russian 2S43 “Malva” self-propelled artillery gun. Open source photo.
Video footage surfaced online on June 8 showing the Russian military’s latest 2S43 Malva self-propelled howitzer taking out a bridge used by Kiev forces in the Kharkiv direction with a single shot.
The Malva is based on the BAZ-6010-027 8×8 special wheeled chassis and armed with the 2A64 152 mm gun, which has a firing range of more than 24 kilometers. The automated howitzers’ rate of fire is up to seven rounds per minute. A total of 30 rounds are typically carried by the howitzer.
With an operational mass of 32 tons, the Malva is much more mobile than tracked self-propelled howitzers which are much heavier.
The howitzer likely targeted the bridge in Kharkiv using a Krasnopol round. The laser-guided artillery round is armed with a high-explosive warhead that weights between 6.50 and 11 kilograms and has a range between 20 and over 40 kilometers, depending on the version.
A laser designator, which can be carried by infantry, mounted on ground vehicles or installed on aerial drones, is used to illuminate targets for Krasnopol shells.
The Malva successfully completed state tests last year and was spotted for the first time in the special military operation zone only earlier this week.
Russia launched the production of an experimental batch of Malva howitzers last August. It remains unclear however if the mass production of the howitzer has begun. The wheeled howitzer will likely be faster and cheaper to build than comparable tracked models.
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