US - M119 105mm Howitzer Airborne Deployment

 Source: Armed Forces Archives

Airborne‬ Artillery Drop & M119A3 Howitzer 105mm Cannon In Action

Turkey - Khan Artillery Missile

 Source:  Weapons Artillery

Roketsan Khan Artillery Missile

  The Khan is based on the Belarusian MZKT-7909 heavy high-mobility chassis with 8x8 configuration. This vehicle is powered by a TMZ-84631.10 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 525 hp. Engine is mated to an automatic transmission. The Khan launcher can travel on all kinds of roads and off-road. The launcher vehicle is capable of rapid deployment.

   The Khan is operated by a crew of 4. Vehicle is fitted with a 4-door armored cab, which provides protection for the crew against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters.

   Some years ago a Turkish BMC company was developing an indigenous 8x8 special wheeled chassis, the BMC 525-44 that could be used for military roles and carry various missiles. However so far this chassis has not reached production. Instead the Khan was based on a foreign chassis. Interestingly it is not the first time when Turkey obtained Belarusian heavy high mobility vehicles. In the early 2000s Turkish Army obtained a total of 130 Belarusian MZKT-74295 tank transporters.

   The Khan launcher vehicle is supported by an associated reloading vehicle. It is based on the same 8x8 MZKT chassis and is fitted with a crane. It carriers 2 containers with reload missiles.

   A Khan battery is composed of a couple of launcher vehicles (possibly 3) with ballistic missiles, associated reloading vehicles, command vehicles and possibly some other support vehicles.

Russia - S7 PION Self Propelled 203mm Heavy Artillery

Source: the Military Lovers 

2S7 PION Self Propelled 203mm Heavy Artillery Massive Live Firing

2S7 PION Self-Propelled 203mm Heavy Artillery was identified for the first time in 1975 in the Soviet Army and so was called M-1975 by NATO (the 2S4 Tyulpan also received the M-1975 designation), whereas its official designation is SO-203 (2S7). Its design is based on a T-80 chassis carrying an externally mounted 2A44 203 mm gun on the hull rear.

The 2S7 main armament consists of 2A44 203mm cannon. The 203 mm barrel has an overall length of 56.2 calibers and weighs a total of 7,800 kg and has a barrel life of about 450 rounds. When travelling, the 203 mm cannon is held in position by a manually operated travel lock mounted on top of the cab. Gun elevation, traverse, loading and operation of the spade are all hydraulic with manual controls for emergency use. Mounted at the very rear of the tracked chassis is a large recoil spade which, when lowered to the ground, provides stability during firing. The gun operator is seated at the rear of the vehicle on the left side and for the engagement of targets has a standard PG-1M panoramic day telescope that is used in conjunction with the K-1 collimator. Ammunition is of the separate loading type, projectile and charge, with a maximum muzzle velocity of 960 m/s. Maximum range, using unassisted ammunition, is 37.5 km. The standard 203 mm HE round is designated the ZOF 43 and weighs 110 kg, with a total of four projectiles and charges being carried on the 2S7 for immediate use. The remainder of the ammunition load is carried by another vehicle, usually a truck. In addition, there is a rocket-assisted high-explosive projectile that weighs 103 kg and has a maximum range of 47,500 m.

It carries four 203 mm projectiles for immediate use. It is capable of firing nuclear ammunition. The gun has a range of 37,500 m, but this can be extended to 55,500 m by using RAPs (Rocket Assisted Projectiles). The Pion has been the most powerful conventional artillery piece since entering service in 1983. One interesting feature of the Pion is the firing alarm. Because the blast of the weapon firing is so powerful—it can physically incapacitate an unprepared soldier or crew member near it from concussive force—the Pion is equipped with an audible firing alarm that emits a series of short warning tones for approximately five seconds prior to the charge being fired.

The 2S7 carries a crew of fourteen; seven are carried by the Pion and seven are with an auxiliary vehicle. The system carries four rounds of ammunition; four more rounds are carried by the support vehicle. Brief out-of-action time allows Pion to fire 1 or 2 rounds and leave firing position before the first round hits target located up to 47 km away. This shoot-and-scoot capability allows to avoid counter-battery fire. This makes the 2S7 less susceptible to counter-battery fire.

Variants :

It takes the crew of seven men 5–6 minutes to come into action and 3–5 minutes to come out of action. It carries four 203 mm projectiles for immediate use. It is capable of firing nuclear ammunition.

- 2S7 Pion

- 2S7M Malka – An improved variant, which entered service in 1983, that improved the gun's fire control systems, increased the rate of fire from 1.5 to 2.5 rounds per minute, and increased the ammunition load to eight projectiles

Production history :

Produced 1975–1990

Development :

-- 1967 - 1974 (2S7 Pion)

-- Mid 1980's (2S7M Malka)

Developer :

-- Soviet Union - Kirov factory & Barrikady arsenal

Crew : 7 (commander, driver, radio operator, gunner, loader)

Effective firing range : 37.5-55km

Main armament :

-- 203 mm 2A44 gun

Ammunition :

-- 4 shells on vehicle

Elevation :

-- 0 to +60 degrees elevation, powered

Traverse : -15 to +15 degrees traverse, powered

-- 1.5 rpm max

Rate of fire :

Operational range :

-- Road: 650 km (400 mi)

Maximum speed : 50 km/h (31 mph)

Specifications :

Mass : 46.5 tons

Length : 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)

Width : 3.38 m (11 ft 1 in)

Height : 3 m (9 ft 10 in)

Caliber : 203 mm

Barrels : 1

Armor : 10mm max.

Chassis :

-- Tracked chassis, 7 roadwheels

Drive sprocket front, idler rear

-- 0.80 kg/cm^2

Ground pressure : Engine :

Suspension : torsion bar

-- V-46-I V12 turbocharged diesel 840 hp

UK - Apache Attack Helipcopters

Source: HBB Defense Military

British Army's Apache attack helicopters 

The British Army’s Apache attack helicopters have fired potent Hellfire missiles inside the Arctic circle for the first time. Facing temperatures dropping to -30°C and white-out flying conditions, 656 Squadron 4 Regiment Army Air Corps is training in the far north of Norway.

India - Akash Air Defence Weapon System

 Source: Weapons Artillery

Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for Missile Systems, Bharat Electronics (BEL), Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division and Larsen & Toubro for other radars, control centers, launcher systems in India. The Akash New Generation missile system can target aircraft up to 50–60 km (31–37 mi) away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m. It has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles. It is in operational service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

An Akash battery comprises a single Rajendra 3D passive electronically scanned array radar and four launchers with three missiles each, all of which are interlinked. Each battery can track up to 64 targets and attack up to 12 of them. The missile has a 60 kg (130 lb) high-explosive, pre-fragmented warhead with a proximity fuse. The Akash system is fully mobile and capable of protecting a moving convoy of vehicles. The launch platform has been integrated with both wheeled and tracked vehicles. While the Akash system has primarily been designed as an air defence SAM, it also has been tested in a missile defense role. The system provides air defence missile coverage for an area of 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi). The Indian military's combined orders of the Akash, including radar systems (WLR and Surveillance), have a total worth of ₹23,300 crore (US$4 billion)