with each pod capable of being rapidly reloaded by a dedicated reloading vehicle. Each pod can contain:

Twenty of the 130mm M1971 rockets, including HE and KMAT (KaksikÄyttöinen Miina,Ttykistö, Dual Purpose Mine, Artillery, DPICM) rockets out to a range of 36km.

Six of the M2016 Guided Missile System, including HE or KMAT cluster munitions with over 300 bomblets with a range of 80km. The M2016 GMS is a GPS-assisted INS-guided rocket, with a high explosive warhead capable of detonating on impact or with a delay for bunker busting, or a KMAT cluster warhead capable of covering up to 3 soccer fields.

Two of the M2019 Bunker Defeat Munition-Long Range, a long-range dedicated anti-bunker missile designed to strike enemy command posts up to 230km away.

A single M2016 Nordic Tactical Ballistic Missile, a tactical ballistic missile designed to attack and destroy high-value targets at a range of up to 280km and capable of carrying a 225kg HE warhead, 950 bomblets (150km max range) or 320 bomblets (280km range). Unconfirmed reports indicate that the N-TBM may be capable of carrying a chemical payload or a nuclear payload of 10 or 50kt. The N-TBM uses a GPS-assisted INS guidance system.

The Sade itself is based on an up-armored variant of the Nordic RHA heavy truck and features two different rocket pods which may be loaded with different munitions. The pods are capable of being operated from the armored cab, including aiming and firing, but for reloading the crew must disembark. Furthermore, the cab is protected by RHA Universal Armor Module resistant to direct 7.62x54mmR fire as well as features an NBC system for the crew. Additional features include air conditioning, run-flat tires, a CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System), radio mounts, and anti-lock brake systems.

The reloading vehicle is similarly based on the RHA heavy truck, being a flatbed design capable of carrying four pods at once and featuring a crane for use when reloading the Sade.

Operators

Current Operators

Nordic Federation - 318 (542 on order)

Potential Operators

Estonia - Estonia has expressed interest in acquiring the Sade launcher for its military modernization

Spain - Spain is currently evaluating the Sade launcher, alongside the K239 Chunmoo, Astros II, and PULS, but the decision regarding a potential order has not been announced.

Ukraine - Ukraine has publicly requested the Sade launcher, along with its 600mm N-TBM, several times from the Nordic Federation before the US delivery of ATACMS for the nations HIMARS launchers.