The 2S43 Malva is a wheeled self-propelled howitzer, which has been in service with the Russian Ground Forces since 2023. It is presently being used in Ukraine and it has seen heavy combat action in that region. It has proved to be an excellent weapon in the counter-battery role. As of July 2024, Uraltransmash has delivered 255 artillery pieces to the Russian Army so far. It was developed by the Russian State-owned company Rostec.
The 2S43 is known for its accuracy, reliability of its movable parts, and mobility. Like its Swedish counterpart, Archer, it is the ideal howitzer to provide fast fire support to front line troops. With overwhelming firepower, a single artillery piece can give the illusion of being attacked by a full battery. Its howitzer barrel features an extra hardened liner, which gives the weapon a long service life. With a weight of 32 tons, it is usually transported on an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft.
Below, video of the new self-propelled howitzer in action.
Technical Description
The 2S43 Malva is a 152-mm-caliber self-propelled artillery piece, which is mounted on a 8x8-wheel truck. The truck is powered by one YaMZ-8424.10 diesel engine, which produces 470 horsepower. With the howitzer and ammunition on top, it is capable of accelerating to 85 km an hour on tarmacked road. Thanks to its 4-wheel drive, it can also travel cross-country on rough terrain, at an average speed of 50 km an hour. The cabin in the front portion of chassis accommodates a crew of 5 men, with the center of truck being used to transport up to 30 rounds of ammunition.
The artillery mount of the 2S43 Malva sits on the truck rear section. The main weapon is a 152mm 2A65 howitzer, fitted with a vertical, sliding wedge breech. It fires OF45 High Explosive shells to a maximum distance of 24 km. This range can be extended to 28 km when using rocket-assisted ammunition. When it fires the latest 2K25 Krasnopol precision-guided shells, the effective range can be expanded to 43 km. The howitzer has a rate of fire of 7 rounds per minute, being equipped with an automatic fire direction system.
Specifications
Type: self-propelled howitzer
Weight: 32 tons
Caliber: 152-mm
Shell: 43.5-kg HE
Barrel Length: L/47 = 7.2 m (23 feet, 7 inches)
Breech Type: vertical sliding wedge
Elevation: -3 to +70 degrees
Traverse: 30 degrees
Maximum Range: 24 km, with standard shells. 43 km, with guided ammo.
Range of Truck: 1,000 km.
Below, a picture of the 2S43 howitzer in action.
The Malva on exhibition during the Army 2023 International Military Technical Forum.
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