The AHS Krab (
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
for
crab
Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (abdomen) ( el, βραχύς , translit=brachys = short, / = tail), usually hidden entirely under the thorax. They live in all the ...
) is a
155 mm
155 mm (6.1 in) is a common, NATO-standard, artillery caliber. It is defined in AOP-29 part 1 with reference to STANAG 4425. It is commonly used in field guns, howitzers, and gun-howitzers.
Land warfare
The caliber originated in France after ...
NATO-compatible self-propelled
tracked gun-howitzer
Gun-howitzer (also referred to as gun howitzer) is a type of artillery weapon that is intended to fulfill both the role of ordinary cannon or field gun, and that of a howitzer. It is thus able to convey both direct and indirect fire. Modern gun-h ...
designed in Poland by
Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), by combining the South Korean
K9 Thunder
The K9 Thunder is a South Korean 155 mm self-propelled howitzer designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development and civil contractors including Dongmyeong Heavy Industries, Kia Heavy Industry, Poongsan Corporation, and Samsung Aer ...
chassis with a British
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company based in London, England. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues. ...
AS-90M Braveheart turret with French
Nexter Systems
Nexter Systems (formerly known as GIAT Industries or ''Groupement des Industries de l'Armée de Terre'', Army Industries Group) is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer, based in Roanne, Loire.
Group organization
The Nexter group is ...
52-calibre long gun and Polish WB Electronics' Topaz artillery fire control system. "AHS" is not a part of the name, but Polish abbreviation of ''armatohaubica samobieżna'' - gun-howitzer, self-propelled. The 2011 version used a
Nexter Systems
Nexter Systems (formerly known as GIAT Industries or ''Groupement des Industries de l'Armée de Terre'', Army Industries Group) is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer, based in Roanne, Loire.
Group organization
The Nexter group is ...
barrel
A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers for liquids, ...
and Polish UPG-NG chassis. The 2016 production batch utilized the
Hanwha Defense K9 chassis with
KMW+Nexter Defense Systems KMW may refer to:
* Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, a German heavy equipment manufacturing company
* ''Klosterneuburger Mostwaage'', a scale for must weight in winemaking primarily used in Austria, and originally the name of a piece of equipment for doing t ...
long gun,
Rheinmetall barrel and
STX Engine-
MTU Friedrichshafen
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a German manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909. Wilhelm Maybach was the technical director of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), a predec ...
engine. full-rate production of 120 Krabs for the
Polish Army
The Land Forces () are the land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 62,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military history stre ...
has started with deliveries to be completed by 2024. , Huta Stalowa Wola started using barrels of their own manufacture in successive production batches.
History
The cannon was developed within the "Regina" research framework. The program's goal was to create a calibre long-range
artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
piece for the
Polish Army
The Land Forces () are the land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 62,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military history stre ...
that would serve as a division-level
asset
In financial accountancy, financial accounting, an asset is any resource owned or controlled by a business or an economic entity. It is anything (tangible or intangible) that can be used to produce positive economic value. Assets represent value ...
. It was decided, that instead of buying a licence for a complete vehicle, only a licence for a modern L/52 gun and turret would be bought, and they would be mounted on domestically developed chassis.
In 1997 a competition for an artillery component (complete turret with a gun) was announced. The British
AS-90M won the competition (the other contestant was
PzH-2000), and in 1999 its technology was transferred to Huta Stalowa Wola factory.
[Kwasek, Tomasz. ''Nowe szaty Kraba'' in: "Nowa Technika Wojskowa" Nr. 9/2015. P.16-24 ] The UPG-NG chassis was developed in Poland by
OBRUM in
Gliwice
Gliwice (; german: Gleiwitz) is a city in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland. The city is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river (a tributary of the Oder). It lies approximately 25 km west from Katowice, the regional cap ...
, from an SPG-1M chassis (itself developed from a Soviet
MT-S tractor), using parts combined with the
PT-91 Twardy
The PT-91 Twardy (, en, Tough, link=no) is a Polish main battle tank. A development of the T-72M1, it entered service in 1995. The PT-91 was designed at the OBRUM (''Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych'', or ''Research an ...
tank.
The first prototype was completed in 2001, the second the following year.
The first two prototypes of the howitzer are fitted with turret systems supplied by
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company based in London, England. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues. ...
. It was planned to complete the first squadron in 2008, but the program was delayed due to financial reasons, and not until 2008 did the Polish Army order the introductory batch of the squadron module, completed in 2012.
It covers eight guns (six new-built and two upgraded prototype vehicles), command vehicles (on a much modernized MTLB chassis), as well as ammunition and repair vehicles for the ordnance and electronics.
In the introductory and series products, Nexter guns replaced the original British pieces. The trial firing of another gun supplied by the manufacturer continued every month through the end of the year (the third gun was tested on 10 August under the supervision of representatives of the Armament Inspectorate and the Head Office of the Missile and Artillery Force of the Air Forces), at the Dynamic Trial Center of the WITU (Military Technical Institute of Armament) in
Stalowa Wola
Stalowa Wola () is the largest city and capital of Stalowa Wola County with a population of 58,545 inhabitants, as of 31 December 2021. It is located in southeastern Poland in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship. The city lies in historic Lesser Polan ...
. The first firing of the third complete Krab (which also received new elements of onboard electronics developed by WB Electronics) occurred on 29 July 2011. The concentration of fire was among the requirements tested. As of 2012, two prototypes and eight initial units (two artillery batteries each with four guns) had been built by Huta Stalowa Wola. In 2012–2013 eight new examples were used for tests conducted by the Polish Army as a part of a "Regina" battery command module.
Eventually, on 17 December 2014, the Polish Ministry of Defence announced the deal worth US$320M with Korean Samsung Techwin (now
Hanwha Techwin
Hanwha Techwin (), founded as Samsung Techwin, is a video surveillance company. It is a subsidiary of Hanwha Group. The company employs 1,822 people and is headquartered in South Korea. Its total sales in 2020 were 529.8 billion South Korean won. ...
) to purchase 120 K9 Thunder chassis, with the first 24 to be delivered in 2017 and 96 to be built under licence in Poland in 2018–2022. Poland also evaluated the Turkish-built
T-155 Firtina chassis of the same origin. The original Polish OBRUM's
[OBRUM stands for ''Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych'' (]Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
: "Research and Development Centre for Mechanical Appliances") UPG-NG chassis built by BUMAR equipped with an S-12U engine and other elements (like road wheels) from the PT-91 Twardy used in eight initial production howitzers was abandoned due to structural cracks and ceased production of S-12U engines.
The first K9 chassis was shipped to Poland for testing and integration in June 2015. The prototype was rolled out on 24 August 2015. It went through type acceptance testing in October 2015. The test ended successfully in April 2016, allowing series production. On 7 April 2016, the Ministry of National Defence and the manufacturer concluded the research and development phase. On 28 April 2016, during the Polish prime minister's visit to Stalowa Wola, the first two serial examples were handed over to Polish Army. They joined eight initial production examples at the Artillery Training Center in
Toruń
)''
, image_skyline =
, image_caption =
, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
, image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg
, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
, pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...
, and were used to develop operational standards for combat units. During the handover ceremony on 18 November 2016, nine Krabs were accepted in the presence of the
Polish Minister of National Defence, while seven more were in the acceptance testing phase. Eight original turrets on UPG chassis are scheduled to be upgraded to the K9 chassis after the first batch of 16 guns is delivered by the end of 2016. The deal for the next 96 units was signed on December 14, 2016, raising total order to 120 Krabs for five regiments.
Each of the planned five regiments of Krabs will be equipped with 24 howitzers. The first unit to receive 24 Krabs by 2017 will be 11th Masurian Artillery Regiment in
Węgorzewo
Węgorzewo (until 1946 pl, Węgobork; german: Angerburg, lt, Ungura) is a tourist town on the Angrapa River in northeastern Poland, within the historical region of Masuria. It is the seat of Węgorzewo County in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodes ...
. The development program of advanced, smart 155 mm ammunition was expected to conclude in 2017.
In late May 2022, the Polish government donated 18 Krabs to
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
to help the
Ukrainian military
, imports =
, exports =
, history =
, ranks = Military ranks of Ukraine
, country=Ukraine
The Armed Forces of Ukraine ( uk, Збро́йні си́ли Украї́ни), most commonly known ...
defend the nation against the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...
.
It was subsequently revealed that the two governments had signed a contract under which Poland would sell Ukraine an additional 60 Krabs, in a deal worth 3 billion
złotys (
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
700 million).
With the deal, Ukraine became the first export customer for Polish Krabs.
The agreement was the largest defence contract that Poland had made in the previous 20 years.
In October 2022, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence
Oleksii Reznikov
Oleksii Yuriyovych Reznikov (; born 18 June 1966) is a Ukrainian lawyer and politician who has served as the Minister of Defence of Ukraine since 4 November 2021. Reznikov previously has served in several other positions in the government of ...
revealed, that Poland had already donated three battalions of Krabs (eg. 54 pieces with support vehicles), and another three were ordered.
Operators
*
Polish Land Forces – 62 in stock. 80 delivered of a total of 122 ordered, however 18 were donated to Ukraine leaving Poland with 62. On 2022-09-05 another 48 were ordered.
*
Ukrainian Ground Forces
The Ukrainian Ground Forces ( uk, Сухопу́тні військá Збрóйних сил Украї́ни), also known as the Ukrainian Army, are the Army, land forces of Ukraine and one of the five Military branch, branches of the Armed For ...
– 18 units were given by Poland from Polish Army stock, another 54 on order. As of September 2022, one unit was confirmed to be lost due to incorrect usage by the vehicle crew.
Operational history
Ukraine reports that it has used the weapon during
fighting near Sievierodonetsk.
The AHS Krab was also used during the
2022 Ukrainian eastern counteroffensive
The 2022 Ukrainian eastern counteroffensive is a counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory of Kharkiv Oblast, Donetsk Oblast, and Luhansk Oblast, that was launched on 6 September 2022. Following ...
in the
Kharkiv Oblast
Kharkiv Oblast ( uk, Харківська́ о́бласть, translit=Kharkivska oblast), also referred to as Kharkivshchyna ( uk, Ха́рківщина), is an oblast (province) of eastern Ukraine. The oblast borders Russia to the north, Luhans ...
.
In Autumn 2022 it was revealed, that Ukraine used the Krab with
Excalibur
Excalibur () is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes also attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. It was associated with the Arthurian legend very early on. Excalibur and the Sword in th ...
precision ammunition, obtaining range above 50 km.
See also
*
2S35 Koalitsiya-SV
*
AS-90
The AS-90 ("Artillery System for the 1990s"), known officially as Gun Equipment 155 mm L131, is an armoured self-propelled artillery weapon used by the British Army.
It can fire standard charges up to using 39 calibre long barrel (com ...
*
K-9 Thunder
The K9 Thunder is a South Korean 155 mm self-propelled howitzer designed and developed by the Agency for Defense Development and civil contractors including Dongmyeong Heavy Industries, Kia Heavy Industry, Poongsan Corporation, and Samsung Aer ...
*
M109
*
PLZ-05
The PLZ-05 or the Type 05 is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by the People's Liberation Army of China to replace the Type 59-1 130 mm towed gun and Type 83 152 mm self-propelled gun. The PLZ-05 was officially unveiled at ...
*
PzH 2000
*
SSPH Primus
*
T-155 Fırtına
T-155 Fırtına ( Turkish for ''Storm'') is a Turkish variant of K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzer co-developed with South Korea utilizing Turkish technology and design into existing K9 Thunder. It is manufactured and assembled by Turkish ...
*
Type 99
Notes
References
{{ModernPOLAFVsNav , style= wide
Self-propelled howitzers of Poland
Science and technology in Poland
155 mm artillery
Tracked self-propelled howitzers
Military vehicles introduced in the 2000s