Thursday, September 30, 2021

Russia - BM-27 Uragan 220m MLRS

 Source: Military Update

Military Update

BM-27 Uragan "Ураган"- Russian 220 mm Multiple Rocket Launcher

The BM-27 Uragan (Russian: Ураган, lit. 'Hurricane'; GRAU index 9P140) is a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher system designed in the Soviet Union. It began its service with the Soviet Army in the late 1970s, and was its first modern spin and fin stabilized heavy multiple rocket launcher. The BM-27 Uragan is capable of launching 220 mm rockets from 16 launch tubes mounted on the rear of a ZIL-135 8x8 chassis.[4] This vehicle is extremely similar to that used in the FROG-7 free flight rocket system. It has two gasoline engines that power its 20 tonnes to a maximum speed of 65 kilometers per hour. One engine drives the four wheels on the left of the truck, while the other engine drives the four wheels on the right. The ZIL-135 has eight wheel drive, but only the front and rear axles are used for steering. It has a maximum cruising range of 500 kilometers. The cab of the ZIL-135 is NBC protected, allowing the rockets to be fired without exposing the crew to possible contaminants.[5][6] The six-man crew[4] can emplace or displace the system in three minutes. Before firing, stabilizing jacks must be lowered and the blast shield raised to protect the cab and its occupants. Indirect fire aiming is achieved with the use of a PG-1 panoramic telescope. Although there are no night vision sights, the driver of the launch vehicle is equipped with a night vision device. The BM-27 can use HE-FRAG, chemical, explosive or scatterable mine (PTM-3 or PFM-1) submunition equipped rockets, all of which are detonated by electric timing fuses. Each rocket weighs 280.4 kilograms. The warheads weigh between 90 and 100 kilograms, depending on type. A full salvo of 16 rockets can be fired in 20 seconds and can engage targets within a range of 35 kilometers. Because of the size of the warhead, the range of the rocket and the speed that a salvo can be delivered, the BM-27 is very effective at mine laying. Each 220 mm rocket can scatter 312 anti-personnel PFM-1 mines. Minefields can be laid behind a retreating enemy or even be used to trap an enemy by encircling them with mines. Tactics such as this were often used by the Soviets in Afghanistan. Once the rockets have been fired, 9T452 (another ZIL-135 based vehicle) is used to assist in reloading. It carries additional rockets and a crane to transfer the rockets from the reload vehicle to the launcher.[4] The entire reloading procedure takes around 20 minutes. Variants 9P140 Uragan: Standard variant on ZIL-135 truck. Uragan-1M: Variant presented to the public in 2007; all processes are automated. Can also fire the 300 mm rockets of the BM-30 Smerch system.[9] Reloading is simplified by substituting barrels; can be fitted with two banks of six 300 mm launch tubes or 15 220 mm launch tubes. Deliveries to the Russian Army started as of September 2016. Can fire guided 220 mm rockets with a range of 70 km (43 mi).[ 9A53 Uragan-U: Successor with 2 × 15 launch tubes; presented in 2009 on 8×8 MZKT-7930. Thanks to its modular assembly the BM-30 Smerch and BM-21 Grad rockets can also be fired. Bastion-03: Prototype by Ukrainian company AvtoKrAZ, presented in 2010. Installed on a 6×6 truck type KrAZ-63221RA. Burevia : Prototype Burevia or Storm by the Ukrainian Shepetivka Repair Plant involving a new digital fire control system capable of target sharing and mounted on a Tatra 8x8 T815-7T3RC1 chassis

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Russia - D30 Towed Howitzer

 Source: Matsimus

Matsimus

Russian 122-mm D-30 '2А18' Howitzer

The 122-mm howitzer D-30 (GRAU index 2A18) is a Soviet howitzer that first entered service in 1960. It is a robust piece that focuses on the essential features of a towed field gun suitable for all conditions. The D-30 has a maximum range of 15.4 kilometers, or over 21 km using RAP ammunition. With its striking three-leg mounting, the D-30 can be rapidly traversed through 360 degrees. Although no longer manufactured in the nations of the former Soviet Union, the D-30 is still manufactured internationally and is in service in more than 60 countries' armed forces. The barrel assembly of the 2A18 gun is used by the 2S1 self-propelled howitzer. There are also Egyptian, Chinese, Serbian and Syrian self-propelled variants and conversions. The Syrian conversion utilizes the hull of a T-34 tank.

Friday, September 24, 2021

Czech Republic - DITA 155mm SP Howitzer

 Source: Matsimus

Matsimus

Excalibur Army 'DITA' 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer

The DITA 155mm self-propelled gun howitzer is an artillery system being developed by Czech defence company Excalibur Army to meet modern-day artillery challenges. Derived from the Tatra 8×8 truck-mounted howitzer designs, the DITA howitzer features a fully automated superstructure, which will increase the rate of fire with only two crew members on board. The self-propelled howitzer entered the final stage of development with the completion of a functional prototype vehicle in January 2021. The prototype is set to undergo a series of tests to evaluate its performance. Excalibur Army partnered with EDGE Group, a UAE-based defence technology company, to exhibit its new howitzer at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2021 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in Abu Dhabi. The DITA artillery weapon system will have a length of 13.02m, a width of 3.08m, a height of 3.12m and will weigh up to 29t. The fully autonomous superstructure will allow the howitzer to be mounted on different types of wheeled or tracked chassis, while enabling operation by only a two-member crew comprising a driver and commander. The superstructure will offer an emergency operation workplace to accommodate an additional crew member based on user preference. The ballistic crew cabin will be equipped with high-performance heating and air-conditioning system and nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) filtration system. The cabin will offer STANAG 4569 Level I protection to the occupants. Equipped with automatic loading and firing mechanism, the gun can be operated in fully automatic, manual and emergency guiding modes. It can also support different firing modes such as single round, rapid-fire, programmed, as well as multiple round simultaneous impact (MRSI). The gun can rotate through -3°/70° elevation angle and traverse through ±60°. The artillery system can carry 40 rounds of ammunition in conveyors within the turret.

Thursday, September 23, 2021

US - M109 Paladin 155mm SP Howitzer

M109 Paladin 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer

 Source: Matsimus

Matsimus

Soldiers conduct fire missions inside the M109A6 Paladin during their military training. The live-fire exercise was designed to certify the battalion ensuring they can operate effectively within the brigade, and to enhance their readiness for real time firing missions.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Russia - Uragan and Grad-M

Russian artillery drills with MLRS "Uragan" and "Grad-M" in the Kemerovo Wilayah region