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2S35 (2x152mm)

2010 MODERN SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY X-TANK

History

The 2S35 is a prototype of a twin-barreled 152mm self-propelled artillery platform once developed in Russia. The system uses existing chassis and auto parts from the 2S19 "Msta-S" self-propelled gun (introduced in 1989, derived from the T-80 MBT) with a completely new turret structure. The 2S35's main difference compared to other SPGs is its "up and down" artillery layout with two 152mm artillery systems.

The guns are managed by separate autoloaders and can reportedly reach a rate of fire of 16 rounds per minute. A technology demonstrator was introduced in 2006, but development of the car appears to have been abandoned in 2010.

The choice of the two-gun approach is completely unique for this car and an interesting one when all comparable contemporaries have relied on a single main gun for decades since WWII (1939-1945) Design choices. The dual-gun approach not only provides a higher rate of fire, but also improves first-strike capability (especially for precision-guided guns), longer barrel life, and in the event one of the guns fails on the battlefield inherent reserves of time.

Each weapon has its own autoloader and reduces the number of operators. On the contrary, the technical design of the system is more complex and therefore more expensive to procure in quantity. Logically, using the existing Msta-S chassis mitigates this somewhat.

All other characteristics of the self-propelled gun remain unchanged, including tracked mobility and a fully traversable enclosed turret assembly.

Like the Msta-S, the 2S35 will rely on a driver seated in the fuselage and use a track wheel arrangement. Power will be provided by a diesel engine in the stern. According to the available images of the putative prototype, the main gun is locked with a perforated muzzle brake, and up to six grenade launchers (two rows of three grenade launchers) are placed on the front turret wall.

A coaxial machine gun was used, and probably an anti-aircraft machine gun was supported on top of the turret. The turret was originally intended to have a one (or possibly two) crew, and the hull and turret are believed to accommodate up to 70x152mm projectiles to be fired, with ammunition selected on demand via the Integrated Fire Control System (FCS).

Estimated road for the vehicle The speed is 60 km/h, the cruising range is up to 500 km, and the weight is around 50 tons.

[p Russian Army prior to late 2010s, as successor to the current (2017) 2S19 SPG system.

Some sources show the featured 152mm gun as 155mm units, which is quite possible for the finished product. The final design is likely to have an entirely new chassis and hull in addition to those used in the Msta-S series. The 8x8 wheel shape used to be another option for dual gun vehicles.