Page 25 - ADT AUG - OCT 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

SHOOT & SCOOT

The ongoing war in Ukraine has reinforced the

importance of self-propelled artillery

By ATUL CHANDRA
M ilitaries across the announced that by the end of the countries producing self-propelled

artillery are not only increasing pro-
year, more AS-90 artillery systems
world are eyeing
the induction of
new features that will make them
greater numbers of Self-Propelled would appear on the frontline. “We duction rates but also introducing
also have good news with regard
Howitzers (SPH), following the to long-range weapons and even more potent and battleworthy.
performance of these weapon robotic systems - the enemy will
systems in the ongoing Ukraine- feel it on the battlefield.” Germany
Russia conflict. Self-Propelled has also provided Panzerhaubitze The K9 SPH Concept
Howitzers have emerged as being 2000s, while the Polish have sup- At the recently concluded Korea
far more survivable against drone plied Krab self-propelled artillery Army International Defence
attacks and counter-battery fire, due pieces to the Ukraine. The Ukraine Exhibition (KADEX 2024), Hanwha
to their ability to “Shoot & Scoot”. has also increased production Aerospace unveiled two futuristic
The Ukraine is now being supplied rates of its indigenously produced concepts of its highly succesful K9
with increasing quantities of SPH’s 2S22 Bohdana SPHs, which is now
by Western Governments with thought to be as high as 10 artillery SPH. In use with 10 nations, the
the UK having provided 32 AS90 pieces per month. K9 SPH is one of the most popular
self-propelled artillery systems to self-propelled artillery systems glob-
the Ukrainian Armed Forces, while The war in Ukraine has reinforced ally. Hanwha Aerospace presented
a total of 55 Caesar SPH’s have the need for self-propelled artillery a wheeled-type K9 Mobile Howitzer
been supplied by France (36) and which are able to survive drone at KADEX 2024, which is based
Denmark (19). attacks, which can cross the front- on a lighter platform as compared
line and engage artillery pieces to the existing tracked K9 version.
In October, Ukraine’s Defence which are as far as 40 km away This mobile K9 artillery will enable
Minister Rustem Umerov from the frontline. As a result, rapid fire support and increased
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY AUGUST - OCTOBER 2024 | 25