OVERVIEW: The M-87 is an Unguided, long-range, surface-to-surface artillery rocket developed for wide-area bombardment using submunitions. It delivers dual-purpose anti-personnel and anti-armor bomblets from heavy multiple rocket launchers.

DETAILS: The M-87 is a 262mm diameter rocket measuring approximately 4.6 meters in length and weighing around 404 kg. It carries a cluster warhead containing 288 KB-1 dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM), each capable of penetrating light armor and producing fragmentation. The standard rocket has a maximum range of 50 km, with extended-range versions reaching up to 65 km. It is spin-stabilized and fired from a 12-tube launcher mounted on an 8×8 heavy truck chassis.

The system is designed for rapid saturation of large target areas, with each rocket dispersing submunitions over a wide impact footprint. Warheads can be configured for prefragmented, anti-armor, or mine-laying roles.

The rocket is launched from the Orkan MLRS vehicle using automated elevation and fire-control systems. Rockets are electrically fired in single or salvo mode, with reload and re-aiming conducted manually by crew from protected compartments.

NOTE:
IOC: 1987
Operators: Yugoslavia, Iraq, Serbia
Platforms: Orkan MLRS (FAP-2832 8×8 truck)
Conflict used in: Yugoslav Wars (1990s), Iraq (Ababil-50 trials)

SOURCE:
Jane’s Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence ; Yugoslav Army Technical Manuals ; SIPRI Arms Transfers Database ; Convention on Cluster Munitions Reports ; Serbian Military Technology Review