Msta-S 155mm Howitzer: Russia Offers New Self Propelled Artillery Gun

Defence News: Rosoboronexport, Russia’s nodal agency for foreign military sales, has for the first time showcased the combat capabilities of the Msta-S 155mm Howitzer to global customers in a firepower demonstration conducted in the country.

Rosoboronexport and UralVagonZavod (UVZ), both part of Rostec State Corporation, joined hands for the demonstration of this self-propelled gun system to Middle Eastern customers in an exercise at the Nizhny Tagil Institute of Metal Testing’s (NTIIM’s) Staratel Proving Ground.

During the tests, the Msta-S SP howitzer hit all its targets and performed all planned manoeuvres.

The Msta-S uses a NATO standard 155 mm gun and is designed to destroy artillery and mortar batteries, tank columns, command & control and reconnaissance posts.

“This combat vehicle has powerful artillery armament and road performance that are not inferior to modern armoured vehicles. It is equipped with advanced communications, satellite navigation and surveillance systems,” said Viktor Kladov, Director for International Cooperation and Regional Policy at Rostec.

He said during the tests, the Msta-S showed excellent results in target engagement using an automated fire control and the Orlan-10E unmanned aerial reconnaissance system.

“I’m sure that our Middle East partners were able to see once again the advantages of the Russian military equipment,” added the senior Rostec executive.

Rostec said Msta-S self-propelled howitzer can be successfully used against fortifications and field depots, manpower and firearms in strong points and at deployment lines, air defense, missile defense and electronic warfare assets. The howitzer is capable of firing including also at sea targets within their reach.

“Our 155 mm Msta-S self-propelled howitzer manufactured by Uraltransmash is steadily taking its place among artillery systems of the most common caliber worldwide. In terms of cost performance, it significantly outperforms competitors presented on the world market,” said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport.

He said Msta-S self-propelled howitzer has qualities comparable to those of similar howitzers, and surpasses them on a number of items.

“We are expecting the Msta-S will be of considerable interest to countries in the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region,” he added.

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Msta-S 155 self-propelled howitzer

The 155 mm Msta-S self-propelled howitzer is equipped with an automatic laying and fire control system, a thermal imaging sight coupled with a laser rangefinder.

It is also equipped with observation devices, a muzzle velocity radar, loading mechanisms, mechanized charge stowage, mechanisms for feeding projectiles and charges from the ground, and a 12.7 mm machine gun mount.

Russian self propelled artillery system is also fitted with communications equipment, two filtration units, a self-contained power supply and air conditioning unit, electrical equipment, a hydraulic system and a gun loading control system.

Satellite navigation system has been used to locate the self-propelled howitzer in a given coordinate system. The fighting compartment meets all modern ergonomic requirements.

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“Firings with automatic realignment were also carried out during the firing tests. These field tests showed the reliability and effectiveness of the Russian gun and substantiated the claimed specifications,” said Alexander Potapov, Director General of UralVagonZavod after the gun’s demonstration to potential foreign customers.

“Our partners have praised the combat capabilities of the new artillery system. The howitzer showed excellent results,” Alexander Potapov.

Msta-S Modernized 155mm self-propelled howitzer

The modernized 155mm Msta-S self-propelled howitzer is designed to engage (neutralize) enemy artillery and mortar batteries; tanks, anti-tank and other armored vehicles; manpower and fire means, control points, air defence, missile defence and electronic weaponry; destroy field fortifications and other defensive structures; deny the enemy’s ability to maneuver its infantry and armored reserves.

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Msta-S 155mm howitzer.

Advantages of the self-propelled howitzer:

1. lowest weight among 155mm/52-caliber SPGs;

2. the gun can be loaded at any angle of elevation and a traverse through 360 degrees;

3. automatic laying and laying recovery after each shot;

4. capability to cross water obstacles up to 5 meters deep and up to 1,000 meters wide;

5. original mechanisms feeding projectiles and charges from the ground provide high-rate firing without using the carried ammunition load;

6. gun laying and firing are possible in emergency in the event of power failure.

An automated laying and fire control system (ALFCS) installed on the self-propelled howitzer, combined with artillery fire control vehicles, provides highly effective counter-battery fire. The use of the ALFCS reduces the emplacement time 1.5-2 times, shortens the time to open fire by 25-30%, and doubles the survivability of the 2S19M1-155 self-propelled howitzer on the battlefield.

The self-propelled howitzer can deliver both indirect and direct fire only at the halt without the preliminary preparation of firing positions. Laying method is automatic, semi-automatic, manual.

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