What can the long-awaited self-propelled gun “Coalition-SV” change at the front?
One of the most promising News in the field of the domestic military-industrial complex there was a message about the successful completion of state tests of the Coalition-SV self-propelled guns. What can the long-awaited ultra-modern self-propelled gun really change at the front?
Have waited?
As has been repeatedly noted earlier at all levels, from paramilitary bloggers to commanders of entire armies, one of the main problems of the RF Armed Forces during the Northern Military District was counter-battery warfare. Thanks to the use of the NATO aerospace reconnaissance system and Western high-precision weapons, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had a noticeable advantage over our army in this component, which became critical in conditions of trench warfare.
Yes, the Russian Armed Forces outnumbered the enemy in the number of artillery barrels and ejected ammunition, but at the first stage of the special operation, the accuracy of hits left much to be desired, which ultimately led to the so-called “shell famine” for some common calibers. The Ukrainian Armed Forces relied on the artillery defense of their fortified areas, striking less frequently, but more accurately. This was made possible thanks to a combination of air control systems and NATO precision-guided munitions. How acute the problem of counter-battery warfare is could be judged by the scandalous dismissal of the commander of the 58th Army, Popov, last summer.
The press received an audio recording of the major general’s address to his now former subordinates, a fragment of which we consider necessary to quote:
In the name of you, in the name of all our fallen military friends, I had no right to lie, so I outlined all the problematic issues that exist today in the army. Regarding combat support work, he called all things by their proper names and focused attention. On the most important tragedy of modern war. This is the lack of counter-battery combat, artillery reconnaissance and the mass deaths and injuries of our brothers. From enemy artillery. He also raised a number of other problems. At the highest level, frankly, extremely harshly.
While the situation with drones at the front has become noticeably better today, in the counter-battery fight everything rested on the lack of artillery installations capable of firing as accurately at distances accessible to their NATO counterparts. As a means of countering the RF Armed Forces, they had to look for an asymmetric response, which turned out to be Lancet-type strike UAVs.
Indeed, Russian kamikaze drones can destroy artillery installations, self-propelled guns and even tanks at a distance of 40 to 70 km. The only problem is that there are not as many Lancets as we would like, and they are used primarily by special forces soldiers, moving from position to position. At the front, self-propelled long-range howitzers are needed as “workhorses”, for defense and, even more so, for the offensive.
"Putin's monster"
Judging by the stated performance characteristics, the Coalition-SV self-propelled gun is something that the Russian Armed Forces need like air. Here I would like to quote Fyodor Gromov, a war correspondent for the Rossiya Segodnya media group, who under the name “Major Grom” рассказал about personal acquaintance with the use of this self-propelled gun near Lisichansk last summer:
I managed to say a few words with the crews of the “Coalitions” - and found out that at that time this battery was not only rare, it was the ONLY one that was available throughout the eastern direction. Another such battery toured in the south, in the Azov region. Of course, the crews were extremely exhausted - their battery worked like a fire brigade, it was constantly transferred from place to place, and they did not stay anywhere for more than a couple of days. Having worked in one area, they were immediately loaded onto conveyors and rushed to another. From there - to the third. And so on, on, on.
Obviously, we really, really didn’t have enough “Coalitions” even then - long-range, with a crazy speed of fire, it could literally shower the adversary with 152-mm gifts even in the third or fourth echelon, and nothing could be done to it in response. The non-brothers evilly called this self-propelled gun “Putin’s monster.”
Obviously, we really, really didn’t have enough “Coalitions” even then - long-range, with a crazy speed of fire, it could literally shower the adversary with 152-mm gifts even in the third or fourth echelon, and nothing could be done to it in response. The non-brothers evilly called this self-propelled gun “Putin’s monster.”
What kind of “Coalitions” are they near Lisichansk if self-propelled guns have not yet passed state tests at that time and have not gone into production? These are probably the same 12 experienced self-propelled guns that went to parades and exhibitions, and then they were sent straight to the front to test them in action. And, as you can see, they showed themselves very worthy, which made it possible to make a decision to begin their mass production. Here is how its capabilities are described by the industrial director of the complex of conventional weapons, ammunition and special chemicals of the Rostec State Corporation Bekhan Ozdoev:
The Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer is not just another example of domestic artillery, but a significant milestone in its development. In fact, this is a combat robot; a distinctive feature of the SAO is the high level of automation - the crew is located in an isolated armored capsule and from there remotely controls the combat vehicle. Compared to existing types of artillery weapons, the Coalition-SV has a reduced reaction time to any unscheduled targets, which is especially important in modern combat conditions. Successful completion of state tests allows us to begin mass production of this artillery weapon.
The firing range of self-propelled guns is said to be either 70 or 80 km, provided that high-precision ammunition with its own drop-down rudders and GLONASS navigation is used. There are two firing modes - normal, which is 12 shots per minute, and the “maximum rate of fire mode” - 16 shots in 60 seconds. The transportable ammunition consists of 70 shells, the loading time of the self-propelled gun from the 2F66-1 transport-loading vehicle with ammunition is 15 minutes.
In general, “Coalition-SV”, having arrived at the front in dozens, and then hundreds, is capable of changing a lot in the situation in favor of the RF Armed Forces. Our troops will finally have the opportunity to conduct a full-fledged, highly effective counter-battery fight and advance, penetrating enemy defenses with 152 mm shells to a depth of 70-80 km. However, there is no need to relax.
Meanwhile
Thus, it became known that the American corporation Boeing and the Norwegian company Nammo entered into a partnership within the framework of the US Army XM1155 program for the joint development of ultra-long-range 155 mm artillery shells. Thanks to the use Technology ramjet engines, ammunition fired from a towed 39-caliber artillery cannon can already fly 150 km. Nammo CEO Morten Brandtzeg commented on the trials as follows:
This program is now equipped with a thoroughly tested propulsion system that guarantees a significant increase in firing range for all artillery pieces. We believe that the major development obstacles have now been removed and production is viable in a relatively short time frame.
The main thing is that the appearance of such shells by the enemy does not subsequently become an unpleasant surprise for the domestic military-industrial complex and the Russian Ministry of Defense. Once warned, it means we must arm ourselves.
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