RAK 120mm mortar
Wheeled 8x8 self-propelled mortar carrier armored vehicle - Poland
Description
The RAK is a 120mm wheeled self-propelled mortar carrier vehicle based on the 8x8 Rosomak armored vehicle personnel carrier chassis. The RAK is designed and manufactured by the Polish Defense Company HSW (Huta Stalowa Wola). The RAK 120mm self-propelled mortar carrier is operated by a crew of three and can be ready to fire from a running position in less than 30 seconds and leave the firing position in under 15 seconds. The 120mm mortar system has a rate of fire from 6 to 8 rounds per minute. The first prototype of the vehicle was presented at the MSPO Defense Exhibition 2015, and the final production of the RAK was unveiled in September 2015. In April 2016, it was announced the signature of a contract for the delivery of 64 RAK M120K vehicles to the Polish Armed Forces. In total the order includes 64 Rak M120K mortar vehicles and 32 AWD command post vehicles using the same 8x8 Rosomak chassis. A five-year framework agreement was finalized with Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) at the end of April 2016 with a first delivery for the same year. Polish Land Forces expected to receive a further two company sets a year until the eight are delivered in 2020. Each artillery company will be equipped with four RAK 120mm and an AWD command post, plus an extra two AWD vehicles for the company commander and deputy commander. Earlier in April 2023, the Army Recognition editorial team had reported an agreement for Ukraine to acquire 54 of these Polish-made RAK 8x8 120mm self-propelled mortar carrier armored vehicles. This acquisition was confirmed during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Warsaw, on April 5, 2023. On December 10, 2023, pictures were released on the Facebook account of Ukraine's 44th Brigade showing the first Rak 120 deployed in Ukraine.
RAK 120mm mortar carrier variants:
- No variants at this time.
Technical Data
| Armament |
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The RAK 8x8 self-propelled mortar carrier is fitted with a large turret mounted at the rear of the chassis which is armed with a 120mm breech-loaded mortar system including an automatic loading system. To improve the accuracy, the 120mm mortar is laid onto the target using a computerized fire-control system WB Electronics. The 120 mm mortar, with a barrel length of 3,000 mm has an elevation from -3 to +80º with a turret traverse of 360°. The rotation and lift mechanisms are electrically controlled but can be controlled manually in case of emergency or failure. In the direct fire mode, the 120mm mortar has a minimum firing range of 500m and a maximum range of 8,000 to 15,000 m (with extended range ammunition) when being used in the indirect fire role. A total of 46 120 mm mortar projectiles and their associated charges is carried and the automatic loading system enables a rate of fire of 6 to 8 rds/min. A total of 20 ammunitions are stored in the automatic loading system for immediate use and 26 additional pieces of ammunition are stored in the crew compartment. New ammunition is loaded via two small doors in the rear part of the turret. Secondary armament includes a 7.62 mm caliber machine gun mounted to the hatch commander on top of the turret. Four 81mm smoke grenade launchers are mounted to each side of the main armament in front of the turret.
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| Design and protection |
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The RAK 8x8 120mm self-propelled mortar carrier is based on the Rosomak 8x8 armored personnel carrier chassis. The turret and the hull are of all-welded steel armor that protects the crew againts small arms firing 7.62mm caliber, 155mm artillery shell splinters and hand grenades, unexploded artillery fragmenting sub-munitions, and other small anti-personnel explosive devices detonated under the vehicle (Level 1 STANAG 4569). The vehicle has a crew of three, with the driver at the front of the hull, the commander, and the gunner in the turret. There are two small doors at the rear of the chassis.
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| Mobility |
| The RAK 120mm 8x8 self-propelled mortar carrier is motorized with a Scania DI1249A03P turbocharged diesel engine coupled to an automatic gearbox ZF 7HP 902S Ecomat with 7 forward and one reverse gears. The 8x8 chassis is similar to the Rosomak armored vehicle personnel carrier with a hydro-pneumatic suspension system. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 80 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 500 km. The vehicles can negotiate gradients up to 60% and a side slope of 35%, fording depth of 1.5m without preparation. It can cross a trench of 2.1m in width and a vertical obstacle of 0.5m. |
| Combat Equipment |
| The standard combat equipment of the RAK 120mm 8x8 self-propelled mortar carrier includes a ballistic computer, an inertial navigation system TALIN 5000 (GPS signal, odometer), integrated communication digital radio station RRC 9311 AP with FONET communication management system, battlefield management system with the tactical situation on a digital map for the commander and automatic co-operation with external command and fire control systems of C4I class, ballistic computer, laser warning OBRA and WB Electronics computerized fire-control system. |
Specifications
| Armament | Armor |
| One 120mm mortar and one 7.62mm machine gun | Protection against the firing of small arms and shell splinters. STANAG 4569 Level 1. |
| Country users | Weight |
| Poland, Ukraine | 24,500 kg |
| Designer Country | Speed |
| Poland | 80 km/h |
| Combat Equipment | Range |
| Ballistic computer, GPS, communication digital radio station, communication management system, digital map, laser warning, computerized fire-control system. |
500 km |
| Crew | Dimensions |
| 3 | Length: 7.7 m; Width: 2.8 m; Height: 2.15 m |
Details View
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Pictures - Video
