Frag Out! Magazine

and equipment resources, e.g. in tools to produce cannons in a modernized barrel unit and in equipment to weld extra-large bodies. problems In as early as 2010 it was found that the hulls of the six UPG- NG produced by ZM Bumar-Łabędy SA featured micro-cracks in their armor. There were also issues with the drive and power transmission system, and with the electric wiring. In the light of the above, the persisting micro-cracking of hulls, although significant, did not prevent the cannon from being used and operated as intended. The army's representatives argued that limited and controlled micro-cracking would not affect the safety of howitzer crews, nor the operational readiness of the sole howitzers. The objections concerning the quality of the carriers led to a decision, made after three years of discovery of the first micro-crack, to replace the hulls whatsoever – which involved manufacturing new hulls and a re-adaptation of the vehicle's systems. It seemed that this would be the long-awaited solution, but the tests of the ninth UPG-NG unit for Krab left the vehicle damaged, which made MOD reject the chassis eventually. But HSW made attempts to save the situation still in 2013, proceeding with analyses covering the possibility of adaptation of the turret to a new western carrier. But one year later, after the expiry of the assumed deadlines of tests of the modified chassis (ending with a negative result), HSW notified MOD they would not be able to meet their obligations concerning the supply of the Regina module involving the use of the Krab gun-howitzer chassis used at the time. Alternative solutions regarding the missing piece of the puzzle, i.e. The Krab chassis, were taken into consideration, assuming that the purchase of fire modules was one of the key programs of technical modernization of the Polish Armed Forces, one not to be abandoned. The ideas taken into account included buying ready self-propelled gun-howitzers abroad, using a new drive system in UPG-NG carriers, and opting for a ready foreign chassis to be produced in Poland on the basis of a license. Due to the significant expenses on the Regina artillery program, and given that HSW had a set of elements of the first serial fire module ready, it was resolved to go for the third option. It was decided that the structure of the turret module would make it possible to integrate AS-90P with a new carrier quite quickly, and that engine replacement would not solve the problems with UPG-NG. www.fragoutmag.com

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