Since the end of the eighties, our army has been replacing the existing self-propelled artillery mounts 2S3 "Akatsia" with newer and more advanced 2S19 "Msta-S". In the future, it was possible to form a fairly large fleet of such equipment, as well as to carry out several upgrades that significantly improve the fighting qualities.
Development and production
The lead developer of the promising ACS 2S19 was the Ural Transport Engineering Plant. In 1983-84 he made prototypes and prototypes of such a machine, which were used at different stages of testing. After the completion of the fine-tuning, in 1986 a pilot batch of six armored vehicles was built.
Full-scale serial production of 2S19 products with the 2A64 gun was launched in 1988, several months before the official adoption. The Sverdlovsk plant at that time could not start assembling new equipment, which is why it had to be transferred to the plant in Sterlitamak. Later, production was returned to Uraltransmash, which is still responsible for the production and modernization of the ACS. The guns and related systems were produced by the Barricades plant; other units came from other enterprises.
Almost immediately after the launch of the series, work began on the modernization and creation of an improved modification. ACS "Msta-SM" (2S19M or 2S33) was supposed to show an increased rate of fire, range and accuracy of fire. Calculations and studies have confirmed the possibility of obtaining such results. However, the army changed its views on the development of self-propelled artillery, and the 2S33 did not reach production and service.
In the mid-nineties, the production of 2S19 was suspended for economic reasons. Only in 2000-2001. it was possible to launch a program of overhaul of equipment with the replacement of units that have exhausted their resource. The resumption of production has not yet been discussed.
At the beginning of the 2000s, a fundamental decision was made to launch research and development work to create a completely new interspecific 152-mm self-propelled gun, which later became known as the 2S35 "Coalition-SV". The new project took into account the developments of the Msta-S and Msta-SM projects.
Despite the launch of work on the future "Coalition", the development of the "Msta-S" family did not stop. Already at the beginning of the 2000s, the 2S19M1 modernization project appeared, which provided for the replacement of the main on-board combat systems. It was proposed to carry out similar procedures when carrying out a major overhaul of existing equipment.
Soon a curious modernization project appeared, designed exclusively for the international market. ACS 2S19M1-155 received a new rifled gun caliber 155 mm, created for shots of NATO standards. However, as subsequent events showed, such an ACS did not interest potential buyers. Only Russian 152 mm caliber systems were exported.
In the middle of the 2000s, preparations began for the resumption of production. The first serial self-propelled guns, built according to current projects, entered the troops in 2008. Production continues to this day.
In 2012, it was announced the development of a new improved project - 2S19M2. It uses an updated 2A64M2 howitzer and a modern FCS in combination with other components. Measures have been proposed to reduce visibility. In the summer of 2012, the 2S19M2 self-propelled gun was tested, and soon production began. The first reports on the supply of such new construction equipment appeared in mid-2013.
Features of upgrades
Let's consider the main features of the basic and modernized versions of the ACS 2S19. All these projects offer an artillery system on a tank chassis, equipped with a turret with a 152-mm rifled howitzer of the 2A64 family. The differences between the modifications are mainly in the composition of a variety of electronic equipment. The latest upgrade project includes replacement of some other components.
Initially, ACS 2S19 carried a 2A64 cannon with a 1V124 fire control system. The equipment from the OMS provides reception of data from the battery commander via a wired channel or radio, calculate data for firing and carry out aiming. Some operations are carried out by automatic equipment, others - by the vehicle's crew.
2S19 can use a wide range of single-case loading shots, from simple high-explosive fragmentation to cluster and guided. The packs carry 50 shots; feed from the ground or from a carrier is possible. Howitzer 2A64 with a barrel of 47 klb is capable of sending a high-explosive fragmentation projectile at a distance of up to 25 km; active-reactive - up to 29 km. Rate of fire - up to 7-8 shots / mn. Thanks to such indicators, at the time of its appearance, "Msta-S" was one of the best self-propelled guns in the world.
The 2S33 Msta-SM project provided for the replacement of the 2A64 gun with a 2A79 product of the same caliber, the installation of new loading equipment and a promising MSA. In accordance with the terms of reference, the firing range of a high-explosive fragmentation projectile was to exceed 30 km, and an active-rocket projectile - 40 km. The rate of fire was brought to 10-12 rds / min. The device from the new MSA took over part of the crew's tasks, reducing the preparation time for firing and the intervals between shots.
On the self-propelled gun 2S19M1 used the automated guidance and fire control system "Success-S", which has significant advantages over the previous equipment. ASUNO provides independent determination of current coordinates, automatic calculation of data for shooting, etc. She is also responsible for the guidance and restoration of the pickup. A satellite navigation system is being installed.
According to the tabular characteristics, the machine version "M1" differs little from the base 2C19. At the same time, ASUNO "Success-S" allows the use of a wider range of ammunition, accelerates preparation for firing, increases its accuracy and efficiency. Implementation of an anti-fire maneuver with the ability to quickly move to another firing position and resume firing is ensured.
The export version of the 2S19M1 was distinguished by the use of a 155 mm cannon with a barrel length of 52 klb. By lengthening the barrel, it was possible to increase the firing range of a “conventional” projectile to 30 km, and an active-jet projectile to 40 km. Otherwise, the 2S19M1-155 almost completely repeated the base sample.
The 2S19M2 project provided for a deep modernization of the artillery unit and the MSA, as well as the introduction of fundamentally new components. The 2A64M2 howitzer, together with the new automatic loader, shows a rate of fire of 10 rds / min. ASUNO of a new type is distinguished by increased performance and the presence of new functions. In particular, a "fire raid" mode is provided - the launch of several shells in a row along different trajectories with a simultaneous fall on the target.
Measures are provided to protect the ACS from detection and defeat by the enemy. Research Institute of Steel has developed a variant of the "Cape" kit for the 2S19M2. A set of special screens dramatically reduces visibility in the radar and infrared ranges.
Equipment in the troops
According to a number of estimates, by now the Soviet and Russian industries have built about 800 2S19 self-propelled howitzers of all modifications. According to other sources, more than 1,100 cars were produced. OK. 780 dmg. (or more than 1000) of such equipment is now in operation or in reserve in several countries. The main operator of the Msty-S remains the Russian army, which has equipment of all serial modifications at its disposal.
According to The Military Balance, the Russian ground forces have 500 “active” and 150 reserve self-propelled guns of the 2S19 family. Another 18 vehicles are operated by the coastal forces of the Navy. The modernized 2S19M1 and 2S19M2 make up a significant share of this equipment, the total number of which continues to grow.
For example, in 2008-2011. the army received approx. 200 2S19M1 vehicles made by repair and modernization of old equipment. In 2017, their deliveries resumed and are still ongoing. In total, according to the current project, almost 300 ACS from combat units have been updated.
Deliveries of the newly built Msta-SM2 self-propelled guns began in 2013, and the first batch included 35 combat vehicles. Subsequently, new deliveries were reported. Units in different military districts received 10-20 units. technology. Just the other day, the Ministry of Defense said that in 2020, the troops will again receive 35 modern self-propelled guns.
Self-propelled howitzers 2S19 are intended for operation in artillery regiments of tank and motorized rifle divisions or brigades of ground and coastal forces. ACS are reduced to batteries of eight units, also equipped with control vehicles and auxiliary equipment. According to open data, the Russian armed forces have approx. 30 divisions and brigades with regiments of self-propelled guns "Msta-S".
Foreign operators
By the time of the collapse of the USSR, the industry had managed to release a significant number of ACS 2S19, and a small part of this equipment went to the newly formed states. In the future, there were a few export contracts, thanks to which the self-propelled guns got to the far abroad.
12 vehicles are used by the Belarusian army. Several vehicles went to Georgia, but now only one remains in service. The Ukrainian fleet included 40 units, and by now it has been reduced to 35 vehicles. The Ukrainian army used its own self-propelled guns during the "anti-terrorist operation" in the Donbass. Already in 2014, 5 or 6 self-propelled guns became trophies of the self-proclaimed republics and were later used against their former owners.
Ethiopia was the first real foreign customer. In 1999, amid the conflict with Eritrea, the Ethiopian army acquired 12 self-propelled guns in Russia. The equipment was supplied out of stock, which made it possible to fulfill the order in the shortest possible time. Soon, combat vehicles took part in battles and showed high efficiency. This was facilitated by both its own characteristics of the ACS and the poor condition of the enemy troops.
In 2009, 18 self-propelled guns of a new construction were acquired by Azerbaijan. Soon the Venezuelan contract for 48 vehicles of the 2S19M1 modification was fulfilled. All this equipment is still in service and constitutes the most important part of the artillery troops in their armies.
"Msta-S" and its analogues
At the moment, the 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzer and its modifications are one of the main models of its class in the Russian army. Together with the older 2S3 "Akatsia" they are capable of solving all the main fire missions and hitting targets at a depth of tens of kilometers.
"Msta-S" in all versions compares favorably with "Akatsia" by increased rate of fire and firing range of any shells. In the new modifications, additional advantages appear associated with modern FCS / ASUNO, as well as promising ammunition. However, the 2C19 is more expensive and more difficult to operate, which does not allow to completely replace the old 2C3. However, together the ACS of the two types form a flexible tool for solving a wide range of combat missions.
It makes sense to compare the Russian 2S19 and foreign products of its class. In terms of the main "tabular" characteristics, "Msta-S" is not inferior to foreign ACS of its time, and in some cases there are certain advantages. 2S19 and modern modifications of the ACS M109 (USA), AMX AuF1 (France), etc. have a close caliber, a wide range of ammunition and are capable of firing at a range of up to 25-30 km, depending on the projectile.
Newer foreign self-propelled guns, such as the German PzH 2000 or the British AS90, show a range of up to 40 km when using active-reactive ammunition. Similar characteristics were obtained in the export project 2S19M1-155, while other versions of Msta-S differ in more modest performance. However, in the course of working out ways to modernize the ACS 2S19, opportunities and methods were found to bring the firing range to 35-40 km and improve other indicators. To date, these developments have been used in the promising 2S35 project.
Thus, at its appearance, the ACS 2S19 "Msta-S" was one of the best examples of the world and was in no way inferior to foreign systems. However, the development of foreign artillery continued, incl. and in connection with the appearance of "Msta-S", and its result in a few years was new products with improved characteristics. Modern projects for the modernization of 2S19M1 / 2 allow to increase the basic characteristics of the basic self-propelled gun and reduce to a minimum the outlined lag from competitors. It should be noted that there is already a newer ACS 2S35, superior to both all 2S19 variants and current foreign models.
Between the past and the future
At the moment, the self-propelled guns of the "Msta-S" family are one of the foundations of the self-propelled artillery of the Russian army. There are several hundred combat vehicles of this line in service; the production of new ones continues and a deep modernization of the old ones is carried out. All this makes it possible to maintain the required level of combat capability and gradually build up the overall potential of artillery units.
2S19 / 2S19M1 / 2S19M2 are not yet the most numerous 152 mm caliber systems, however, due to their high tactical and technical characteristics, they are of particular importance for the troops. Now they are used in parallel with older models, and in the near future, deliveries of fundamentally new technology are expected to begin.
The promising "Coalition-SV" will not soon begin to supplant the "Mstu-S", and the latter will have to serve for many years. Such self-propelled guns in the foreseeable future will retain their current status, and the industry will do everything possible to improve them - and further continue their effective service.
