There is a discussion among the network "experts" of the leaked information that it seems that OKB-9 of JSC "Plant No. 9" in Yekaterinburg is in full swing work on a new towed 152-mm howitzer-gun based on the 2A88 system, in turn installed in the ACS 2S35 "Coalition-SV".
"Coalition", let's face it, is almost like "Armata", only an ACS. Yes, the newest, not having, not being involved, and so on. The essence is about the same, because all that we can boast of so far is 12 units released for the parade on Red Square.
True, on March 11, 2016, the head of the press service of the Western Military District, Colonel Igor Muginov, on behalf of the Western Military District, said that by the end of 2016 the first batch of the 2S35 "Coalition-SV" self-propelled guns will enter service in the Western Military District, but that is why there are press services. to tell us in color what will happen next.
Of course, nothing was received by the ZVO, and suddenly talk about a towed version begins.
In general, the initially towed version was not even envisioned. Only a self-propelled chassis, no matter whether it is tracked or wheeled. Everyone liked the caterpillar version more, for cross-country ability, mobility, independence, speed.
But why a towed version was suddenly needed is difficult to imagine.
It is immediately clear (and this is alarming) that the towed version is cheaper. Moreover, it is much cheaper.
What do we have in the peculiarities of the "Coalition" that fundamentally distinguishes it from "Msta"? That's right, firing range and rate of fire. It is enough to look at the description, there your eyes will be dazzled by loud stories about how many scientific developments and technical innovations have been applied in order for the "Coalition" to fire at 70 kilometers 16 times per minute.
New barrel alloys. Alcohol spray system for barrel cooling. Modular cap charges with new propellants. New ignition system. Yes, there is a lot of this, "not having …"
And all these innovations are NOT NECESSARY for the towed implement!
It is clear without special training that manual loading cannot provide such a high rate of fire as a system with automatic loading. So, all these innovations, which probably cost a lot, are down.
But the question arises: why is it such a miracle weapon? Yes, a towed howitzer-gun with a firing range, if not 70, but 60 km, but what is it today?
With the current level of development of reconnaissance and target designation, the position of the artillery is calculated already at the first salvo. Then a retaliatory strike falls on her. Since the towed howitzer is not able to quickly change its place, hello! And hello deadly and bad.
Not a specialist in artillery, but something suggests that in the near future, towed artillery is either a weapon against the Papuans, or, excuse me, potential suicide bombers.
But for the war in the countries of the fourth world, such new inventions are not needed. In the same Syria, Iraq, Yemen, cannons and howitzers from the times of World War II are successfully used. And nothing, it's okay, so everything works out for them.
But seriously, towed artillery today is a kind of atavism half a century ago. And quite rightly, all towed systems in all normal armies are being replaced by more mobile and protected self-propelled ones.
But do not make noise and shout in advance. It is quite possible that all the body movements that took place were nothing more than just experimental work on the topic "is it possible". Indeed, for a system like the 2A88, in the towed version there is not even a niche in the structure of modern artillery.
I hope that the most likely scenario is that this experimental development will remain experimental. The time of towed barrel systems in modern theaters has expired completely and irrevocably, and so be it.
Another question is, if it suddenly turns out that we can't pull the "Coalition", just as we didn't pull the Su-57 and "Armata", then, of course, it will be shoddy and sad. Because a towed gun cannot replace a modern mechanized self-propelled gun mount.
