Internationale ontwikkelingen artillerie

Gestart door Harald, 29/03/2021 | 15:01 uur

Parera


Huzaar1

Het is nooit genoeg, maar voor onze begrippen is het qua kwantiteit afdoendd wat we nu hebben.
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"

Parera

#96
Moeten wij er nog een aantal aankopen? Eventueel ook om de pzh's aante vullen die we hebben weg gegeven en eventueel een extra (reserve) capaciteit te hebben?

Oekraine heeft vorig jaar ook aangekondigd nog 100 pzh2000's te willen aankopen vanuit een nieuwe productie lijn. Het lijkt me dat er nog wel meer geintereseerde te vinden zijn in Europa binnen de huidige gebruikers groep om een kleine 150 a 200 stuks te kunnen produceren.

Harald

German Armed Forces to Procure New Self-Propelled Howitzers

Due to the transfer of weapons and materiel to Ukraine, the German Army?s level of available equipment has declined in recent months. In particular, the transfer of 14 German PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) to the Ukrainian armed forces is likely to have significantly weakened the Bundeswehr?s artillery capabilities.

In order to replace the howitzers handed over to Ukraine, the German MoD now wants to procure up to 14 PzH 2000 SPHs, using funds from Section 60, and it wants to submit a bill in this regard to the respective Parliament committees in 2023 for approval. This was the German MoD?s response to a question by Member of Parliament Jens Lehmann (CDU) from Leipzig and member of the Defence Committee of the German Bundestag.

Jens Lehmann, MP, commented on the MoD`s answer: ?I am very pleased that the Bundeswehr is to receive replacements for the self-propelled howitzers it has given up. These plans are good for the Army for the time being. Unfortunately, so far they are only plans of the MoD but as of yet no concrete measures have been taken.? In his opinion, the procurement should have been initiated much earlier. ?In light of the war in Ukraine and limited industrial resources, every day counts. That is why I demand that the necessary submissions be made to the relevant committees in the German Bundestag as soon as possible and not sometime later 2023,? Lehmann said.

Within the framework of the aforementioned Section 60, a total of EUR 2.2 Bn has been earmarked from the 2023 budget for ?supporting partner states in the field of security, defence and stabilisation?. The largest part of this aid is likely to be destined for Ukraine. The transfer of the 14 Bundeswehr PzH 2000 was carried out in cooperation with The Netherlands, who also transferred weapon systems of the same type to Ukraine. Both countries also cooperate in training Ukrainian soldiers.

https://euro-sd.com/2023/01/news/29006/german-armed-forces-to-procure-new-self-propelled-howitzers/

Parera

Colombia picks Elbit?s Atmos howitzer over Nexter?s Caesar

SANTIAGO, Chile ? Colombia has ordered 18 units of the 155mm howitzer Atmos from Israel?s Elbit Systems in a deal worth $101.7 million, military sources in Bogota told Defense News.
The decision came as a surprise for some observers who expected the contract to go to the Colombian Army?s preferred choice, the six-wheel drive Caesar made by French company Nexter.

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/01/06/colombia-picks-elbits-atmos-howitzer-over-nexters-caesar/

Mourning

"The only thing necessary for Evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"- Edmund Burke
"War is the continuation of politics by all other means", Carl von Clausewitz, Vom Kriege/On War (1830).

Sparkplug

A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Mourning

Dat zijn betere aantallen. Hoeveel brigades heeft Noorwegen ook alweer? Ik neem aan dat zij een redelijke mobilisabele component hebben?
"The only thing necessary for Evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"- Edmund Burke
"War is the continuation of politics by all other means", Carl von Clausewitz, Vom Kriege/On War (1830).

Sparkplug

Finland exercises option for 38 more K9 SPHs

24 November 2022

by Nicholas Fiorenza


A K9 SPH undergoing trials in Finland in 2016. Finland is buying 48 more K9s, in addition to the 48 it ordered in 2017. (Janes/Peter Felstead)

Finnish Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen has approved the Finnish Defence Forces' (FDF's) proposal to exercise the option to order 38 more K9 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) under the original 2017 contract for 48 K9s, his ministry announced in a press release on 18 November. The decision came after the EUR134 million (over USD138 million) procurement was approved by the Finnish government's finance committee.

?With this acquisition, we will significantly strengthen the strike capability of our army,? Kaikkonen said.

Finland ordered its first 48 former South Korean army K9s in 2017, with an option for 48 more. Helsinki has already exercised this option for 10 SPHs, so the procurement of 38 more will bring the number of K9 SPHs in the Finnish inventory to 96.

When it announced the option to procure five more K9s in October 2021, the Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the SPH is well suited for conscripts, providing Finland's conscript army with modern, cost-effective capabilities. Training of Finnish conscripts on the SPH began in 2019.

Deliveries of the 48 K9s originally ordered was scheduled to be completed by 2024, when their full operational capability was planned. The SPHs will replace artillery that will become obsolete in the 2020s and 2030s, according to the Finnish MoD.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/finland-exercises-option-for-38-more-k9-sphs
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.


Harald

Norway bulks up artillery with new K9 howitzer agreement, tank contract set for year end

Norway's investment in additional artillery systems fits in with a much larger land capability plan that will soon see the award of a production contract for new main battle tanks.

The Norwegian Defense Material Agency (NDMA) signed off today an option with partner  Hanwha Defense of South Korea for delivery of an additional four K9 Thunder 155mm self-propelled howitzers and eight more K10 ammunition resupply vehicles.

The option being exercised falls within an original 1.8 billion kroner ($180 million) contract struck between the two parties in 2017 and increases Oslo?s full K9 order to 28 systems. Similarly, procurement of K10, the supporting automated robotic unit of the K9, will rise to a total of 14 vehicles.

All deliveries are expected to take place within the next two years, according to a NDMA public affairs spokesperson.

Oslo?s decision follows Poland and Hanwha agreeing on a $2.4 billion K9 deal in August ? the largest export contract for the artillery system that has also been ordered by Hanwha?s home country of South Korea as well as Turkey, India, Finland, Estonia, Australia and Egypt.

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/11/norway-bulks-up-artillery-with-new-k9-howitzer-agreement-tank-contract-set-for-year-end/

Harald

Thunderstruck! – Hanwha Unveils K9A2 SPH Prototype

On 21 September 2022, Hanwha Defence unveiled a prototype version of their developmental K9A2 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) for the first time at the DVD 2022 defence exhibition at Millbrook Proving Ground, in the UK. The vehicle was presented as part of the company's bid for the UK's Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) future artillery programme.



The K9A2 is the latest variant of the K9 THUNDER tracked SPH family developed by Hanwha, and represents a major upgrade over the earlier K9 and K9A1 variants. The vehicle features improvements to fire rate, automation, crewing, and quality of life changes for the crew. The vehicle also provides a capability growth option for its existing userbase, with Hanwha stating that any earlier variant in the family could be upgraded to the K9A2 standard. South Korea has already mandated that 50% of their K9 platforms would be upgraded to K9A2 following the completion of its development, in a programme which has already been fully funded. According to Hanwha's timetable development of the K9A2 is due to be completed in 2025, with deliveries to the South Korean Army to start in 2026 or 2027.

New Thunder, New Capabilities
In terms of armament, the K9A2 retains the 155 mm/L52 gun used by earlier family variants, providing a representative maximum range of approximately 50 km with rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) rounds, though this could potentially be greater depending on the ammunition nature used. The gun supports NATO Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding (JBMoU)-compliant 155 mm projectiles with a 23 litre combustion chamber volume, and has been successfully tested with various guided projectiles including the EXCALIBUR GPS guided round. A representative stated that some users had also expressed an interest in operating their K9 SPHs with Leonardo VULCANO Guided Long-Range (GLR) sub-calibre guided projectiles using the semi-active laser (SAL) guidance option. According to Leonardo, this would enable fire missions out to 70 km, with a circular error probable (CEP) of ≤3 m. In addition to the aforementioned natures, some K9 user nations are in the process of qualifying Northrop Grumman's Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) for their K9s. This is a fuze kit which allows a user to convert unguided rounds to GPS-guided rounds by swapping the fuze for the PGK and using an ammunition programmer to input the projectile's target coordinates.

The K9A2's turret is electrically driven with manual backup for emergencies, providing traverse through 360° and the gun's depression and elevation range is from -2.5° to +70°. As with earlier variants of the K9 family, the digital fire control system is highly automated and can be linked to external command-and-control (C2) assets, permitting automatic gun laying onto targets located by friendly reconnaissance assets and distributed over the C2 network. This assists the crew in conducting rapid fire missions in shoot-and-scoot scenarios, since targets can be pre-assigned.

Despite many similarities, the turret has seen substantial modification compared to earlier K9 variants, both internally and externally. Perhaps the most notable new feature of the K9A2 is its rather innovative automatic ammunition handling and loading system, which permits reloading at any turret traverse position or gun elevation. The earlier K9 and K9A1 relied instead upon a semi-automatic loading system, in which the rounds were loaded automatically, while the charges were loaded manually. As a result, the K9A2 is capable of attaining a fire rate of at least 9 rds/min, compared to the K9 and K9A1's maximum of 6 rds/min. This has also allowed Hanwha to reduce the vehicle's crewing requirements, from five crew on earlier variants, to three on K9A2.

The K9A2's loading system operates using a projectile conveyor, drop-down stacked propellant racks, a sliding tray, and a breech-mounted feed tray. In operation, the projectile and charge(s) are loaded onto a sliding tray, positioned side-by-side before being pushed onto the feed tray. The feed tray is then aligned with the elevation of the gun breech, and a rammer pushes the projectile, followed shortly after by the charge(s) into the chamber. The feed tray then swings upwards, out of the way of the recoiling mass of the gun, and the system is ready to fire. This entire process takes an approximate average of 7.45 seconds, although the process could potentially be faster or slower, depending on various factors, such as the position of the next selected round in the conveyor. In this vein, a Hanwha representative stated that there were two versions of the autoloader in the works, with the 'V1' version capable of attaining a maximum fire rate of 9 rds/min (6.66 sec per round), and a 'V2' version capable of attaining maximum a fire rate of 10 rds/min (6 sec per round).

To accommodate the ammunition handling system, the turret has been modified, with the bustle lengthened and most of the turret's roofline raised compared to the earlier K9A1. These changes have provided space to move all 48 rounds and 240 propellant charges into the turret, an improvement on previous variants, which required some of the charges to be kept on the hull floor due to space constraints. A Hanwha representative explained that the reason for the high number of charges was the Korean Army's requirement was for each round carried to have a possible five charge load (the maximum is six), to ensure sufficient charge supply for most foreseeable fire mission types (hence 5×48=240 charges). Due to this turret redesign, the auxiliary power unit (APU) first implemented on K9A1 has also had to be relocated, from its position on the rear-left of the turret, to an internal position in the rear-right of the hull. Additional changes planned for the production version of the vehicle, but not seen on the prototype include the integration of a remote weapon station (RWS) for self-protection at short ranges, and an air conditioning system for the crew.

Hanwha company representatives stated that the prototype vehicle shown was the exact vehicle being used for development trials in South Korea, and was shipped over to the UK for the exhibition. While many features on the vehicle would be representative of the final design, there were also a number of key differences between prototype and the likely final vehicle. For one, the prototype vehicle only had seats for two crew, a driver and a gunner, with the latter seated in rear-right of the hull, behind the turret. A Hanwha representative explained that the final design would use three crew, a driver, gunner, and commander, and the latter two crew would be seated in a turret basket, with commander located on the left side of the gun and the gunner located on the right side. Both would be provided with the same multifunctional display and common controls. A further difference was that the autofrettaged barrel used on the prototype did not feature a chrome lining, a feature which company representatives stated was not being used for trials, but was planned for inclusion in the production version.

In terms of protection, the vehicle hull has an all-round protection rating of STANAG 4569 Level 3, while the turret was understood to be approximately STANAG 4569 Level 1. Hanwha representatives stated that the platform had additional growth potential for 3 tonnes of weight, allowing some further protection to be added if required. However, realistically for most users this option would probably only be exercised to add mine protection, since by virtue of its role the vehicle is not intended for front line combat, and 3 tonnes would only provide room for very marginal improvements to passive ballistic protection. The platform is equipped with a 745.7 kW (1,000 hp) engine, providing 15.86 kW/tonne (21.27 hp/tonne) when equipped with CRTs, and a hydro-pneumatic suspension system, enabling variable ground clearance.

K9 and MFP
If selected for the UK's Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme, Hanwha is offering to produce the UK variant of K9A2 using >50% of local content, and has put together 'Team Thunder', a collection of UK-based industries, to help the UK deliver this capability domestically. The members of Team Thunder and their roles comprise:

Hanwha Defense – Prime contractor and design authority.
Lockheed Martin UK (Ampthill facility) – Turret production, platform and systems integration, and trials.
Pearson Engineering (Newcastle facility) – Hull fabrication and manufacturing, integration.
Leonardo UK (Edinburgh facility) – Production of on-board navigation and pointing systems.
Soucy Defense (Devon facility) – Production of Composite Rubber Tracks (CRTs).
Horstman (Bath Facility) – Production of hydro-pneumatic suspension units and other running gear components.

It is noteworthy that Team Thunder announced their intention at the outset to offer the K9A2 to the UK with Soucy composite rubber tracks (CRTs). The tracks dampen vibration and decrease the acoustic signature of the vehicle, as well as decreasing its weight, from 49 tonnes with conventional steel tracks, to 47 tonnes with CRTs. A Soucy representative stated that the company's tracks were typically tailored to a specific platform, and a 47 tonne weight target could be met. Additionally, he noted that Soucy was already in the process of developing CRTs with a 55 tonne weight limit, but did not provide a definitive timescale for the completion of this effort.

In terms of meeting transportability requirements, Hanwha representatives stated that due to its size and weight, the K9A2 could only be transported by C-17 or larger aircraft, and is therefore incapable of being transported via A400M. While this may be potentially problematic, to various degrees the same problem is likely to apply to a few of the K9A2's competitors for the MPF programme, albeit not all of them. On the tactical mobility side, as the one of the very few tracked options for the MFP programme, the K9A2 would be expected to outperform its wheeled competition in terms of terrain trafficability, soft soil mobility, and hill climbing. These tractive advantages would also carry over to the accompanying K10 autonomous ammunition resupply vehicle, which operates alongside the K9, and can automatically resupply the SPH with ammunition at a rate of 10 rds/min.

While Team Thunder's offer presents a number of compelling positives, and represents an upgraded form of continuity for the UK's existing tracked artillery fleet, much is dependent on how the British Army will decide to weight its various requirements.

Future Development
Further down the line, Hanwha plans to build on the K9 family's level of automation in their development roadmap, which plans for a K9A3 variant to complete development in the 2030s. The K9A3 is set to feature a 155 mm/L58 gun, increasing the effective range for standard shells by approximately 10 km. The vehicle is also due to be provided with improved automation capabilities, enabling fully automated operation, including autonomous driving. Under Hanwha's roadmap, this is due to be completed in the 2030s.

Beyond this, Hanwha plans to build a fully robotised variant of the K9, with manned-unmanned teaming capabilities. At present, this variant is only known under the working designation 'K9 Next Generation'. The envisaged setup involves a single manned SPH teamed with two unmanned SPHs, thereby enabling a battery of six SPHs consisting of two manned and four unmanned vehicles. This is of particular interest when considering falling recruitment among many developed countries for demographic or comparative reasons. Under present company plans, this variant is slated for completing development in the 2040s.

The K9 family therefore appears set for a long developmental life, with a growing userbase, upgrade path, and plans for integration of various new or experimental technologies over time. It will be interesting to see how these planned changes will turn out, but based on current trends the K9 family's future looks promising.

https://euro-sd.com/2022/09/articles/27423/thunderstruck-hanwha-unveils-k9a2-sph-prototype/


Huzaar1

Neem het totaal niet serieus, russische leger heeft inmiddels ook wwl andere behoeften. En hoeveel T-14's en boomerangs en kurganetzen heeft het al kunnen produceren? Volgens mij 20 van ieder.

Hoeveel zouden er nu moeten zijn? Honderden..duizendtal. krankzinnige berichtgeving.
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"

Harald

UVZ Uralvagonzavod starts serial production of Magnolia Arctic self-propelled artillery gun

According to Joseph P. Chacko in Frontier India, Russia has begun mass production of its newest arctic artillery system nicknamed "Magnolia", produced by Uralvagonzavod (UVZ), part of Rostec. In the Autumn and winter of 2021, the system was successfully tested in cold temperatures in northern latitudes. Artillery units deployed in the Arctic and the Extreme North will receive Magnolias.


Magnolia 120mm self-propelled artillery system is based on a DT-30PM tracked articulated amphibious vehicle

In 2017, the head of the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Nikolai Parshin, announced the development of the 120-mm Magnolia self-propelled artillery gun on the chassis of an armored two-link tracked carrier and Tor-M2DT anti-aircraft missile system on the DT-30PM snow and swamp vehicle.

The first reports about the Magnolia project appeared in 2018. The Magnolia's features were revealed for the first time at the Army-2019 international military-technical event when the developer presented promotional materials for self-propelled weapons for inspection. The first Self Propelled Gun model was on display during Army-2020.

The Burevestnik Central Research Institute designed it in the framework of Nabrosok R&D, which also produced 2S41 Drok self-propelled mortar and 2S40 Flox gun. It was reported that an artillery weapon on a two-section transporter was designed with a universal 120 mm gun. The 2A80 gun of Magnolia can operate as a howitzer, a mortar, and a cannon. The cannon can fire high-explosive, fragmentation, incendiary, thermobaric, cluster, etc. projectiles up to 8.5 km away, and the range may be extended to 10 km when employing guided rockets. The rate of fire is ten rounds per minute and an ammo load counts 80 rounds.

The self-propelled artillery system Magnolia is built on the armored two-link tracked carrier DT-30PM chassis. The combat compartment is mounted on a two-section tracked platform of an upgraded Vityaz DT-30PM snow-and-swamp-going vehicle. The front section with a five-roadwheel chassis carries the driver's cabin, power plant units, and system elements. The back six-roadwheel chassis carries the combat compartment borrowed from Vena 2S31 self-propelled mortar. The turret design provides round-view horizontal gun laying. Magnolia can fire all types of 120mm mortar munitions and effectively fulfil a broad range of missions. It operates like a cannon for direct fire and as a howitzer and mortar from closed positions. The two-section undercarriage provides all-terrain capacity in marshlands and hard-of-access areas.

It has a carrying capacity of 10 tonnes and weighs 27.5 tonnes. It is driven by an 800-horsepower B-46-5C diesel engine, allowing the system to attain a maximum speed of 45 km/h. On the water, the vehicle may reach 6 km/h. The range is claimed to be 700 kilometers.

http://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_september_2022_global_security_army_industry/uvz_uralvagonzavod_starts_serial_production_of_magnolia_arctic_self-propelled_artillery_gun.html



Russia has begun mass production of the newest Arctic artillery complex, "Magnolia". The self-propelled artillery system Magnolia is built on the armoured two-link tracked carrier DT-30PM chassis. It can perform various tasks in hard-to-reach areas and wetlands in the Far North. Magnolia is armed with a 120 mm weapon that can function as a howitzer and mortar. The same cannon is used on the BMP-3-based 120-mm self-propelled gun 2S31 "Vena" Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command now has the ground formations, notably the 14th Army Corps.

.../...

The rear hull houses the 120-mm rifled semi-automatic gun 2A80. The cannon has the combat capabilities of a howitzer gun and a mortar. The tower's construction enables the gunner to perform a circular horizontal pickup and elevate the gun barrel at an angle ranging from -5 to +80 degrees.

The cannon can fire high-explosive fragmentation projectiles up to 8.5 km away, and the range may be extended to 10 km when employing guided rockets. The rate of fire is ten rounds per minute and an ammo load of 80 rounds.

Motovilikha Plants (Perm) is in charge of the gun's development. The same cannon is used on the BMP-3-based 120-mm self-propelled gun 2S31 "Vena."

A distinctive feature of the gun is the ability to fire both 120-mm mines and projectiles with ready-made rifling. At the same time, thanks to the calibre, both Russian mines and ammunition from NATO countries can be suitable for firing. In addition, the KM-8 Gran-M1 high-precision mine can be used in conjunction with the 2A80 cannon.

https://frontierindia.com/russian-arctic-specific-120-mm-self-propelled-artillery-gun-magnolia-series-production-begins/

Huzaar1

Citaat van: Ace1 op 18/08/2022 | 21:32 uur
Stel Zwiterskabd wordt binnengevallen en de vijand trekt door een dal en het Zwiters leger staat op een berg de vijand met houwitzers  op te wachten dat het  Zwiters leger gezien het hoogte verschil in het voordeel is.

Natuurlijk is Zwitserland in het voordeel. Dat betwist niemand.
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"