Dmitry Semizorov, General Director of Uraltransmash OJSC (Yekaterinburg), announced the company's readiness for serial production of the 203 mm self-propelled artillery gun (SAO) 2C7M Malka. R&D on the howitzer should be completed by the end of the year.

“In December of this year, we are completing a major overhaul with a deep modernization of the guns: import substitution was carried out and new instrument complexes were installed. Over the next year, we will prepare production for serial production of these artillery systems, ”RIA Novosti Semizorov said.

Malka is an upgraded version of 2C7 Peony, which was developed in the 1970s. The howitzer is made according to a reckless scheme with an open installation of guns in the rear of the hull. The chassis of the machine is designed based on the chassis of the T-80 tank.

The Malka, like its Soviet predecessor, is one of the most powerful self-propelled artillery guns in the world. In the process of firing 2S7M can use high-explosive fragmentation and nuclear munitions. The mass of a conventional (non-nuclear) projectile is 110 kg.

The domestic 203-mm howitzer is designed to destroy artillery batteries, destroy defensive structures, suppress command posts, destroy manpower, firepower and other military equipment of the enemy at tactical depths.

The performance characteristics of the Malki were not disclosed, however, the fighting qualities of the Peony are known. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the SAO firing range is 37.5 km, weight - 46 tons, engine power - 700 liters. with., ammunition - 4/8 units, rate of fire - 2.5 rounds per minute, crew - 7 people. The machine is protected from bullets and small and fragments, and is also equipped with means that reduce the penetration of radiation.

Artillery units armed with "Peonies" were deployed as part of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSVG), and they were not used in hostilities. As Candidate of Military Sciences Sergey Suvorov told RT, in the 1990s the Russian army did not use 2C7 even during exercises.

Today, "Peonies" along with 240-mm self-propelled mortars 2C4 "Tulip" are part of the artillery brigades of high power. These units are deployed in the Western, Southern and Central military districts.

“Qualitatively new condition”

According to Uraltransmash, the Malka R&D primarily affected machine equipment. On the howitzer, new power supply units, a gearbox, intercom equipment, a radio station, data reception and processing equipment, a complex of anti-nuclear protection and surveillance devices are installed.

According to the developer, the modernization of the CAO is aimed at the implementation of the import substitution program. In particular, Uraltransmash was given the task of replacing guidance systems and a vehicle protection system. Semizorov said that part of the units (for example, gearbox) was produced in Ukraine.

  • The use of self-propelled gun mounts "Malka" in the exercises in Kuzbass

In a RT commentary, military expert Alexei Khlopotov said that the Soviet 203-mm gun was created in cooperation with dozens of defense enterprises located in different republics of the USSR, including Ukraine.

“Import substitution covers the entire modern defense industry. Naturally, if the army is actively exploiting any equipment, it needs components of Russian production. As far as I understand, in the case of Malka, dependence on foreign countries was not critical, and the replacement task was successfully solved, ”Khlopotov argues.

According to the analyst, a modern "electronic filling" is installed at Malka. It allows domestic CAO to quickly deploy on the ground and change the location after the shot. For example, industrialists replaced the guidance system in the artillery complex, increasing firing accuracy.

Also, experts interviewed by RT associate the development of Malki and the general strengthening of high-power artillery with the process of deploying reconnaissance-strike (fire) systems (MAN). The military expects to reduce the reconnaissance-defeat cycle by 1.5-2 times.

“Work continues on the transition of missile forces and artillery to a qualitatively new state - a reconnaissance and fire system, which includes forces and means of fire destruction, operational, combat and technical support, combined by a single automated control and ensuring the opening and reliable destruction of groupings of troops and objects the enemy, ”- said on the website of the Russian Defense Ministry on December 16.

In an interview with the Red Star on November 19, Lieutenant General Mikhail Matveevsky, head of the missile forces and artillery of the RF Armed Forces, said that the MAN’s hand, in addition to its guns, consist of a variety of reconnaissance means — mainly radar stations and drones. The symbiosis of reconnaissance and strike systems provides "the defeat of enemy targets in real time," Matveevsky emphasized.

Developing the theme of reconnaissance and strike systems, Sergey Suvorov added that now the troops are equipped with ground-based robotic systems and receive data from satellites. Target designation of artillery calculations is also provided by specially trained military personnel. All elements of the RUK are combined into a common mechanism thanks to communications and automated control systems, explained Suvorov.

  • Upgraded "Peony" at the training ground
  • RIA News
  • © Alexander Wilf

“The concept of the use of reconnaissance and strike systems appeared in the 1980s. Its essence lies in combining the potential of intelligence and the striking power of artillery. At the theater of military operations (TVD), events are developing rapidly, the winner is the one who previously discovered the target, and accordingly worked on it. All this must happen literally in real time, ”said Suvorov.

In addition, the expert drew attention to the fact that the use of reconnaissance and fire systems simplifies counter-battery combat in a modern theater. According to him, the radars that are equipped with domestic artillery units provide detection of enemy weapons along the flight path of launched shells.

"The logical decision"

Recent years, "Malki" is actively used in exercises of artillery units. Correction of fire on maneuvers is carried out by the Orlan-10 UAV. Alexei Khlopotov recalled that after the collapse of the USSR, this CAO was called the "vestiges of the Cold War." According to the analyst, the return to operation of high-powered artillery will make it possible to reduce the cost of target destruction at tactical depth.

“Unfortunately, the role of self-propelled barrel artillery was sometimes underestimated in our country. Reconstruction of brigades of high power is a logical and logical solution. A shot from the Malki is much cheaper than using a rocket. Obviously, Russia should not limit itself in using such a powerful and economically viable strike potential, ”Khlopotov emphasized.

Sergey Suvorov connects the Malk with the Malk with the process of general strengthening of the combat capabilities of Russian artillery. According to him, the need for high-power guns in the theater of war never left the agenda.

“The return of Malki and Tulip, in my opinion, is the restoration of the normal state of affairs in artillery. It’s unlikely that this is somehow connected with the current political context: the aggravation of relations with NATO, the Syrian campaign, etc. Most likely, we are talking about the fact that every self-respecting military power should have large-caliber weapons, ”Suvorov explained.