M-63 Plamen

M-63 Plamen
M-63 Plamen
	M-94 Plamen-S
Type	Multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin	Yugoslavia
Service history
In service	1963–present
Wars	Yugoslav Wars; Syrian civil war; Second Nagorno-Karabakh War; Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designer	Military Technical Institute
Manufacturer	14. oktobar; Krušik
Variants	M-94 Plamen-S
Specifications
Mass	2,134 kg (4,705 lb)
Length	3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Width	2.21 m (7 ft 3 in)
Height	1.26 m (4 ft 2 in)
Crew	6
Shell	Length: 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in); Weight: 23 kg (51 lb)
Caliber	128 mm (5.0 in)
Carriage	Split trail
Elevation	0° to 48°
Traverse	30°
Muzzle velocity	420 m/s (1,400 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	12.6 km (7.8 mi)

M-63 Plamen (from Serbian: пламен, lit. 'flame') is a 128mm multiple rocket launcher developed in Yugoslavia in 1963 for use by the Yugoslav People's Army.

Development

Serbian professor Obrad Vučurović, a mechanical engineer at the Military Technical Institute, was the project manager and chief engineer in charge of the development of the M-63 Plamen and all other Yugoslav multiple rocket launchers until the country's breakup, after which he continued to develop the M-96 Orkan II for Serbia. His knowledge and experience influenced Serbia's post-Yugoslav multiple rocket launchers, including new 150-kilometre (93 mi) long-range missile systems which are in development. His work is widely acknowledged and many of the design features he developed can be found in multiple rocket launchers around the world.^[2]

The M-63 Plamen's main purpose is to support front-line units with sudden, powerful attacks on enemy forces. It can also be used against enemy positions such as encampments, airfields, industrial facilities, command centers, communication centers and storehouses. It consists of thirty-two 128mm tubes, which can fire original Plamen-A and Plamen-B unguided rockets with a range of 8,600 metres (28,200 ft). The effect of each rocket on the target is equivalent to that of a 105mm artillery shell. All thirty-two rockets can be fired in either 6.4, 12.5 or 19.2 seconds. The launcher is mounted on a single axle trailer which can be towed by vehicles with an 800-millimetre (31 in) high tow hitch. The towing vehicle carries reserve rockets, so the battle complement is sixty-four rockets.

Operational history

The M-63 Plamen was widely used during the Yugoslav Wars. It has also been sighted in the Syrian Civil War, used by rebel fighters under the Free Syrian Army. It is believed that Croatian weapons, including RAK-12 launchers, were supplied by Saudi Arabia.^[3] During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Croatian RAK-12s were delivered to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in 2023, and also saw use with the Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine in December 2024.^[4]

Variants

M-63 Plamen – Original towed 32-tube 128 mm multiple rocket launcher. Uses Plamen-A and Plamen-B rockets (with a range of 8,600 m).^[5]
M-94 Plamen-S – Launcher mounted on a TAM 6x6 truck chassis for greater tactical mobility and allowing it to shoot-and-scoot, increasing survivability. In addition to 32 rockets in the ready-to-launch position, the Plamen-S also carries a rack with 16 additional rockets. The system features two hydraulic stabilizers to provide a more stable firing platform and can be readied to fire its rockets in 30 seconds. The Plamen-S can fire standard rockets or extended-range ones with a range of 13,000 metres (43,000 ft).^[6]
RAK-12 – Croatian-built version with twelve 128 mm tubes, enabling weapon to be towed by lighter vehicles like Jeeps.^[7] The launcher fires two types of rockets: M91 (range 8,500 m) and M93 (range 13,000 m).^[8] The Croatian Army operates eight RAK-12 multiple rocket launchers with some 60 held in reserve.
LOV RAK-24 – Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher with twenty-four 128 mm launcher tubes, which are mounted on the Croatian-made light armored personnel carrier LOV.^[9]