Advanced Serbian rockets boost Ukraine's artillery: Uncovering the pathway and implications

Ever since the 1990s, when Russia strongly criticized the NATO operation Allied Force, Serbia has maintained a close alliance with Russia. Yet, it appears that Belgrade authorities are adhering to a policy of maximizing war profits from the Ukraine conflict.

This strategy mirrors what we observed with Bulgaria. Until recently, Bulgaria had not declared military support for Ukraine, thereby enabling their defense industry to supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition.

One particularly interesting point to note is that Serbian weapons have previously been found in Ukraine. However, in the case of mortar shells, these could still be remnants from the Yugoslavian era. We now see G-2000 rockets, which have only been showcased at weapons exhibitions as new products for the past few years. This implies that the Serbian manufacturer, EDePro, might have sold them either directly or indirectly to Ukraine.

Typically, the most common 122 mm rockets used in multiple rocket launchers like the BM-21 Grad range up to about 12.4 miles; rockets with greater ranges are less common. However, the Serbians, like the Polish, decided to enhance this caliber by introducing an improved rocket engine that could operate for extended periods.

This advancement, while maintaining the same dimensions and a combat head weight of around 40-42 pounds, resulted in an unguided rocket with a range of approximately 25.2 miles and a weight of 152 pounds. The rocket also offers a firing field of roughly 164 feet. The Serbians also claim that their rockets have less scatter of fire, with a circular error probability (CEP) of 0.96% at maximum distance. This means that all rockets fired in a 40-rocket salvo will cover the designated area more densely compared to older solutions.

The Serbians take great pride in the fact that their rockets are currently used in 10 countries worldwide, with sales exceeding 30,000 units. For Ukraine, the use of these rockets, like the Polish M-21 "Fenix", enables them to reach ranges that were once exclusive to the less common BM-27 Uragan system.

However, it's worth pointing out that, unlike their Polish counterparts, the Serbian G-2000 rockets also come in an alternative configuration with a cassette head, capable of carrying anti-personnel mines or PTM-3 bomblets. This function, for instance, allows mining supply routes behind enemy lines.