View source for Thunderbolt-2000

{{Infobox weapon
|name                 = Thunderbolt-2000
| image                = Thunderbolt 2000 MLRS Side View 20111105a.jpg
| image_size           = 300
|caption              = Thunderbolt-2000 Mk-45
|origin               = [[Taiwan]] (Republic of China)
|type                 = [[Rocket artillery]]
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged            = yes
|is_bladed            =
|is_explosive         =
|is_artillery         = yes
|is_vehicle           = yes
|is_UK                =
<!-- Service history -->
|service              =
|wars                 =
<!-- Production history -->
|designer             = [[National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology]] (NCSIST)<ref name="Archive">{{cite web |url=http://www.emeraldesigns.com/matchup/artillery2.htm |title=Unknown |access-date=July 30, 2020}}{{dead link|date=July 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|design_date          =
|manufacturer         = [[NCSIST]]<ref name="Archive"/>
|production_date      = 1997 - Present
|number               =
|variants             =
<!-- General specifications -->
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|crew                 =
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge            = [[Explosive material#High explosives|High explosive]], [[Anti-personnel weapon|Anti-personnel]] and [[Materiel|Anti-Materiel]] dual-function cluster warhead or steel-ball shrapnel high-explosive warhead submunitions<ref name="LT-2000">[http://www.jedsite.info/artillery-lima/lima/misc/lt-2000/lt2000-intro.html LT-2000.] Retrieved on May 11, 2008.</ref>
|caliber              = 117 mm (MK15),<ref name="LT-2000"/> 180mm (MK30), 227mm (MK45)
|action               =
|rate                 =
|velocity             =
|range                = 15 km (MK15), 30 km (MK30), 45 km (MK45)
|max_range            =
|feed                 =
|sights               =
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|breech               =
|recoil               =
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|haft_type            =
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|diameter             =
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|secondary_armament   =
|engine               =
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}}
[[File:Thunderbolt 2000 MLRS Display at Military Academy Ground 20140531a.jpg|thumb|Thunderbolt 2000 MLRS Display at Military Academy Ground]]
The '''Thunderbolt-2000''' ({{zh|c=雷霆2000|p=Léitíng 2000}}; RT/LT-2000) is a wheeled [[Multiple rocket launcher|MLRS]] system produced by the [[National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology]] (NCSIST). It is in service with the Republic of China armed forces and was created with the intention of attacking enemy forces when disembarking from sea.<ref name="MLRS">[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/taiwan/lt-2000.htm Lei Ting-2000.] Retrieved on May 11, 2008.</ref>
==Overview==
The prototype of the Thunderbolt-2000 weapon system was originally placed on the chassis of a [[Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck|M977 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck]].<ref name="LT-2000"/> The production model utilises [[MAN HX81]] 8x8 wheeled trucks instead, with the first order batch including 57 launchers and 54 ammunition carriers/reloaders or local production of the same version. The LT-2000 was scheduled to enter service with all 3 main army groups in Taiwan from 2010, with each army group's artillery corps receiving 1 battalion of RT/LT-2000, featuring 3 companies/batteries with 6 RT/LT-2000 launchers each. The original CSIST LT-2000 prototype battery is in service with Kinmen Command, deployed there since mid-2000.{{Cn|date=October 2021}}
==History==
It had made its debut in 1997 when it appeared for the first time to the public during the [[Han Kuang Exercise]].<ref name="MLRS"/> The platform is going to be MAN HX81 8x8 wheeled trucks, with 57 launchers and 54 ammo carriers/reloaders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hojiyi/380055|title = Yahoo奇摩}}</ref>
==Munitions==
[[File:Thunderbolt 2000 MLRS in Hukou Camp Open day 20111105.jpg|thumb|300px|Thunderbolt-2000 at the [[Republic of China Army|Republic of China (Taiwan) Army]] [[Hukou, Hsinchu|Hukou]] base]]
The LT/RT-2000 uses three types of munitions: Mk15 (60 rounds, 3 pods of 20 round each, 15&nbsp;km range), Mk30 (27 rounds, 3 pods of 9 rounds each, 30&nbsp;km range) and Mk45 (12 rounds, 2 pods of 6 rounds each, 45&nbsp;km range). While the Mk15 is the 117&nbsp;mm rockets used by the [[Kung Feng multiple launch rocket system|Kung Feng VI]] that carries 6,400 6.4mm size steel balls, the Mk30 rocket is a bit larger than the Mk15 at 180mm caliber and can carry either 267 rounds of M77 Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) bomblets or 18,300 8mm size steel balls with range of 30&nbsp;km. And Mk45 larger than the Mk30 at 227mm caliber as it can carry either 518 rounds of M77 bomblets or 25,000 8mm steel balls with range of 45&nbsp;km.<ref name="MLRS"/> Other types of munitions also being developed by CSIST/ROC (Taiwan) Army, including FAE bomblets.{{Cn|date=October 2021}}
===Extended range munitions===
Due to increasing threats NCSIST has developed more advanced versions of the original family of rockets with increased ranges.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Butler |first1=Staś |title=VIDEO: Taiwan military upgrades missile weaponry |url=https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2004865 |website=en.rti.org.tw |publisher=Radio Taiwan International |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref> As of 2019 NCSIST had tested improved rockets to 63nm and believed that even longer ranges were readily achievable.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yeo |first1=Mike |title=Taiwan looks to boost artillery forces to counter China |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2019/09/27/taiwan-looks-to-boost-artillery-forces-to-counter-china/ |website=www.defensenews.com |date=27 September 2019 |publisher=Defense News |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref> Testing of more advanced rockets began soon after. With a range of 200-300km the new munitions are able to reach China from Taiwan’s main island.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chung |first1=Lawrence |title=South China Sea: Taiwan fires up missile tests to coincide with Beijing's month of military drills |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3123885/south-china-sea-taiwan-fires-missile-tests-coincide-beijings |website=www.scmp.com |date=3 March 2021 |publisher=South China Morning Post |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref>
<Gallery>
File:Thunderbolt 2000 MLRS Display at Chengkungling Ground Left Rear View 20131012.jpg|Thunderbolt-2000 MK-30
File:Thunderbolt 2000 MLRS Left Rear View 20111105.jpg|Thunderbolt-2000 MK-45
File:Thunderbolt 2000 MLRS Middle Near View 20111105.jpg|Thunderbolt-2000 Launch controller
File:ROCA AT8×8 Rocket Lunchers Reload Truck Display at Ching Chuang Kang Air Force Base 20140719a.jpg|AT 8×8 Ammunition car
</Gallery>
==See also==
* {{lwc|Kung Feng multiple launch rocket system|Kung Feng IV/VI MLRS}}
==References==
{{Commons category inline|Thunderbolt 2000 Multiple Launch Rocket System}}
{{reflist}}
{{TWAFVs}}
[[Category:Rocket artillery]]
[[Category:Self-propelled artillery of the Republic of China]]
[[Category:Salvo weapons]]
[[Category:Modular rocket launchers]]
[[Category:Multiple rocket launchers]]
[[Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 1990s]]
[[Category:National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology]]