Russia’s New Koalitsiya Long Range Mobile Artillery System Enter Trials

A number of Russian media outlets have reported that the Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled artillery system has begun trials at the Burevestnik Central Research Institute - a part of the Uralvagonzavod defense manufacturer which has developed multiple advanced new platforms for the Russian ground forces. The Koalitsiya-SV was first unveiled during the Moscow Victory Day Parade in 2015, and has a 152mm gun with a reported 80km range and a high fire rate of over 15 rounds per minute. The artillery system is one of multiple platforms that comprise the new generation of vehicles unveiled in the mid 2010s to modernise Russia’s ground forces and facilitate the shift away from Soviet era designs. The platform benefits from aa very high level of automation allowing it to operate with only 2-3 crew members, and benefits from a new unified command-and-control system and a fully digital turret.

Burevestnik Chief Designer of the project and Department Head Vasily Nabatov stated  regarding the platform that a decision had been made to expand the range of its modifications, noting: "First of all, wheeled vehicles can be used on general-purpose roads. They feature high mobility and large cruising endurance and have very high potential compared to tracked versions.” The Koalitsiya-SV has thus benefited from a low weight and high mobility, as well as an extended service life. The system is based on the Kamaz-6550 truck chassis, although some reports have indicated that a variant based on the chassis of the T-14 and T-15 Armata platforms could also enter service in future. The artillery system is capable of deploying a range of specialised munition types for engaging a wide range of targets, and although its range is well above those of Western artillery systems - in most cases well over twice as long - it its still surpassed by its Chinese rival the Type 05 155mm howitzer, which can fire WS-35 satellite guided rounds at targets 100km away.