Place of origin South Africa Designer Denel, Somchem | In service 1982 – present | |
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Type Multiple rocket launcher Used by South African National Defence Force Wars South African Border War
Angolan Civil War | ||
The Valkiri is a South African self-propelled multiple rocket launcher. It is a 127mm system with a wheeled launcher vehicle, disposable pods, and fire control equipment developed by Denel Land Systems. Contemporary models consist of a single launch module with five eight-cell rocket pods on a Unimog or SAMIL-100 carrier. Its mission is to engage in counter-battery strikes against hostile artillery and air defences as far as 22 km (13 mi) away. A full salvo of 40 127mm ripple fired projectiles with the HE submunition warhead will saturate a 1,500 m2 area with 388,000 anti-personnel bomblets in less than a minute. Other potential warheads include cluster and an anti-tank mine dispenser.
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The system is based on the Soviet BM-21 Grad, which was deployed against South African expeditionary forces in Angola during Operation Savannah. Development was completed in 1981. Valkiris played a key role in Operation Alpha Centauri and Operation Moduler during the late 1980s.