The Nora B-52 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 ...

self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called locomotive artillery) is artillery equipped with its own propulsion system to move toward its firing position. Within the terminology are the self-propelled gun, self-propelled howitzer, self-propelled mo ...

developed by

Military Technical Institute Military Technical Institute ( sr, Војнотехнички институт, Vojnotehnički institut; abbr. ) is a Serbian weapons and aircraft design institute, headquartered in Belgrade, and governed by the Serbian Ministry of Defence. It ...

and manufactured by

Yugoimport SDPR Yugoimport–SDPR ( sr, Југоимпорт–СДПР, Jugoimport–SDPR) is a Serbian state-owned weapons manufacturer as well as intermediary company for the import and export of defense-related equipment. It is headquartered in Belgrade, w ...

Velika Plana Velika Plana ( sr-Cyrl, Велика Плана, pronounced ) is a town and municipality located in the Podunavlje District of Serbia. As of 2011, the town has 16,088 inhabitants, while the municipality has 40,902. Velika Plana lies on the left b ...

, Serbia.

History

The first self-propelled Nora B (developed on the basis of Nora C) was designed by the Military Technical Institute in 1984 with a modified 152 mm

Nora M-84 Gun howitzer NORA ( sr, Топ — хаубица НОРА, tr. ''Top — haubica NORA''; ''NORA'' acronymic for sr, Ново оруђе артиљерије, tr. ''Novo oruđe artiljerije'', "New Artillery Tool") is a Yugoslav and ...

howitzer mounted on an FAP 8x8 truck bed and was a third generation of artillery systems. Later, in 2000s, Military Technical Institute developed new versions of 4th generation artillery systems with 52 caliber 155 mm gun for fitting on a new system of Nora family with B-52 designation.

Variants

Bangladesh Army Nora B-52 155mm SPG (31586399521)

B-52 operation depending on version is fully automated, including a 36-round autoloader. It is made in several versions: ; K0 :first serial variant, open turret, manual power drive and line of sight. ; K1(S) :differences from K0:semi-open turret, full automatic, independent automatic navigation, automatic fire and control system, smaller crew number. ; M03 :semi-open turret, automatic based on K0,K1 designs with S designation for Serbia Army. ; KE :semi-open turret, full automatic export variant. ; K-I :K1 with additional armored full automatic with closed turret, new stronger chassis, radar on barrel for measuring projectile trajectory and speed, NBC protected cabin and turret, automated fire-suspension system, smoke grenade launcher, intercom for crew and new software, designated M15 for Serbia. ; MGS-25 Aleksandar :Newest version planned since 2009 is designated as K2 (25 liter chamber, higher rate of fire, laser guided long range ammunition, smaller crew, new automated functions, smaller weight~25 tonnes, automatic leveling of gun in north direction,new smoke and light grenade) with development started later probably in 2012. As of 2017 at international arms fair Partner 2017 in Belgrade and after a few years of development it was presented newly developed prototype model named "Alexander", It has a new designation now and instead K2 it is called MGS-25 named "Alexander" and comes with 12 rounds ready for fire in a revolver type of automatic loader and has 12 additional ammunition that are stored in a storage box located at back behind the crew cabin and engine-hydraulic compartment. The automatic loading system can reloaded ammunition compartment in a back of a gun. MGS-25 has a rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute and can continue firing operations until all ammunition is used. The Aleksandar has a maximum firing range of 32,5 km with standard ammunition and 56 km with the 155 mm HE ERFB RA/BB (VLAP). It can use all available ammunition on market for 155mm howitzers designed to withstand pressure in a new larger chamber. MGS-25 can be remotely controlled by crew via separate remote control up to 100 meters from vehicle thanks to high level of automation of all functions. As fully autonomous module it can be mounted on different trucks chassis - Kamaz and MAN versions presented until now. K designation stands for Kamaz chassis, number for orientation of main weapon in relationship to north and letter for level of equipment and/or export designation. It is possible on demand to equip Nora B-52 howitzer with 152 mm gun. All versions have differences in chassis, armour, turret, loading and support system. All versions with automatic loader features

multiple rounds simultaneous impact 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 ...

capability. Standard equipment includes a computerized fire control system and a land navigation system. Ballistic protection is provided against small arms fire, shell splinters and some mines. For training and simulation purposes special computer simulator was developed by

Mihajlo Pupin Institute Mihajlo Pupin Institute ( sr, Институт Михајло Пупин, Institut Mihajlo Pupin) is an institute based in Belgrade, Serbia. It is named after Mihajlo Idvorski Pupin and is part of the University of Belgrade. It is notable for ma ...

that includes terrain maps of customer country with ability to train up to 3 battery of Nora B-52 or up to division of 18 gun, including crews for artillery designation on targets. Special truck chassis upgrade as resupply vehicle for ammunition reload was developed and used within battery of Nora B-52 self-propelled howitzer.

Operational history

Serbia has exported the Nora B-52 artillery systems (B-52 selected versions of self-propelled howitzer K1, KE, KI), reconnaissance

BOV M11 The BOV M11 is part of the BOV family of light armored vehicles. The M11 is a 4x4 all-wheel drive vehicle specialized in reconnaissance. It is armored vehicle manufactured in Yugoimport SDPR factory in Velika Plana, Serbia. Description The BO ...

, command (BOV M10) and battery fire control and meteorological vehicles, ammunition loading trucks, artillery battlefield software for platoon, battery and division level) to the armed forces of

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

and

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

. One fully equipped battery usually consist of 6-12 self-propelled howitzer, reconnaissance 1-2

, three command BOV M10(1 for each platoon and 1 for battery command), 3-6 munition trucks, communication and workshop vehicle, 2-3 general supply vehicles (fuel, food, water etc.) and 1-2 fire direction and gunfire locator vehicle with radar and sound ranging. With latest order for Cyprus instead

the new

BOV M16 Miloš The BOV M16 Miloš is a Serbian 4x4 multipurpose armoured vehicle (MPAV) used for military and law enforcement applications. It features a V-hull, integrating floating-floor plates, and blast-mitigation seating to protect occupants against land m ...

was delivered as artillery reconnaissance and artillery battery command vehicle.

Ammunition

There are various type of ammunition available that includes domestic and foreign 155mm projectiles as it is JBMOU-compatible. Depending on ammo used different maximum ranges and effects on target can be achieved.

Operators

Current operators

: 18-36 (sources vary) in service with the

Bangladesh Army The Bangladesh Army is the land warfare branch and the largest component of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities to deliver the Bangladeshi government's security and def ...

(fitted with

SAGEM Sigma 30 The Sigma 30 is an inertial navigation system produced by SAGEM for use with artillery applications including howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, mortars and light guns. It is currently produced for more than 25 international programs, includin ...

inertial navigation platform system for autonomous navigation and pointing) *

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

: 24 in service with the

Cypriot National Guard , name2 = National Guard General Staff , image = Emblem of the Cypriot National Guard.svg , image_size = 100px , caption = Emblem of the National Guard of Cyprus , image2 = Flag of the ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

: 18 in service, 12 more on order *

: 30 in service with the

Myanmar Army The Myanmar Army ( my, တပ်မတော်(ကြည်း), ) is the largest branch of the Tatmadaw, Armed Forces (''Tatmadaw'') of Myanmar (Burma) and has the primary responsibility of conducting land-based military operations. The My ...

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...

: 18 in service with the

Serbian Army The Serbian Army ( sr-cyr, Копнена војска Србије, Kopnena vojska Srbije, lit=Serbian Land Army) is the land-based and the largest component of the Serbian Armed Forces. History Originally established in 1830 as the Army of Pr ...

Potential operators

* : tested by

Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...

in 2017 * : tested by UAE Army in 2017 * : one howitzer on MAN chassis tested by the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

in 2021 as shoot-off participant together with

Archer Artillery System The Archer Artillery System, or Archer – FH77BW L52, or Artillerisystem 08 is a self-propelled gun system for Sweden and Norway. The heart of the system is a fully automated 155 mm/L52 gun howitzer and a M151 Protector remote controlled weapon s ...

, CAESAR self-propelled howitzer and

ATMOS 2000 ATMOS (Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer System) is a 155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled gun system manufactured by Israeli military manufacturer Soltam Systems. The system is long range, fast moving, truck mounted with high firepower and mobili ...

* Bangladesh could buy more than 100