During the MSPO, an agreement was signed with the Rosomak company for the delivery of thirty Artillery Reconnaissance Vehicles (AWR) for fifteen company fire modules (KMO) of the Rak 120 millimeter self-propelled mortars. The contract also includes a training and logistics package. The value of the order is PLN 1.59 billion. All copies are to be delivered to the Polish Army in 2024–2026. During this year’s fair, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa presented one such vehicle, which was developed in cooperation with Huta Stalowa Wola, WB Electronics and Rosomak SA.
The history of the creation of this type of equipment is very complicated. Originally, it was planned to use the Żubr 4 × 4 chassis, but the tests were negative. This had two effects: it increased the price of one KMO, but also decreased the variety of vehicles used, which is expected to translate into logistical costs. The prototype was presented to the military on February 16 last year. A month later, Huta Stalowa Wola announced the completion of all factory and state AWR tests and gave the green light for serial production and orders for the army. On October 7, the AWR prototype was handed over to the Artillery and Armament Training Center in Toruń. Talks between the manufacturer and the ministry regarding the purchase of thirty units began in January 2022.
The non-amphibious vehicle weighs approximately 24 tons, can travel at a useful off-road speed of 35 kilometers per hour, and has a range of approximately 500 kilometers. It is operated by three soldiers: the reconnaissance group commander, the gunner-radar operator and the optoelectronic head scout operator. It was armed with a remotely controlled ZSMU-1276 A3 shooting position with a 7.62 mm UKM-2000C machine gun.
The uniqueness of AWR, however, is evidenced by specialized equipment, including the TacFlir 280-HD optoelectronic head and the SR Hawk radar, which make up the on-board observation and reconnaissance system (PZOR), which is the main intelligence subsystem. Both components were placed on a four-meter high Will-Burt mast. SR Hawk provides detection of targets within a range of 48 kilometers and the simultaneous observation of five hundred objects. It enables the location of artillery shell explosions and the detection and tracking of large vehicles from a distance of 32 kilometers, and small vehicles (e.g. unmanned vehicles) from a distance of 21 kilometers. Locating infantry soldiers is possible from a distance of 12 kilometers.
In addition to the above on-board equipment, the crew of the vehicles has at their disposal portable equipment in the form of the APDR Artillery Long-Range Reconnaissance Device. It includes TV and thermal imaging cameras, the GonioLight V-Ti rangefinder device provided by SafranVectronix, as well as a Stern positioning device, JIM LR multi-functional binoculars, the Vector 23 ST binocular laser rangefinder and the SST 100-2 tripod. The vehicle’s ICT equipment and software, as well as all sensors, are fully integrated with the Topaz automated fire control kit from WB Electronics.
In addition, AWR is equipped with an omnidirectional observation system with KTD-60 Kumak cameras and a Talin 5000 inertial navigation system with a satellite navigation receiver, as well as the Obra-3C self-defense system from PCO SA. The 81-millimeter-caliber smoke grenade launcher is to facilitate leaving the battlefield. The safety of the crew is to be improved by the fire suppression system of the crew compartment and the engine (explosion-proof) and the decontamination apparatus (ZO-2). There were also the first reports that AWR will cooperate with bsl FlyEye or Warmate (which will be specially produced for the needs of the order placed).
AWR is the last missing and extremely important component of Regina’s KMO. It will be responsible for artillery reconnaissance and automated data transmission to firearms, including the 120-millimeter M120K Rak mortars or the 155-millimeter Krab gun howitzer. The AWR is intended for ground optoelectronic reconnaissance for the fire activities of the self-propelled mortar company and other mortar and artillery units. In addition, it carries out reconnaissance of the area, routes, fire stations and insurance organization. For artillerymen, this will mean a significant improvement in situational awareness and a significant reduction in the time from target detection to opening fire.
The Rak company fire module (KMO) includes: eight M120K self-propelled mortars, four artillery command vehicles, an armament repair artillery vehicle (pictured above), three artillery ammunition vehicles and two artillery reconnaissance vehicles. In 2017–2021, the Polish armed forces received ten KMOs. The equipment is used by soldiers from the 7th Greater Poland Mechanized Brigade, the 12th Mechanized Brigade, the 15th Mechanized Brigade in Giżycko and the 21st Podhale Rifle Brigade. The remaining five will go to the army in 2022–2024.
Last year, AWR received the most votes in the Innovations for Security and Defense 2021 competition and received the President of the Republic of Poland Award for the product best serving to increase the level of security of the soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces.
Plans to create an AWR on a different chassis, such as the 4 × 4 Tactical Multipurpose Vehicle or the Hydro LPG tracked chassis, remain valid. However, you should remember about the problems with the Żubr 4 × 4 chassis, which did not pass the tests, and the associated risks. The vehicles created in this way could be used in artillery units armed with 155-millimeter Krab and 152-millimeter Dana cannon-howitzers, as well as WR-40 Langusta missile launchers.
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