RM-70 multiple rocket launcher

Soviet rocket-launchers

In 1963, the Soviet Army introduced its BM-21 Grad 122 mm multiple rocket launcher. It was presented to the Czechoslovak military delegation in the beginning of summer 1964 in Moscow. After their return, they suggested the replacement of the RM-51 in the form of the BM-21 Grad. After consultations with both parties, Czechoslovakia received the license to produce the BM-21 Grad domestically. In April 1966, the decision was made to develop a rocket launcher for the needs of the Czechoslovak People's Army. A month later, the requirements for the system were outlined: the system had to be installed on an armored Tatra 813 truck.

Czechoslovak development

Development and the construction of a prototype was awarded to Konštrukta Trenčín. Konštrukta Trenčín completed the integration and the first prototype in spring of 1967. From September 1967 to December 1969, the vehicle underwent company and military testing. During testing, the prototype drove a total of 25,000 kilometers, fired around 500 rockets, during which the loading mechanism completed 120 loading cycles without any issues. Following the positive results from testing, the Ministry of Defence approved the commissioning of the vehicle in the Czechoslovak People's Army under the designation 122 mm raketomet vz. 70 (122 mm rocket-launcher model 70). At the same time, approval for the production of the first batch of 30 vehicles was given to ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom was given.

Four vehicles from the first 10 of the batch of 30 passed secondary testing as well, which occurred from November 1970 to March 1971. In the summer months of 1971, two vz. 70 vehicles were tested in the Soviet Union, with the vehicle being very positively rated.

Towards the end of 1971, serial production was launched and around 430 rocket RM-70 rocket launchers were produced for the Czechoslovak People's Army.

Czechoslovak production variants

Slovak modernizations

Czech modernizations

Similar and related vehicles

Current operators

•  Angola − 40 as of 2023^[update].
•  Azerbaijan − 18 RM-70 Vampire as of 2023^[update].
•  Cambodia − In active service. 20 RM-70 as of 2023^[update].
•  Democratic Republic of the Congo
•  Ecuador − 6 as of 2024.
•  Finland − 34 RM-70 as of 2023^[update].
•  Georgia − 18 RM-70 as of 2023^[update].
•  Greece − 108 RM-70 as of 2023^[update].
•  Indonesia − 9 RM-70 Grad and 36 RM-70 Vampire used as of 2023^[update]. Used by the Marine Corps.
•  Nigeria − 7 RM-70 as of 2023^[update].
•  North Korea − Unknown number purchased from second-hand sources during the Cold War and domestically produced
•  Poland − 29 RM-70 as of 2023^[update].
•  Rwanda − 5 as of 2023^[update].
•  Sahrawi Republic
•  Slovakia − 4 RM-70 and 26 RM-70/85 Modular as of 2023^[update].
•  Serbia − 30 RM-70 Vampire
•  Sri Lanka − Unknown number in service 2026.
•  Turkmenistan
•  Uganda − 6 as of 2023^[update].

• 

  Ukraine − 20 RM-70 Vampire as of 2023^[update] At least 5 destroyed or damaged as of April 27th 2025.
• Uruguay
•  Zimbabwe − 60 RM-70 as of 2023^[update].

Former operators

•  Bulgaria − 12 imported in 2009 (re-export, not commissioned in the Bulgarian Army)
•  Czech Republic − 60 RM-70 (decommissioned as of end of 2011 without replacement)^{[citation needed]}
• Czechoslovakia − Passed on to the Czech Republic and Slovakia after its dissolution.^{[citation needed]}
•  East Germany − 265 RM-70 received between 1975 and 1989; 158 delivered to Greece after the collapse of East Germany and 36 sold to Finland in 1991
•  Germany − Inherited from East Germany, donated to Greece.
• Libya − 36 (delivered by Czechoslovakia between 1981 and 1982). Estimated 100 RM-70 in service prior to the 2011 Libyan civil war

Unknown operational status

•  Algeria – Unknown number observed at Mers Al-Kebir Naval Base in the early 1980s. Operational status unknown.