After the Stormer HVM (High Velocity Missile) and the plan to 'bolster' the MBT Challenger 2 with the Polish T-72A MBT, it seems that Britain will still be sending its heavy weapons to Ukraine. Not to be missed this time is British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to send 20 AS90 self-tracked howitzers (SPH) along with 45,000 munitions to Ukraine.
Quoted from express.co.uk (24/4/2022), it is stated that the package of 20 AS90 units and tens of thousands of munitions to Ukraine is part of a military aid package worth €120 million. Due to the urgent need for delivery to Ukraine, the AS90 will be taken from British Army stockpiles, while Ukrainian personnel will be trained in Poland.
So far, it is more known that the AS90 will be replaced with the South Korean-made SPH Hanwha K9 Thunder. Even so, the AS90 is classified as a battle proven tracked SPH, because it has been used in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The AS90 has the nickname “Braveheart” and relies on the L31 39 caliber 155 mm howitzer. The AS90 is manufactured by BAE Systems. The AS90 prototype was completed in March 1985, and the first prototype was displayed at the British Army Equipment Exhibition in June 1986.
The design of the AS90 is based on an armored chassis with the driver sitting on the left front of the hull with the power pack on the right, and the dome at the rear. The AS90 howitzer is manned by five personnel, consisting of the driver, commander, gunner and two loaders.
The AS90 chassis is constructed of welded steel armor construction with a thickness of 17 mm. The armor layer on the hull and turret provides protection against light caliber projectiles and artillery shrapnel.
The AS90 is characterized by an automatic loading system that allows the gun to fire at a rate of three rounds in less than ten seconds, an intense rate of six rounds per minute for three minutes and a sustained rate of two rounds per minute. As many as 48 rounds can be carried in the vehicle.
The AS90 can fire all standard 155 mm NATO ammunition with a maximum firing range of 24.7 km with standard HE-FRAG (High Explosive Fragmentation) projectiles and 32 km with rocket-assisted projectiles.
The AS90 is powered by a Cummins VTA-903T-660 V-8 diesel engine that produces 660 hp at 2,800 rpm. The transmission adopts Renk LSG 2000 fully automatic with 4 forward and 2 reverse gears. SPH with a weight of 45 tons can go with a maximum speed of 55 km per hour. The AS90 can cruise up to 370 km at a speed of 45 km per hour.
Initially, the British Army operated 179 AS90s, and by 2021, the number is estimated to be only 89 AS90s in active service. AS90 is scheduled to be retired in 2030. In the composition of the British Army, one AS90 battery consists of 8 units of ranpur.
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