Russia is in the final stages of testing the new multiple launch rocket system "Agriculture", designed for remote installation of mines. Remote Mining Engineering System (ISDM) includes combat and transport-loading vehicles, as well as transport and launch containers.
Transport and launch containers contain engineering ammunition, which comply with the requirements of the Geneva Convention, concerning their subsequent self-destruction.
The combat vehicle is a multiple launch rocket system with fifty caliber guides 122 millimeter. It is capable of using various types of mines.: as anti-personnel, as well as anti-tank. Before a volley, a flight mission and parameters for the self-destruction of ammunition are set.
The range of "Agriculture" is 5-15 kilometers, which allows mining in the safest and most maneuverable way at a remote distance.
The developer of new equipment is NPO "Splav".
also known, that a combat vehicle can install new generation mines. maybe, we are talking about "smart" mines POM-3, which have been reported in 2016 year. It's a cluster munition, which is designed to destroy enemy manpower. Thanks to the special electronic filling, such mines are able to recognize targets and work only then, when needed. for example, they ignore animals and vehicles and only react to humans.
KamAZ vehicles with armored cabs are used as chassis for "Agriculture", equipped with air filtration and ventilation systems, as well as air conditioners.
The system was first officially presented 24 June at the parade in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory, which took place in Moscow on Red Square. Two combat and two transport-loading vehicles participated there.. But even before that, "Agriculture" could be observed during rehearsals.
Now the RF Armed Forces are armed with universal minelayers (UMZ) based on the chassis of ZIL-131 cars, whose maximum range is 100 m. There is also a VSM-1 helicopter mining system based on the Mi-8, which can be used from a height of not more than 150 m.
In the 70s, on the basis of the Grad and Uragan MLRS, they already tried to create a similar system., with a range of up to 30 kilometers, but it was ineffective due to low accuracy and high cost of ammunition.
The team of authors in terms of the title approached the process creatively. According to some reports, “agricultural” theme prevailed initially. for example, the option “Sower”. But in the end, the remote mining system became “farming”.
