TSAMTO, April 17th. The Finnish company Patria has started developing its own wheeled self-propelled artillery system (ACS) by integrating the 155 mm gun of the 155 K 98 towed self-propelled howitzer into the base of the Sisu E13TP truck with the 8x8 wheel formula.
According to the Aamulehti publication, the idea of creating an artillery system arose from the results of the use of French CAESAR-type self-propelled guns in Ukraine, which demonstrated high mobility and unique capabilities in a combat situation.
The 155 mm towed self-propelled howitzer 155 K 98 was developed by the Finnish company Patria Vammas in 1997 and was produced from 1997 to 2005 in Finland, as well as in Egypt under license at the facilities of Abu Zaabal Engineering Industries.
In 2005, Patria also introduced the 155GH52-SP-T55 tracked self-propelled howitzer. The prototype was created based on the chassis of the T-55 tank and the 155 K 98 cannon specifically for export to Egypt.
Later, in 2015, Patria presented the project of its own 155 mm wheeled self-propelled gun to the Finnish Defense Committee as part of a tender for the purchase of a new artillery system. However, at that time, the committee was not interested in the domestic wheeled self-propelled gun, and the South Korean K9 Thunder system was chosen instead in 2017.
After the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, where the great role of artillery was demonstrated, the Finnish Ministry of Defense decided to develop its own system, which can be produced in large quantities at low cost. A potential export market for Finnish systems is also being assessed if the project is successfully completed. Test plans for a prototype ACS in a new configuration are scheduled for the coming winter.
At the moment, it is not known exactly at what stage the project is, however, according to Patria representatives, it is planned to resume production of 155-mm 155 K 98 artillery guns with a barrel length of 52 caliber.
The company has retained the opportunity to resume production. According to Ves Toivonen, Weapons Systems Testing Manager at Patria, despite the break in production, the company constantly maintains and develops its artillery production facilities and, in addition, consistently produces and supplies the Finnish army with the necessary spare parts for artillery systems in service.
The 155 mm howitzer of the 1998 model (fin. 155 millimetrin kanuuna 1998 or 155 K 98) is a Finnish towed self-propelled cannon of the 1998 model. It is a development of the 155 mm cannon of the 1983 model (155 K 83) manufactured by Tampella (now Patria Vammas). The gun was adopted by the Finnish Defense Forces in the amount of 132 units, as well as the Egyptian Armed Forces – 16 units.
The system is equipped with an auxiliary Deutz air-cooled power plant with a capacity of 78 kW (105 hp), capable of moving the gun independently at a maximum speed of 15 km/h over a distance of up to 1.6 km. It is towed by an all-terrain truck as standard. The total weight is 14580 kg.
The length of the barrel is 52 calibers. A single-chamber muzzle brake is mounted on the barrel. The range of a shot with a conventional high-explosive fragmentation projectile is 28 km and up to 43 km with an active-reactive one. The rate of fire is from 6 to 10 rounds/min.
The Sisu E13TP platform, which entered service in 2008, is available in 6x6 and 8x8 wheel configurations. It is equipped with an armored cabin designed for two people. It is equipped with a Caterpillar C 13 engine with a capacity of 445 hp in combination with a 6-speed Allison 4500 automatic transmission. The truck is designed to carry a payload of up to 20 tons, the weight of an empty car is 18 tons, the maximum speed is 90 km/h, the power reserve is 900 km.