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2S34 Chosta

2003 MODERN SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY

2S34 Chosta Story

The 2S34 "Josta" is a Russian modernization of the Soviet-era 2S1 "Gvozdika" self-propelled artillery (SPA) platform to meet the changing battlefield needs of the Russian new army. The vehicle plays an important role in the military, providing long-range heavy mobile artillery and multiple ammunition types.

Various improvements have been made to the original platform to make the vehicle a viable battlefield component and give it an entirely new design.

The vehicle maintains the same low profile and dimensions as the 2S1, including its chassis. There are seven wheels on one side of the track with a front drive sprocket and rear idler. No orbital deflection rollers.

The engine is mounted on the right front of the fuselage and the driver is mounted on the left front of the fuselage. This allows the rear center of the vehicle to accommodate a removable powered turret that houses the main crew, ammunition depot and primary weapons. Access hatches along the turret roofline allow access for turret personnel. The driver is granted a privacy screen and access hatch in his place, as well as an open armor plate. The engine exhausts through an opening on the right side of the front fuselage.

The glacis plate slopes well and provides a flatter target. Thanks to the diesel engine installed, the vehicle has a top road speed of 60 km and a running performance of 500 km.

The most notable change to the original 2S1 system was the installation of a new, more powerful 120mm 2A80 main gun, replacing the standard 122mm 2A31 series. A new Fire Control System (FCS) is associated with the weapon and is expected to improve accuracy, rate of fire and support more munition types (including guided munitions) available to the Russian military.

Two rows of three smoke grenade launchers were added to the sides of the turret, allowing the vehicle to defend its movement on the battlefield. A trainable mount on the commander's hatch supports a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun.

To date (February 2014), the Russian army has about 30 2S34 vehicles.