BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:13 P.M.) – An image has emerged from eastern Homs of the arrival of two new BM-27 Uragan multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) belonging to the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the area of Arak. The MLRS system is most likely being deployed to assist pro-government forces as the terminal phase of the battle for al-Sukhnah approaches.
Whether or not the SAA has additional BM-27s deployed in the area beyond the two shown in the image above is unknown at this time.
Among all MLRS designs used by the armies of the world, the Soviet-built BM-27 delivers an exceptional firepower punch with acceptable accuracy.
Compared to the smaller and lighter BM-21 Grad which is in widespread service with the SAA and much more frequently seen in pro-government footage, the standard high-explosive rocket delivered by the BM-27 contains a warhead that is almost five times larger (around 100 kilograms compared to 21 kilograms) and has almost twice the range (35 kilometers to 20 kilometers).
Furthermore, rockets belonging to the BM-27 – because of their larger size – come with a greater variety of warhead types including cluster munitions and anti-personnel mine-dispersal munitions.
With the final stages of the battle for al-Sukhnah now at hand, the SAA is likely to bring up all of its heavy artillery assets which, in addition to Russian and Syrian airpower, will be used to overwhelm the Islamic State’s last lines of defense through sheer firepower alone and entice the terrorist group to withdraw its forces under the threat of annihilation delivered from a range it cannot hope to respond.