Russian Western District combined arms army receives 1st batch of Msta-SM1 artillery systems.

An artillery regiment of the Western Military District’s Yelnya-based motor rifle division, which is stationed in the Bryansk Region in western Russia, has received the first batch of Msta-SM1 self-propelled artillery systems, the Defense Ministry’s press office said.

2S19 Msta-SM self-propelled howitzer displayed at Army-2018 near Kubinka (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The regiment will soon complete the rearmament with Msta-SM1s, which are Msta-S self-propelled howitzers upgraded with automated fire control systems. By mid-2020, all military hardware items will have GLONASS automated fire control and aiming systems. There are plans to equip cross-country ammunition carriers with special navigation beacons.

The Msta-SM self-propelled artillery system is designed to destroy tactical nuclear weapons, artillery and mortar batteries, armored vehicles, antitank, antiaircraft and missile defense systems and manpower. Target selection and aiming can be done with the use of a special automated control system from the battery’s command and control post and directly by the crew.

The main weapon is a 152mm gun with a rate of fire exceeding 10 rounds per minute, which is higher than the fire rate of other artillery systems. This was achieved due to the upgraded loading mechanism. The system can fire both guided and unguided high-explosive fragmentation projectiles.

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