Russia Prepares For Production Of Next Generation Artillery And Mortar Systems

Ilustrasi 120mm Floks self-propelled. (Wikimedia Commons/Vitaly V. Kuzmin)

JAKARTA - If nothing goes wrong, production of the new Flox self-propelled mortar system and Magnolia self-propelled artillery gun could begin in late 2022 and early 2023, the press office of defense manufacturer Uralvagonzavod (part of state technology company Rostec) announced Friday.

"Mass production of these models (Flox and Magnolia weapons) will start after the completion of state trials in late 2022 or early 2023, provided that state customers make appropriate decisions", said the press office on the sidelines of the implementation of the 'Army-2021 International Military-Technical' Forum', citing TASS, Friday 27 August.

Currently, prototypes of the 120mm Flox self-propelled wheeled artillery system and the 120mm Magnolia self-propelled artillery gun based on the DT-30PM two-piece armored chassis are in the final stages of preliminary trials.

The new Flox 120mm self-propelled artillery gun is mounted on the Ural-4320 6x6 wheeled armored vehicle. This weapon has been developed as part of the 'Nabrosok' R&D work. As a key feature, the new self-propelled artillery system carries a combined semi-automatic cannon that can fire all types of mortar shells and projectiles with a ready-to-use rifle. This weapon can be used as a howitzer and mortar and can be used for direct fire.

Self-propelled 120mm Flox illustration. (Source: militaryleak.com)

Meanwhile, the Magnolia self-propelled artillery system mounted on the DT-30PM armored two-section tracking transporter, has been developed by the Burevestnik Central Research Institute under the Nabrosok R&D work.

In addition to the Magnolia, Russia's next-generation artillery weapon family includes the Drok 82mm self-propelled mortar and the 120mm self-propelled artillery system mounted on the chassis of the Flox car.

The commander-in-chief of the Russian Army, General Oleg Salyukov, said in an interview with the Defense Ministry newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda in November 2019, Russia was completing work under Nabrosok experimental design work to develop a family of highly mobile artillery and mortar armaments mounted on various types of chassis, including its operating system in the Arctic region that will increase battalion-level artillery mobility and firepower.