Russia to start testing Malva 155mm self-propelled howitzer.

Russian state media is reporting that the 2S43 Malva self-propelled artillery system on 8x8 chassis will start testing this year.

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2S43 Malva 152mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer. (Picture source: en.topwar.ru)

A report from the Russian newspaper Izvestia echoed by Defence Blog stated that the program document was prepared at the end of 2020. The 2S43 Malva self-propelled howitzer will begin testing this year. Currently, the schedule of work on the newest self-propelled artillery system 2S43 Malva has been approved. According to the schedule, the developers of the self-propelled howitzer, as part of the development work (ROC) “Nabrosok”, are to conduct the first firing which is expected to begin in spring or early summer 2021.

The new 2S43 Malva is based on 8x8 military truck chassis BAZ-6010-027 manufactured by the Bryansk Automobile Plant. The vehicle has a crew cab at the front while the artillery weapon system is located at the rear. In the Russian army, the 2S43 could replace the 2A65 Msta-B and the 2S1 Gvozdika 122 mm self-propelled howitzer based on tracked chassis.

According to Russian military sources, the 2S43 Malva is armed with the 152mm 2A64 cannon which is also used on the 2S19 Msta-S. Our first analysis based on the pictures released on the Internet, shows that the 2S43 has a semi-automatic loading system. As for the French CAESAR, the rear part of the truck chassis is fitted with a large hydraulically operated spade that can be lowered on the ground to provide a more stable firing platform during firing operations.

The 2S43 Malva has a rate of fire of 8 rounds per minute thanks to the use of a new gun-loading mechanism. There is no public information about the tactical and technical characteristics of this new Russian artillery system due to the secret development of the project.

2S43 Malva 152mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer. (Picture source: en.topwar.ru)