"Lotos": state trials are coming

 The latest self-propelled artillery piece "Lotоs" has been sent for state testing.

Lotos is a derivative of the Zauralets project and is expected to replace it. According to the Zauralets project, it was planned to develop a new self-propelled artillery system for the Airborne Forces.

In August 2022, the preliminary tests of the 2C42 Lotоs were successfully completed. During the tests, the machine was tested on land and in water, and was also air-dropped from various heights and from different angles.

After completing the tests, the developer began to eliminate the identified shortcomings. In particular, it was necessary to improve the on-board electronics, the projectile loading system and the chassis.

In addition, the lessons learned from the military operations in Ukraine were taken into account.

In accordance with the technical parameters, the Lotоs is significantly superior to its predecessor, the Nona complex, in terms of such characteristics as movement speed, firing range and security level.

This artillery piece can be used as a mortar or howitzer. The breech-loading mortar is mounted on a chassis based on the Sprut-SDM-1 (BMD-4M) light airborne tank. Improvements were carried out in the 120 mm mortar compartment, which significantly automated the preparation and conduct of firing operations.

The rate of fire of this gun ranges from 6 to 8 rounds per minute. The firing range reaches 13 kilometers. The armor-piercing projectile is capable of piercing a 600-650 mm thick steel plate at a distance of 1,000 meters.

In addition, these weapons can use Kitolov-2M laser-guided projectiles. The maximum range of such projectiles is 10 kilometers, and the probability of hitting is about 80-90%.

The Lotоs is a waterfowl combat vehicle.

 The IL-76 military transport aircraft can accommodate two such guns with a crew.

The adaptation of the chassis after testing has improved the speed and power reserve: the car can reach speeds of up to 70 km/ h on roads and 40 km/ h on rough terrain.

Throughout 2023, the Lotоs was tested again, including in Ukraine, and in 2024, images of the Lotоs transportation to the combat area were published. In the course of recent tests, it was decided to integrate a powerful electronic warfare (EW) system into the ACS to protect against drones. Also, as passive protection, the crew can use special aerosol-forming ammunition ("Rainbow") optoelectronic countermeasures, within a few seconds a cloud is created hiding the equipment from the enemy.

The Lotоs pre-test program includes more than 80 different items. The tracked self—propelled installation must travel 600 kilometers, of which 50% of the way will have to be covered on dirt roads, 30% on roads with cobblestone and gravel surfaces, and 10% off—road. You will also need to walk 10% of the way through the water.

Specifications

- Combat weight, kg: 18,000

- Maximum speed on the highway, km/h: 40

- Power reserve on the highway, km: 500

- Armament: 1 x 120mm cannon

- Crew, people: 4

Lotоs

Hanwha Aerospace and Huta Stalowa Wola SA have signed a contract to supply components for Krab howitzers

AHS Krab

Hanwha Aerospace and Polish arms manufacturer Huta Stalowa Wola SA (HSW) have signed a contract for the supply of K9 Thunder chassis components and power units for 87 additional 155 mm Krab self-propelled howitzers. The agreement, worth about $280 million, provides for the supply of these components between 2026 and 2028.

This contract is based on a collaboration between the two companies that began in 2014 and has since included several agreements related to the production of the Krab howitzer. Krab is a key artillery system used by the Polish armed forces and manufactured in Poland by HSW in technical cooperation with Hanwha Aerospace.

The Krab is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed based on the K9 Thunder chassis. It has high mobility and the ability to fire quickly. The Krab can fire at a range of up to 40 km using standard projectiles and up to 50 km using rocket projectiles.

The signing of this contract confirms the successful cooperation between Hanwha Aerospace and HSW in the field of artillery systems production. It also highlights the importance of the Krab howitzer to the Polish armed forces and Hanwha Aerospace's ability to provide high-tech components for this system.