Various structures of the Russian Ministry of Defense continue to announce their plans for the next year. The other day, important news came from the airborne troops. In the very near future, they intend to conduct state tests of a promising model of an artillery system, and then take it into service. The newest self-propelled / transportable mortar 2S41 "Drok" will be tested at various ranges.
On December 11, the Information Support Group of the Airborne Forces published information about plans for the next 2019. It is reported that next year - before being put into service - must undergo state tests of the latest mortar system, developed specifically for the Airborne Forces and designed to provide artillery support to airborne assault units. The tests will be carried out at several test sites owned by the Russian military department.
The information support group recalled that the 2S41 mortar is one of the latest developments in the domestic defense industry, created specifically for the artillery units of the Airborne Forces. With the help of this combat vehicle, it is planned to significantly increase the firepower of the landing force when solving certain tasks on the battlefield.
The 2S41 Drok self-propelled portable mortar is built on the basis of an armored vehicle of the Typhoon-VDV type. It is reported that this sample will show unique characteristics of firing range and firepower. The combat vehicle will be able to fire conventional mines and new ammunition with an increased firing range. The gun is serviced from the fighting compartment, but the design of the vehicle allows it to be dismantled for firing from the ground.
Unfortunately, the Information Support Group of the Airborne Forces did not specify the timing of the start and completion of the planned state tests. From the published news it follows that after the checks, the 2S41 mortar will be put into service, but the timing of this event also remained unnamed. Apparently, the Ministry of Defense plans to publish such data as the required procedures and work are completed.
***
According to known data, the promising self-propelled (transportable) mortar 2S41 "Drok" has been developed since 2015 by order of the airborne troops. The new model of equipment was intended for artillery batteries at battalions of ground forces and airborne forces. The development of a new project was entrusted to the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik", which is part of the NPK "Uralvagonzavod". Initially, the design was carried out as part of a larger development work with the code "Sketch".
At the end of 2016, the first demonstration of several new artillery systems, including specialized models for the Airborne Forces, took place. At one of the exhibitions of the Ministry of Defense, they showed a whole set of mock-ups of promising equipment. One of them was the 2S41 Drok self-propelled mortar. Subsequently, models of equipment were present at other exhibitions. During the same period, prototypes of mortars were built for testing. As follows from recent reports, the Drok prototypes have coped with the checks, which allows us to proceed to the last stage of testing before being put into service.
The 2S41 project proposes the construction of a relatively simple armored combat vehicle based on a large number of existing components. The K4386 Typhoon-VDV armored vehicle is used as a base for the self-propelled mortar. This armored car was originally developed taking into account the use of various weapons, including on a variety of combat modules. In the 2S41 project, a regular roof hatch is used as a seat for a new turret with mortar armament. Moreover, such equipment does not exclude the use of other weapons.
The K4386 vehicle has a single-volume carrying armored body with habitable places for the crew and mortarmen. Class 5 protection is provided according to the national standard GOST R 50963-96. The front part of the manned compartment retains the functions of the control compartment, while the central and aft ones play the role of the fighting compartment and ensure the use of the main armament.
Project 2S41 provides for equipping the base armored car with a new armored turret mounted under a mortar. The tower has its own horizontal guidance drives, and is also equipped with a swinging artillery unit with guidance devices. To reduce the negative impact on the carrier's hull, the artillery unit is equipped with recoil devices, on which the mortar barrel is fixed.
The tower is equipped with an 82-mm breech-loading mortar with manual feed of shots into the barrel. The gun is capable of using all existing 82 mm mines, regardless of their type, class and purpose. Provided the use of both "conventional" and active-reactive or controlled mines. The minimum firing range for the Gorse is set at 100 m. The maximum range is 6 km. A trained crew can provide a rate of fire of up to 12 rounds per minute without restoring the pickup.
Transportable ammunition is stored in the fighting compartment and is 40 minutes of any required type. The layout of the fighting compartment and the presence of doors do not exclude the supply of ammunition from the ground or from an ammunition carrier. However, loading ammunition into the vehicle's standard stowage does not take much time.
The mortar for the 2S41 machine is made transportable. Its main mode of operation is turret shooting from a standard artillery unit. In this case, it is possible to dismantle the barrel for use as a portable weapon. In this case, the 82-mm barrel is proposed to be used with a separate base plate and a biped. These devices are carried in the car and can be used when needed.
For self-defense, the Drok self-propelled mortar is equipped with a remote-controlled combat module. A module with a rifle or large caliber machine gun can be installed in the front of the roof or on board the turret. Two exhibition layouts showed both of these configurations. Smoke grenade launchers were also present on both models - they were located on the sides of the mortar tower.
The calculation of the self-propelled (transportable) mortar 2S41 "Drok" consists of four people. On the march and during firing in a self-propelled configuration, they are inside the vehicle and are protected by armor. Moreover, their work is facilitated to a certain extent by the presence of various control systems and other devices. When dismantling a mortar and using it as a portable weapon, the participation of the entire crew of a combat vehicle is required.
The combat vehicle of the new type, in general, retains the dimensions of the base armored vehicle. If we compare the Drok with the Typhoon-VDV vehicle equipped with a combat module with a 30-mm cannon, then the dimensions of the equipment are almost the same. The combat weight of the self-propelled mortar is 14 tons. The running characteristics, mobility and maneuverability do not change.
According to various sources, until recently, the organizations participating in the project were engaged in testing a promising self-propelled mortar. The stage of factory tests and modifications has been passed, and now the promising equipment is being prepared for state tests. As a result of these events, the 2S41 Drok combat vehicle will have to enter service. As follows from the latest news, such equipment will only be supplied to the airborne troops. The purchase of vehicles for the ground forces is not planned - at least for the time being.
***
It should be noted that the 2S41 self-propelled (transportable) mortar is not the only new artillery system developed specifically for the Airborne Forces. As part of the development work with the "Sketch" code, two more versions of artillery systems for the airborne units were created. As a supplement to the "Drok" and a replacement for the existing self-propelled guns, the products "Phlox" and "Magnolia" are being created. One of these self-propelled guns has already been shown to the public.
The "Phlox" and "Magnolia" projects propose the construction of self-propelled units with a unified 120-mm gun. The latter is a versatile system capable of performing the functions of a cannon, howitzer and mortar. From the point of view of the concept and the range of tasks to be solved, such a weapon is similar to the armament of the serial self-propelled guns "Nona" and "Host" - product 2A80. In addition, we are talking about a certain unification of structures. The existing 120-mm CAO of the old models were built on the basis of high-performance tracked chassis. New projects envisage the use of other basic machines.
The Phlox project proposes the installation of a gun mount on the wheeled chassis of the Ural-VV armored vehicle. The vehicle retains a two-row protected cockpit, behind which the necessary units are placed, including a turntable with a tool. The self-propelled artillery gun is equipped with automated fire control systems coupled with navigation and communication facilities. The gun mount received sensors that track the position of the gun, which makes it possible to more accurately and quickly restore the aiming after each shot.
Ammunition of different types can be included in the ammunition load of CAO "Flox", providing the solution of all the main tasks. Transportable ammunition consists of 80 rounds of any type. 28 shots are stored and transported in operational stowage, which is consumed in the first place. Fire characteristics depend on the ammunition used. So, when firing on hinged trajectories with a conventional mine, the firing range reaches 8-10 km. An active-reactive shot flies 15-17 km.
CJSC "Flox" was first shown to the public during the international military-technical forum "Army-2016". By that time, a prototype was built, necessary for testing. In October this year, it was reported that prototypes of a new type are being tested. It was planned to start serial production of equipment "very soon", but without specifying exact dates.
The Magnolia self-propelled artillery gun, also developed as part of the Sketch ROC, has not yet been shown to the public. However, the developers have already announced some information about him. According to previously announced data, this project provides for the use of an artillery system, unified with the "Phlox". It is proposed to install it on a different chassis with different characteristics and capabilities. This is probably due to the intended field of application of the technique.
It was reported that CJSC "Magnolia" is being built on the basis of a two-link tracked conveyor DT-30. Apparently, two hulls of such a vehicle receive armor protection; the front link can be used as a cockpit, and a platform with weapons should be placed on the rear link. DT-30 transporters are actively used in the Arctic, and various models of military equipment are created on their basis. It is quite possible that the Magnolia self-propelled gun is being developed taking into account the operation in the northern regions.
***
At the beginning of October 2018, the corporate online edition of NPK Uralvagonzavod wrote about the current work on a promising family of equipment under the general name Sketch. Then it was reported that a promising technique with floral names is being tested, and the projects themselves are moving into the final stage. It was planned to complete all the necessary checks in the very near future.
A few days ago, the Ministry of Defense, represented by the Information Support Group of the Airborne Forces, clarified plans for the project of the 2S41 Drok self-propelled mortar. Next year, state tests of this technology will be held at the training grounds of the military department, after which it will be able to be adopted. Similar data on other samples of the Sketch ROC have not yet been published. However, the previous successes of this development work suggest that such news will appear in the very near future. It is quite possible that all three promising self-propelled artillery mounts will enter service with the Airborne Forces at the same time or with minimal intervals.
