The Drive evaluated the Soviet MT-12R cannon used by Ukraine with radar
Although most countries of the world refuse to use towed anti-tank guns in favor of guided missiles, the Soviet MT-12R 100-millimeter anti-tank gun used by Ukraine, equipped with the 1A31 radar sighting system, may be useful in the event of a possible Russian invasion, writes The Drive.
According to the American edition, the MT-12P is outdated compared to the weapons that the United States and Great Britain supplied to Ukraine. "Initially, the T-12 anti-tank gun first entered service with the Soviet armed forces in 1961. This was followed by the development of various improved versions of the MT-12, including the MT-12R, the first samples of which were adopted in the early 1980s," the publication says.
A feature of the MT-12R is the 1A31 radar sighting system. "The radar allows the artillery crew to target enemy tanks and other equipment, which can be hidden by protective smoke screens or just smoke and dust raised during a protracted battle. Otherwise, the gunner has to rely on the optical sights of the weapon," the publication claims.
Meanwhile, as stated in the publication, the firing range of the MT-12R is 3000 meters, which is less than 4000 meters of the American FGM-148 Javelin portable anti-tank missile system (ATGM). The publication admits that the Ukrainian cannon can be effective against old Soviet tanks and light combat vehicles, but it will be useless against new and modernized Russian tanks.
In May 2018, the Ukrainian media published a video from the exercises of the artillery unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in which allegedly modernized MT-12 anti-tank guns took part. As noted by "RG: Russian Weapons", in fact, the footage captures conventional guns developed in the USSR back in the late 60s of the last century. According to the publication, by the time the video was published, the Ukrainian military did not have MT-12R modifications.
