Russia sells rocket-launching vehicles to India

MOSCOW, Tuesday (AFP) Russia will deliver a supply of Smerch multiple rocket-launching vehicles to the Indian army, Russian arms exporting agency said Monday, according to news agency Ria-Novosti.

"Rosoboronexport and the Indian defense minister signed a contract for the delivery of the Smerch to two regiments of the Indian army," said Viktor Komardine, second in command at the state's official, military equipment export-import arm.

The Smerch consists of a truck topped by a battery of rocket launchers and is capable of destroying ground targets like artillery or missile launchers.

It was developed by the Russian company Splav in the 1980s and was first used by the Russian army in 1988.

It operates on the same principal as the "Katyucha," also known as "Stalin's organ," which was used during the Second World War.