The Morana is a 155mm / 52 caliber self-propelled howitzer developed and produced by Excalibur Army, a Czech defense company. This advanced artillery system is designed for high mobility, fast deployment, and effective support of operational and tactical forces. The Morana combines a fully automated loading system, sophisticated fire control, and excellent crew protection, making it an efficient and flexible artillery platform capable of delivering rapid, precise fire in a variety of operational environments.
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Technical Data
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Armament
The Morana is armed with a 155mm / 52 caliber howitzer, capable of engaging targets at a range of over 41 kilometers. The system carries 45 rounds of ammunition, and its fully automated loading system allows for rapid handling of rounds, contributing to a high rate of fire. The onboard fire control system enables automatic gun guidance and aiming, ensuring precise and efficient fire during missions. The Morana can fire up to six rounds within the first minute of stopping, ensuring rapid responsiveness in dynamic combat situations. The system also supports Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) fire mode for increased effectiveness in targeting.
With its fully automated loading system, the Morana allows for fast ammunition handling, ensuring a high rate of fire and large ammunition capacity. The onboard fire control system can automatically guide and aim the weapon, enhancing the Morana’s ability to deliver rapid, accurate fire under diverse operational conditions. The system can fire up to six rounds within the first minute after halting at a firing position, enabling swift and effective reactions on the battlefield.
In emergency situations, the Morana can engage enemy positions, structures, and moving vehicles directly. The effective range for such engagements is 5 kilometers during the day and 3 kilometers at night. Additionally, the Morana is equipped with a 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) for self-defense, offering additional firepower for close engagements and to counter low-altitude UAVs. The vehicle’s automatic fire control system allows it to operate efficiently, but in the event of a failure of the ballistic and navigation systems, the Morana can still be operated manually with optical devices.
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Design and protection
The Morana integrates a unique design that combines a vehicle chassis with an independent artillery turret system. This ensures both the high mobility of lighter systems and the effective protection typically found in heavier systems with battle towers. The turret and crew cabin provide full protection against both ballistic and landmine threats, ensuring the safety of the crew in harsh combat environments.
The Morana turret is powered independently from the vehicle’s engine, allowing continued operability of the weapon systems even if the vehicle itself is incapacitated. A 24V auxiliary hydraulic power unit supports turret operations, including battery checks, hydraulic pressure regulation, and cooling of propellant charges.
The Morana operates with a small crew of three: a driver, an aimer, and a commander, reducing manpower requirements while maintaining high operational effectiveness. The crew operates from a modular EA Puma cabin that provides protection to STANAG 4569 Level 2 standards against ballistic and landmine threats. The cabin is pressurized, equipped with NBC filters for protection in contaminated environments, and fitted with both heating and air-conditioning to ensure optimal working conditions regardless of external temperature.
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Mobility
Mounted on the latest TATRA four-axle truck chassis, the Morana is designed to perform exceptionally well both on paved roads and off-road. The TATRA system provides high durability, stability, and maneuverability, even in difficult terrain. With a 600-hp engine and automatic transmission, along with a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS), the Morana can reach speeds of up to 90 km/h on the road and has a range of 600 km. The vehicle’s wider wheelbase and steerable axles ensure enhanced maneuverability, even in conditions typically reserved for tracked vehicles.
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Combat Equipment
The Morana howitzer is equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced combat equipment, including its fire control system for rapid target acquisition and precise fire. The onboard diagnostic system ensures real-time monitoring of vehicle subsystems, enhancing operational efficiency. The vehicle is capable of achieving operational readiness within 40 seconds of halting, allowing it to quickly respond to battlefield needs.
The crew operates from a modular EA Puma cabin that is pressurized, equipped with NBC filters for protection in contaminated environments, and fitted with heating and air-conditioning to ensure optimal conditions regardless of external temperatures. The Morana also features communication systems with intercom, blackout lights for nighttime operations, and side/rear cameras to improve situational awareness and safety during deployment.
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