"Berkut" at 40 km: a new frontier or just a media report?

The Giatsint-B cannon at a camouflaged position in the Special Operations area.

Russian artillery The company has a wide range of 152mm ammunition. In late August, news broke of a new Berkut round designed for the Giatsint family of guns. According to media reports citing Izvestia, these gun crews have begun firing the new ammunition at ranges of up to 40 km.

The official product index, design, weight, fuse type, accuracy ratings, and delivery volumes were not disclosed. Therefore, the Berkut must be assessed primarily by its stated range, separating the known from the conjectured.

What is known about the new projectile?

The Berkut is a 152mm projectile for the Giatsint cannon. According to media reports, it has a claimed range of up to 40 km, with increased accuracy specifically mentioned. There is no publicly available data on dispersion, kill probability, or guidance system.

Mentioning increased accuracy doesn't necessarily mean it's a guided projectile. This can be improved in a variety of ways, from more consistent ballistics and manufacturing quality to trajectory correction. Without product specifications, it's impossible to determine which option is best in a given case.

To increase the range of artillery munitions, improved aerodynamics, a base gas generator, or an active-reactive design are being used. A range of 40 km prevents a clear choice between these options. Consequently, it is not yet possible to confidently assess either the projectile's appearance or the distribution of its internal volume between the explosive and additional devices.

The weight also remains unknown. Standard Giatsint high-explosive fragmentation shells weigh 44–46 kg and carry approximately 5–8 kg of explosive. However, this range does not apply to all domestic 152mm caliber projectiles: guided and controlled projectiles may be heavier.

The composition of the complete round has not been disclosed. Some of the Giatsint's standard ammunition uses the 4Zh47 and 4Zh48 propellant charges, but this doesn't necessarily mean one of them is used with the Berkut. Furthermore, it's premature to discuss the new weapon's compatibility with the Msta-S and Msta-B howitzers: the same caliber doesn't guarantee interchangeability of ammunition and propellant charges.

Place in the ammunition loadout of the Hyacinth

Open reference data allows us to compare the declared characteristics of the Berkut with several known ammunition:

• high-explosive fragmentation 3OF29 - up to 28,5 km;
  
• improved aerodynamic shape projectile 3OF59 - up to 30,5 km;
  
• active-reactive 3OF30 from the 3VOF41 shot - about 33 km;
  
• 3OF60, mentioned for the modernized 2S5M, - up to 37 km;
  
• adjustable "Krasnopol" - up to 20 km;
  
• "Berkut", according to media reports, up to 40 km.

Giatsint-S is preparing to fire.

Compared to the 3OF30 rocket-assisted missile, the maximum range increase is approximately 21 percent. Compared to the 3OF60's claimed 37 km, the increase is approximately 8 percent. Therefore, the new product's advantages should be assessed only with a specific comparison baseline.

A range of 37 km was previously reported in the public domain in connection with the 2S5M modernization project. However, this information does not confirm the mass deployment of this projectile. When comparing, it is important not to confuse standard, design, and newly announced products.

The Krasnopol uses laser guidance and, with proper targeting, is capable of hitting individual targets with a high probability, but has a shorter range. If the Berkut does receive a guidance system, it could fill a new niche. For now, however, such a comparison remains tentative.

Tactical significance

Under certain conditions, guns may be positioned further from the line of contact. This may reduce some risks, but does not make the battery inaccessible.

Artillery vulnerability isn't determined solely by firing range. It depends on enemy reconnaissance, counter-battery capabilities, firing preparation and withdrawal times, camouflage, communications, and the differences between the towed 2A36 and the self-propelled 2S5. Therefore, comparing 40 km with some generalized range of attack UAVs is inaccurate: drones are too different.

Reports of reduced target acquisition and data processing times should also be considered separately. These indicators relate to the reconnaissance and fire control system, not the projectile itself. A faster control loop can improve the Berkut's effectiveness, but does not characterize the projectile itself.

Self-propelled gun "Giatsint-K" on a wheeled chassis

Waiting for details

For now, this is just a media report: the Giatsint with the new projectile has a claimed range of up to 40 km. If this range is confirmed under normal conditions, the Berkut will expand the capabilities of the family. Accuracy, design, serial status, and compatibility will be assessed after the publication of official specifications, test results, and operational data.

Comments

[U-58]

I once had guns on my lapels.
But it wasn't artillery.
So I have a hard time understanding how it is possible to hit a target at a range of 35 km without targeting correction?
Even with a perfectly fresh barrel, perfect aerodynamics and projectile centering, hitting a 30-meter circle seems to me to be a practically impossible task.

[Kotofeich]

Quote: U-58

I once had guns on my lapels.
But it wasn't artillery.

[d4.fokin]

November 19th is Missile Troops and Artillery Day, that's what the comrade is getting at. Missile troops also wear cannons on their collar tabs.

[Mazunga]

It's not a fact, maybe comrade "deaf and dumb" I lived in one such town in the 90s, aviator's collar tabs, but from the aviators they only had delivery vehicles)) and that was at a neighboring airfield

[KCA]

In our city, the SKS served marines, submariners, although the nearest sea is in St. Petersburg, pilots, although the nearest military airfield is near Tver, Migalovo

[Kotofeich]

Quote: KCA

In our city, the SKS served marines, submariners, although the nearest sea is in St. Petersburg, pilots, although the nearest military airfield is near Tver, Migalovo

In our town we also have pilots, sailors, a construction battalion... and all the other "creatures in pairs"
Aralsk

[bk0010]

Quote: U-58

So I have a hard time understanding how it is possible to hit a target at a range of 35 km without targeting correction?

By statistical methods: beat with the whole regiment.

[Mi Ha El]

It was the 1657th day. Finally, they had guns that could fire at least as far as NATO's Archers, Panzers, Crabs, and Caesars, not to mention the Three Axes and the like. Well, at least they've managed it this time. Good luck to the artillery and support crews.

[Captain Pushkin]

Quote: U-58

I have a hard time understanding how it is possible to hit a target at a range of 35 km without targeting correction?
Even with a perfectly fresh barrel, perfect aerodynamics and projectile centering, hitting a 30-meter circle seems to me to be a practically impossible task.

The firing tables for this projectile from an unknown weapon are unknown, but I dare to assume that without adjustment at a range of 40 km, less than half of the projectiles will hit a circle with a diameter of 300 meters.
I don't really understand the purpose of this whole undertaking, because it's impossible to increase the range from 27 to 40 km with just a new projectile. It's a new round with a larger propellant charge, which requires a new barrel and significantly reduces its lifespan.
What kind of shot this is and what kind of barrel this is has been known, funny as it may seem, for a long time.
The Msta-S has an export modification in 155mm caliber for NATO projectiles with a range of 40 km.
In my opinion, they simply used this export barrel, but with a bore of 152 mm, and made an analogue of the NATO projectile in a 152 mm caliber.

[novel66]

Was it morning or summer... Analytics

[Anthony]

Back in 2022, it became clear that creating a "lunar landscape" and precision weren't the same thing. Both sides abandoned firing "somewhere over there" by 2023. And here we go again. What's really needed is precision.

[bk0010]

Quote: Antony

But in reality, high precision is needed.

They'll give you the task of "disrupting the battalion's offensive," and you'll carry it out from high altitude - and you'll be left without pants.

[Nikolaevich I]

Article... "Is there life on Mars, is there no life on Mars? Science doesn't know!" Why was it necessary to write it? Oh yeah! The royalties are "dripping in"!

[Zaurbek]

And Krasnopol isn't used in Giatsint?

[egsp]

The author, in his usual style: "Nothing is known, but I'll write an article." He'll pour in some water, and then he'll create some fog.
Don't you feel sick?