The Russian-Ukrainian War verified many opinions on the usefulness of classical weapons systems in the battlefield that followed the end of the Cold War. The fear of Russians is passed on to Ukraine by Western States to the HIMARS and MLRS rocket artillery launchers and the 155 mm self-propelled Haubice, including Polish AHS Krab.
More Crabs
This cannon is the consequence of a program launched in the late 20th and 21st centuries. Since 2008 in Stalowa Wola Huta 170 crabs were ordered for the Polish Army, but respective twelve of them were transferred to Ukraine.
The introduction of squadron fire modules (DMOs) to the Polish Army, which are made up of ammunition trucks, command, command and repair workshops, for which trucks and wheel and track armored vehicles are platforms, is simply a key program of modernization of artillery. Currently, the Armed Forces Agency negotiates an executive contract for 96 division for 4 squadron fire modules under Framework agreement signed on 8 December 2023, concerning 152 haubic.
Self-propelled barrels with 52 caliber barrel and modern Polish fire control strategy Topaz is simply a qualitative leap in our artillery. Thanks to the Krabs, her precision and firepower increased, and her importance. Thanks to their cooperation with exploratory haubice drones, depending on the ammunition used, they can harm targets 40–50 km away. For comparison, the scope of the 122-millimeter 2S1 self-propelled artillery, which until late is the basis of the Polish self-propelled artillery The carnation is up to 23 km and actually 15-16 km.
The production of Krabs is presently taking place in Stalowa Wola, but many Polish and abroad co-operators are active in the self-propelled haubica programme. An investment agreement was signed in October 2023 to prepare the second production line of Krabs at the Mechanical Plant of Bumar-Łabada in Gliwice.
The deterioration of Poland's safety situation after Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine in 2022 forced changes in the existing schedules of method modernization of the Polish Army, including the re-arrangement of barrel artillery. Especially since any of the carnations were handed over to the defending neighbor. However, it was not possible to rapidly increase the production of Crabs, as many components needed, specified as barrels, must be ordered many years in advance. In addition, HSW obtained a contract to produce respective twelve departments for Ukraine, which was given priority. The Ministry of National Defence so decided to buy a haubic abroad, but fast access to Western systems was limited. The supply problems are projected at drastic cuts in the capacity of reinforcing plants after the end of the Cold War.
Asian Partner
The only country that could meet the request for fast deliveries was the Republic of Korea. The companies there have a large production capacity, and in their offer are Self-propelled Haubice K9, which enjoy interest abroad, including NATO countries. However, their acquisition caused controversy in Poland, as they are de facto a competitor of the Crabs. Nevertheless, 1 of the advantages of the South Korean department is the chassis very akin to those utilized in Polish Krabachs. Not by accident, due to the fact that years ago we acquired a licence from the Koreans. The differences be in the tower system, but the K9 has, like the Crab, a 52 caliber barrel, which translates into a akin importance of both haubic.
On July 22, 2022, a framework agreement was signed on 672 haubice K9A1 and K9PL. On its basis, 2 implementing agreements were concluded between 2022 and 2023 for 364 guns. At the same time, it is conditional last year, since starting implementation depends on whether the parties can agree on financial terms. Most of the ordered parts of the department are intended to constitute the K9PL version, in which more components will be utilized from Polish producers. In addition to the already installed K9A1 communication and fire control systems, it is expected to receive a laser informing strategy OBRA-3, filter ventilation and air conditioning systems, and an detonation extinguishing and damping system.
Currently there is no information about K9 production plans in Poland. However, On May 10, 2024 Hanwha Aerospace and Huta Stalowa Wola signed the document, which opens the anticipation of concluding contracts for the transfer to Poland of key technologies for the service and modernization of the haubic K9. Industrial talks with Koreans are presently underway. The Polish website wants HSW to be ready to service South Korean haubic since January 2025.
Two lobsters
Delivery dates, attractive price and advanced tactical and method parameters made MON besides choose to order K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers in South Korea. On October 19, 2022, a framework contract for 288 copies was signed, but in the end, 290 were ordered under 2 implementing agreements. Poland did not get a complete system, but the launcher modules themselves, which are integrated into the separately acquired eight-wheel chassis of the Polish jelczy (the order for the first 18 chassis was submitted on 14 December 2022). The last 60 modules will be produced in Poland. These sets were given a lobster-K designation. Integration of the first plays was carried out in Korea, but others are already being created in Poland. The first squadron equipped with lobster-K entered the 18th Artillery Regiment in 2023 The 18th Mechanized Division, and in August 2024 the transportation of these sets to the 16th Mechanized Division began.
The lobster-K is 1 of 2 in our land troops of recently introduced rocket artillery systems. The second is the American M142 HIMARS, referred to as lobster-A. In February 2019, 20 launchers (two schools) were ordered. Their deliveries began in May 2023and was the first to receive them 16 DZ. On September 11, 2023, the framework agreement for another 486 pieces was approved. According to the U.S. defence safety Cooperation Agency, the transaction would cover 18 launchers on the chassis of the Oshkosh truck and 468 launchers themselves for integration with six-wheeled Jelcz chassis. However, no executive contract has yet been signed.
Missile launchers besides increase the power and scope of our artillery. The primary 227-millimeter missiles utilized in HIMARS and 239-millimeter missiles in Chunmoo can destruct targets 36–80 km away. Importantly, the usage of another caliber ammunition is besides provided for them, and the plans include integration with lobster-K already produced in the country with 122-millimeter missiles (they are fired by WR-40 Langust, which we have over 70). Both types of fresh launchers are besides adapted to launch tactical ballistic missiles with a scope of at least 300 km. We have not had specified capabilities since the withdrawal in 2005 from the service of Toczka kits.
Already placed orders and planned subsequent purchases will make Polish land troops have the biggest firepower among the European NATO states next to the Turkish army. The implementation of fresh weapons besides allows the final withdrawal from units of artillery systems that remember the Warsaw Pact times.
