Frag Out! Magazine

Hanwha Techwin lets Poland build 84 chassis units without a drive system – in order to complete the whole order for 120 howitzers; it also makes it possible to modify vehicles that could be employed in other tasks. It also grants Poland the right to export the domestically-manufactured solutions, i.e. complete gun-howitzers or other vehicles. As for the first Regina battalion, ordered in 2008, its completeness depends largely on the progress in the supply of ready carriers that are to be made by the selected manufacturer. The 24 complete K9 chassis units brought from South Korea are used to construct and redevelop of the current gun-howitzers, including 16 new Krabs and 8 ones that had been previously handed over and returned to HSW to make the first module ready on time. All howitzers from earlier batch, sent to HSW, will undergo carrier replacement, a series of modernization works, and a maintenance inspection, which will let the equipment be serviced following the two-year period of factory guarantee. By the end of 2016, 12 gun-howitzers based on new carriers were ready, with another two batches of carrier units (six units each) to be supplied by Hanwha Techwin at the beginning of 2017. After they are checked, they will be integrated with turrets. Then, ready Krabs will be put to acceptance tests. The next 12 carriers are to be delivered from South Korea disassembled, to be assembled in Poland. According to present plans, they will be used to complete the second artillery battalion fire module. Hulls may be manufactured on a new production line equipped with tools to weld extra- large heavyweight steel bodies. 2016 was also the year when the production of another 12 turret systems for the second battalion began. Elements to make barrels for these cannons have been already ordered, and the cannons should be constructed taking advantage of HSW's new barrel unit. reconnAIssAnce systems Since the new gun-howitzers' fire range is up to 40 km, with an option to purchase new ammunition that could double this range in the future, it is essential to equip Krab sub-units with a modern reconnaissance sub-system. According to MOD's assumptions, such sub-system would be composed of UAVs, reconnaissance vehicles, weather reconnaissance systems, and – quite likely – artillery surveillance radars. No reconnaissance sub-system has been purchased as part of the agreements for all five artillery battalion modules.The year 2016 passed and MOD has still not made any decision on implementation of a reconnaissance vehicle based on the chassis of AMZ-Kutno's Żubr 4x4 armored vehicle. Also, there has been no decision on the type of reconnaissance UAV to be introduced to Krab battalions (if any), just like in the case of artillery radar. It is necessary to decide on the matter of acquiring reconnaissance means for Krabs quite soon, so that it is possible to introduce the equipment for artillery reconnaissance units together parallel with the production of successive modules. ArtIllery AmmunItIon Another element of Regina system is modern 155 mm artillery ammunition, of both non-guided and guided type, including self-guided ammunition. The Polish army, working parallel with the construction and testing of the first two Krabs based on original carriers, developed a concept of acquisition of appropriate modular charge ammunition which was to include high-explosive incendiary ammunition (with a Base Bleed gas generator and without it), illuminating shells, smoke shells, and special precision-guided projectile shells. In 2010, a consortium of Bumar (currently PGZ S.A.) and ZM Dezamet S.A. signed an agreement with Slovakia ZVS Holding for a licensed production of HEI (high-explosive incendiary) ammunition (with and without a gas generator). Production of particular elements of this ammunition was supposed to proceed gradually, until the full "polonization" thereof. The propellants supplied by Czech Explosia a.s. are to be produced in Poland on the license. In 2014, MOD ordered 1,000 155 mm HEI shells with OFdMKM DV gas generator and 1,000 155 mm HEI units without the gas generator from ZM Dezamet S.A. (supplied within two years). According to some sources, the army intends to purchase 3,000 units of both variants of this ammunition from 2017 onwards. As for precision-guided munitions, MOD announced a need to conduct works on "intelligent" ammunition for Krabs as early as in 2006, stating that the commencement of implementation works related to Regina depended on making the howitzers compatible with the said precision-guided munitions. In 2009, the army accepted an offer of a consortium composed of ZM Mesko S.A., CRW Telesystem-Mesko, and the Military University of Technology concerning introduction of semi- active laser guided ammunition, including a 155 mm variant for the Krab gun-howitzers, developed in cooperation with the Ukraine. In the end, MOD drew up a set of preliminary tactical-technical assumptions for the development of the www.fragoutmag.com

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