Artillery of the Russian Airborne Forces
Crews of D-30 guns during exercises, 2021
Russian airborne troops have all the necessary weapons and equipment to operate in isolation from the main forces. In particular, they have developed and fairly numerous artillery. Towed and self-propelled systems of a number of types are in service. Some of them have been in service for a long time, while others have only begun to enter the troops in recent years.
Artillery in the troops
In terms of functions and tasks, airborne artillery does not differ from the artillery of the ground forces. Its main task is fire support for landing formations in various conditions. Gunners must be prepared to engage a wide range of targets on the battlefield.
The existing airborne and airborne assault divisions of the Airborne Forces each have one artillery regiment. Each regiment includes several artillery battalions with different equipment and weapons. In addition, the Airborne Forces have several separate air assault brigades, which are also equipped with artillery battalions.
The armament and equipment of airborne artillery battalions are varied. The units are equipped with both towed and self-propelled systems of various classes. Some formations have recently been re-equipped using the latest models.
According to available information, several artillery units of the Airborne Forces are currently participating in the Special Operation to protect Donbass. They use their weapons to solve assigned combat missions and cause damage to the enemy. Since the start of the operation, the airborne artillery has demonstrated excellent training and the high potential of the available equipment.
Mastered systems
Some of the airborne artillery weapons appeared and entered the troops back in Soviet times. Thanks to regular repairs and upgrades, such material remains serviceable.
Mortarmen of one of the Airborne Forces formations, 2020.
One of the most popular weapons in the Airborne Forces is the 122-mm howitzer 2A18/D-30. This is an easy-to-use weapon that can be transported by air, including by parachute landing. The howitzer uses a wide range of projectiles and can hit targets at a distance of more than 15 km.
Also in the units there are at least several dozen towed 2B23 “Nona-K” guns of 120 mm caliber. This system uses domestic and foreign mortar mines, and in addition, it produces its own line of shells. The firing range of a conventional projectile reaches 8,8 km.
A key place in the artillery weapons system of the Airborne Forces is occupied by the 2S9 “Nona-S” self-propelled gun and its modifications. This combat vehicle carries a “universal” 120 mm gun that functions as a cannon, howitzer and mortar. In terms of fire characteristics, the Nona-S is similar to the Nonu-K, but has the advantage of an armored self-propelled chassis.
The Airborne Forces also widely use transportable and portable mortars of the main domestic calibers - 82 and 120 mm. They complement other weapons and enhance firepower within a radius of several kilometers.
New generation
In the mid-1910s, the domestic defense industry presented several new artillery projects for ground and airborne troops. Some of these models have now begun to enter service. the army.
Column SAO 2S9 "Nona-S"
About a year ago, in July 2023, the Rostec state corporation announced the delivery of the first production batch of 2S41 Drok self-propelled combat vehicles to the customer. This product is positioned as a portable/carryable mortar and is intended for the Airborne Forces. Apparently, the first production batch was transferred to one of the airborne formations last year.
The 2S41 product is a K-4386 Typhoon-VDV armored vehicle with a combat module equipped with an 82-mm mortar. The second gun of this caliber is transported by vehicle in disassembled form. In essence, this is a replacement for the existing transportable 82 mm mortar, characterized by increased mobility.
As a modern replacement for the Nona-S, a 120-mm “universal” self-propelled gun 2S42 “Lotos” has been developed. It was previously reported that its testing had been completed and mass production would soon begin. News the start of supplies of equipment to the troops has not yet been reported.
“Lotos” is built on the BMD-4M chassis, which should simplify operation and maintenance. A new weapon with the functions of a howitzer, cannon and mortar was used. Due to the increased barrel length, the main fire characteristics have increased significantly, while the range of tasks solved has not changed in comparison with the Nona.
Overall potential
Thus, the Russian Airborne Forces have developed artillery in quantitative, qualitative and organizational terms. Units and formations with guns of various types are ready to solve various tasks, to support their forces and to defeat the enemy.
Self-propelled mortar 2S41 "Drok"
The existing artillery weapon system of the Airborne Forces meets modern requirements and is constantly evolving. New models with certain features are being created and brought into service. Their appearance has a positive effect on both the technical condition of the parks and the combat effectiveness of troops as a whole.
All available and expected weapons in the army together form a multi-component system that provides impact on the enemy over a wide range of ranges. The use of such a system or its components has a positive effect on the results of the combat work of the Airborne Forces.
In the current weapons system, the shortest-range weapons are 82-mm mortars. They are capable of attacking targets at a distance of 85 to 3100 m and using different types of mines. Until recently, 82-mm systems were only portable, but now there is also a self-propelled one.
Mortars of 120 mm caliber are superior to 82 mm products in all respects. They fire a conventional mine at 7,1 km and show a higher power of ammunition. Mortars of traditional appearance are widely represented in this caliber.
120-mm systems also include self-propelled guns “Nona-S” or “Lotos”. They perform the functions of mortars, guns and howitzers. The new SAO 2S42, depending on the ammunition used and the operating mode, hits targets at ranges of 12-13 km.
120-mm SAO 2S42 “Lotos”
With all this, the longest-range weapon in the airborne artillery remains the traditional howitzer - the D-30, capable of firing at a range of 15 km or more.
In accordance with the characteristic requirements of the Airborne Forces, all artillery systems in service have limited dimensions and weight. They are suitable for transporting military transport aviation and for parachute landing.
Thanks to this, the Airborne Forces have a large and developed artillery force that can solve a full range of tasks to defeat enemy targets and support their troops. It should be noted that in some characteristics, the Airborne Forces artillery is inferior to similar systems of the ground forces. But at the same time, it has advantages in the form of greater mobility and the ability to quickly transfer to the desired area, including over long distances.
Special Features
Airborne troops play an important role in the Russian armed forces. They are assigned special tasks that require special capabilities. This affects the composition and equipment of both all airborne forces and their artillery units.
The Airborne Forces' own artillery has guns and self-propelled guns of various types with a wide range of characteristics. The effectiveness of such a weapon system has been repeatedly demonstrated during past exercises, and is now being tested in real combat operations.
Information