Editing Multiple rocket launcher (section)

==Current usage==

Like all artillery, MRLs have a reputation of devastating morale on ill-disciplined or already-shaken troops.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Prenatt |first1=Jamie |title=Katyusha Russian Multiple Rocket Launchers 1941-Present |date=2016 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |pages=4}}</ref> The material effect depends on circumstances, as well-covered field fortifications may provide reasonable protection.

MRLs are still unable to properly engage reverse slope positions in [[mountain warfare]] because it is more difficult to determine the trajectory compared to that of a [[howitzer]] by adding or removing propellant increments. Simple MRL rocket types have a rather long minimum firing range for the same reason. An approach to lessen this limit is the addition of drag rings to the rocket nose. The increased drag slows the rocket down relative to a clean configuration and creates a less flat trajectory. Pre-packaged MRL munitions do not offer this option but some MRL types with individually loaded rockets do.<ref>Jane's Armour and Artillery 2011-2012 data sheets</ref>

Improvised MRLs based on helicopter or aircraft-mounted rocket pods (typically of 57–80{{spaces}}mm caliber) especially on light trucks and pickups (so-called "[[Technical (vehicle)|technical]]s") are often seen in civil wars when rebels make use of captured launchers and munitions.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.armamentresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ARES-Research-Report-No.-1-S-5-Rockets-in-Land-Warfare.pdf |title=Improvised Employment of S-5 Air-to-Surface Rockets in Land Warfare: A brief history and technical appraisal |date=2014 |publisher=Armament Research Services |access-date=2014-08-17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924204548/http://www.armamentresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ARES-Research-Report-No.-1-S-5-Rockets-in-Land-Warfare.pdf |archive-date=2014-09-24 }}</ref>

Modern MRL systems can use modern land navigation (especially [[satellite navigation]] such as GPS) for quick and accurate positioning. The accurate determination of the battery position previously required such effort that making a dispersed operation of the battery was at times impractical. MRL systems with GPS can have their MRLs dispersed and fire from various positions at a single target, just as previously multiple batteries were often united on one target area.

Radar may be used to track [[weather balloon]]s to determine winds or to track special rockets that self-destruct in the air. The tracking allows determination of the influence of winds and propellant temperatures on the rockets' flight paths. These observations can then be factored into the firing solution for the rocket salvo for effect. Such tracking radars can also be used to predict the range error of individual rockets. Trajectory-correcting munitions may then benefit from this, as a directional radio may send a coded message to the rocket to deploy air brakes at just the right time to correct most of the range error. This requires that the rockets were originally aimed too far, as the range can only be shortened by the air brakes, not extended.

A more sophisticated system makes use of radar data and a one-way radio datalink to initiate a two dimensional (range and [[azimuth]]) correction of the rocket's flight path with steering by fins or nose thrusters. The latter is more common with systems which can be used to upgrade old rockets and the IMI [[ACCULAR]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Richardson |first=Doug |url=http://www.imi-israel.com/vault/documents/accular.pdf |title=Israel Military Industries exhibits reborn Accular guided rocket |access-date=2014-08-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715052614/http://www.imi-israel.com/vault/documents/accular.pdf |archive-date=2015-07-15 }}</ref> is an example.

[[File:Tactical exercises of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops units at Shikhani training ground (410-1).jpg|thumb|Heavy flamethrower system [[TOS-1|TOS-1A]] MRL capable of using [[thermobaric weapon|thermobaric warheads]], mounted on a T-72 tank chassis, in action]]

Fin-stabilised rockets also allow for easy course corrections using rudders or minute charges. [[Precision-guided munitions]] have been introduced to exploit this. Guidance principles such as satellite navigation, [[inertial navigation system]]s and [[semi-active laser seeker]]s are used for this. This improves dispersion from a [[Circular error probability|CEP]] of hundreds of meters at dozens of kilometers' range to just a few meters and largely independent of the range of the round (except for INS, as INS navigation creates a small dispersion that is about proportional to range). This in turn made great increases of rocket (or missile) ranges useful; previously dispersion had made rockets too inefficient and often too dangerous to friendly troops at long ranges.
Long-range MRL missiles often fly a higher quasi-ballistic trajectory than shorter-ranged rockets and thus pose a de-confliction challenge, as they might collide with friendly aircraft in the air.

The differences between an MRL missile and a large anti-tank guided missile, such as the [[Nimrod (missile)|Nimrod]], have blurred due to guided MRL missiles such as the [[M31 GMLRS]] (guided unitary multiple launch rocket system), which passed flight tests in 2014.<ref name=lm201408>{{cite press release|url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/GuidedUnitaryMLRSRocket.html |title=Guided MLRS Unitary Rocket |publisher=Lockheed Martin|date=11 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811224004/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/GuidedUnitaryMLRSRocket.html |archive-date=2014-08-11 }}</ref>