Russia to complete preliminary trials of Lotos airborne self-propelled mortar in 2022.

The preliminary trials of the 120mm 2S42 Lotos air-droppable self-propelled mortar system will be completed in 2022, the press office of Russia’s Rostec state hi-tech corporation said: “The preliminary trials of the first prototype of the 120mm Lotos self-propelled artillery system designed for the Airborne Force will be completed this year. The date of the state trials will be set by Russia’s Defense Ministry,” the press office said.
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2S42 Lotos 120mm self-propelled mortar system (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Lotos has been created to meet the needs of the Russian Airborne Forces. This artillery system can be used as mortar or howitzer. The breech-loaded mortar is mounted on a chassis based on the Sprut-SDM-1 airborne (BMD-4M) light tank, with a modified compartment for the 120-mm mortar with a high degree of automation for preparing and carrying out firing operations. It weighs 18 tons and its 450 hp 2V-06-2 diesel engine enables it to reach 70 km/h, with a range of at least 500 km. The self-propelled mortar is operated by a crew of four.

It has a rate of fire of six to eight rounds per minute, with a firing range of up to 13 kilometers using rifled rounds. The armor-piercing round penetrates a 600-650 mm steel plate at a range of 1,000 m. It is also compatible with the Kitolov-2M laser-guided rounds. These have a maximum range of 10 km and a hit probability of around 80-90%.

The Lotos is fully amphibious. On the water, it is propelled by two waterjets. An Ilyushin Il-76 Candid military transport can carry two of these vehicles that can also be airdropped with the crew on board.

2S42 Lotos 120mm self-propelled mortar system fired 400 rounds during tests (Picture source: Rostec)