Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1193118
adjustable fuse are the most common solution, allowing 155 mm rounds to hit within a radius between 7 to 10 m (!). This thing brings the CEP below 30 m. Accuracy like that is only possible when no countermea- sures (jamming) are employed. Unfortunately, the experiences gathered in Donbas and Syria show that military-grade GPS system may not be able to find the coordinates when strong point-jamming systems are used by the adversary. The best-case scenario here is seen in use of INS guidance offering the CEP of several meters. The worst-case scenario is simply a missed target. GPS-guided mortar rounds are also available (US-made MGK Mortar Guidance Kit). CEP is equivalent to that applica- ble to the 155 mm rounds. In the East, meanwhile, laser-guided munitions are the dominating solution. The first one – 152 mm Krasnopol round implemented in 1984 – is the best known one. However, mortar rounds using an identical guid- ance method have been introduced as well: 240 mm rounds for the 2S4 Tulipan mortars and 120 mm Kitolov rounds for any carrier coupled with 1A35 system and designators. Obviously, systems as such have been indigenous for the Soviet superpower. The planned implementation of a battery per squadron did not happen, due to the fall of the So- viet Union. However, they shall be viewed as effective, provided that a forward artillery directing element is available, designating the targets (less probable scenario) or that UAVs are used, with stabilized laser designators onboard – this is still an unexplored area in Russia. Poland's Eastern neighbor uses the Grad/Prima, Uragan and Smerch/Tornado launchers in mass quantities, along with DPICM munitions. Smerch, however, may also launch guided 9M55K1 warheads with a range of 70 km, carrying five 15 kg guided Motiv-3M anti-tank sensor-fuzed warhead. 9M55K1 rocket tests came to an end in 1994, with the system being fielded as of 1996. The submunitions here work in a manner that is identical to their Western counterparts. The war- squad weapons used by the enemy. Counter-battery fire threat at levels so low is minimum. The advantages, however, are significant. Obviously, mortars as such offer firepower that cannot really be compared to their self-propelled counterparts and systems of greater caliber. head falls down on a parachute, it is then moving in a rotating motion and, following a spiraling trajectory, scans the areas with the use of a du- al-mode IR sensor. The target is attacked from the topside, with the use of an EFP charge that can penetrate 70 mm armor from 150 m. Identical charges are applied in case of the RBK-500 cluster bombs used by the VKS. These have been successfully employed in Syria this year, and they have been proven to be effective against the ISIS armor. Motiv-3M has undergone several upgrades as well. Currently only approximate specs are available, for its oldest export variant. The above matters lead us to a clear conclusion: modern battlefield full of surveillance assets such as drones or counter-fire radars, and with the enemy having strong artillery component involving MLRS at his disposal, solely the artillery assets capable of constant movement stand a chance of survival, engaging the enemy over the course of short stops. Time between firing the first round until the moment when the as- set leaves the position and moves ~500 m away should be shorter than 5 minutes. In optimal setting it would be less than 180 sec. These figures are virtually impossible to be attained in normal conditions, for 120 mm towed mortars. All of the circumstances above, as well as the aforesaid crew-exposure disadvantages led to development of 120 mm self-propelled mortar systems. On the other hand, one shall also remember that 50-82 mm mortars are still desirable, as they are used as defensive as- sets as platoon/company level. These are usually employed against the VEHICLES