AHS Krab
Encyclopedia
The AHS Krab is a 155 mm NATO-compatible self-propelled tracked
howitzer designed in Poland by Centrum Produkcji Wojskowej Huta Stalowa Wola
combining OBRUM s (OBRUM for Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych – Polish
for Research and Development Centre for Mechanical Appliances) UPG chassis, licensed AS-90M Braveheart
turret with 52-calibre gun and WB Electronics Artillery Fire Control System Topaz. The Howitzer is equipped with S-12U engine and other elements (like road wheels) from PT-91 Twardy. Krab is still being developed and will join the Polish Army in near future. 2011 version is Krab with new Polish gun
with Nexter
Systems barrel
.
piece
for the Polish Army that would serve as a division level asset
. As of September 2011, 3 howitzers have been build by Huta Stalowa Wola. The initial units are currently used for tests conducted by Polish Army. 6 more units are being assembled and should be ready for evaluation in 2012 along with battery command module "Regina". Along with the modernized prototypes they will form 3 squadrons consisting of 24 vehicles each (total of 72 ordered).
The first two examples of the howitzer (prototypes) are fitted with turret systems supplied by BAE Systems, currently upgraded to the standard of the remaining items in the introduction batch of the squadron module built within Regina project. It covers eight guns, command vehicles (on a much modernized MTLB chassis), plus ammunition vehicles and repair vehicles for the armament and electronics, as well as the fire control system etc.
In the introductory and series products original British guns are replaced by those supplied by Nexter. Trial firing of another gun supplied by the maker is realized every month until the end of the year (the third gun was tested on 10 August in presence of representatives of the Armament Inspectorate and the Head Office of the Missile and Artillery Force of the Air Forces). These are realized at the Dynamic Trial Center of the WITU (Military Technical Institute of Armament) in Stalowa Wola. The first firing of the third complete Krab (which has also received new elements of on-board electronics, developed by WB Electronics) was carried out on 29 July 2011. Concentration of fire was tested, among others.
Each of the planned three squadrons of Krabs is going to be equipped with 24 howitzers. The development program of advanced, smart 155 mm ammunition is started.
More orders are planned after 2018.
Tracked vehicle
A tracked vehicle is a vehicle that runs on continuous tracks instead of wheels...
howitzer designed in Poland by Centrum Produkcji Wojskowej Huta Stalowa Wola
Huta Stalowa Wola
Huta Stalowa Wola is a steel mill and manufacturing company in Stalowa Wola, Poland.It was established in 1938-1939 in Second Polish Republic. It was a major part of a series of investments made by the Polish government in the years 1936–1939 to create the Central Industrial Region...
combining OBRUM s (OBRUM for Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych – Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
for Research and Development Centre for Mechanical Appliances) UPG chassis, licensed AS-90M Braveheart
AS-90
The AS-90 is a lightly armoured self-propelled artillery piece used by the British Army. It was first delivered in 1993...
turret with 52-calibre gun and WB Electronics Artillery Fire Control System Topaz. The Howitzer is equipped with S-12U engine and other elements (like road wheels) from PT-91 Twardy. Krab is still being developed and will join the Polish Army in near future. 2011 version is Krab with new Polish gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
with Nexter
Nexter
Nexter is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer.-Products:...
Systems barrel
Gun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
.
History
The cannon was developed within the research framework "Regina." Program's goal was to create a 155 mm (6 and 1/8 inches) artilleryArtillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
piece
Piece
Piece or pieces may refer to:* A single unit of something* An informative or creative work, such as a work of art, journalism, academic research, etc.** Musical piece, a work of music, sometimes called an opus* Chess piece* Jigsaw puzzle piece...
for the Polish Army that would serve as a division level asset
Asset
In financial accounting, assets are economic resources. Anything tangible or intangible that is capable of being owned or controlled to produce value and that is held to have positive economic value is considered an asset...
. As of September 2011, 3 howitzers have been build by Huta Stalowa Wola. The initial units are currently used for tests conducted by Polish Army. 6 more units are being assembled and should be ready for evaluation in 2012 along with battery command module "Regina". Along with the modernized prototypes they will form 3 squadrons consisting of 24 vehicles each (total of 72 ordered).
The first two examples of the howitzer (prototypes) are fitted with turret systems supplied by BAE Systems, currently upgraded to the standard of the remaining items in the introduction batch of the squadron module built within Regina project. It covers eight guns, command vehicles (on a much modernized MTLB chassis), plus ammunition vehicles and repair vehicles for the armament and electronics, as well as the fire control system etc.
In the introductory and series products original British guns are replaced by those supplied by Nexter. Trial firing of another gun supplied by the maker is realized every month until the end of the year (the third gun was tested on 10 August in presence of representatives of the Armament Inspectorate and the Head Office of the Missile and Artillery Force of the Air Forces). These are realized at the Dynamic Trial Center of the WITU (Military Technical Institute of Armament) in Stalowa Wola. The first firing of the third complete Krab (which has also received new elements of on-board electronics, developed by WB Electronics) was carried out on 29 July 2011. Concentration of fire was tested, among others.
Each of the planned three squadrons of Krabs is going to be equipped with 24 howitzers. The development program of advanced, smart 155 mm ammunition is started.
More orders are planned after 2018.
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