TR Artillery Systems & Projects

[Balamir]

ASELSAN has completed the qualification tests of the Boran -105mm Light Tracked Air Transportable Howitzer Fire Control System

105mm Light Tracked Air Transportable Howitzer Fire Control System provides the computer aided planning and execution of fire missions of the Light Tracked Howitzer developed to enhance the mobility of the artillery and provide direct fire capability, as well as digital integration to other fire support systems.

Important Features

Technical Specifications

• Fire planning and fire mission execution in digital environment
• Continuous location and gun heading measurement by means of Inertial Navigation System
• Target positioning using Gunner Sight System with Laser Range Finder for direct fire
• Muzzle Velocity Management
• Rapid & accurate ballistic calculation
• Computation of firing commands using "NATO Armaments Ballistic Kernel (NABK)", Artillery Firing Tables, or specific ballistic software
• Display of fire command prepared by ballistic calculation
• Display of gun laying information graphically
• Direct Fire capability utilizing Gunner Sight System
• Data communications with Fire Support Systems via Digital Radios
• Display of battlefield information on a digital map
• Mission oriented, menu driven graphical user interface

System Units

• Fire Control Computer
• Control & Display Unit
• Gunner’s Display Unit
• Inertial Navigation System
• Muzzle Velocity Radar
• Gunner Sight System with Laser Range Finder
• Power System
• Digital Radio

https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/bilim-teknoloji/havadan-tasinabilir-obus-boran-aselsan-ile-vuracak/2097664

 

[Cabatli_TR]

Firtina2 new welding. 3 of them were delivered to Land Forces.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1352883285060427776

 

[azaher77]

Firtina2 new welding. 3 of them were delivered to Land Forces.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1352883285060427776

 

[Khagan1923]

Three Storm II howitzers whose production was completed were delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces with the participation of Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.
My favorite feature in Storm-2 is that the coordinates received from vehicles such as UAVs and helicopters are transferred directly to the howitzer system, and they become an automatic target and fire is made instantly, this is a huge power multiplier. Something very pleasing.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1352935926406799361

 

[Ghost soldier]

I don't know if this was previously posted but it seems that Roketsan T-107 knew it's first service in combat in karabakh

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1349443674707525636

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1320049200307032064

 

[Combat-Master]

Three Storm II howitzers whose production was completed were delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces with the participation of Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.
My favorite feature in Storm-2 is that the coordinates received from vehicles such as UAVs and helicopters are transferred directly to the howitzer system, and they become an automatic target and fire is made instantly, this is a huge power multiplier. Something very pleasing.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1352935926406799361

Combined operations is where it's at baby!

 

[Combat-Master]

T-155 Firtina-II

 

[Blank1]

T-155 Firtina-II
View attachment 12742

Are there any significant upgrades over Firtina I ?

 

[Stuka]

Are there any significant upgrades over Firtina I ?

Absolutely!

-addition of Aselsan’s SARP RCWS on top of the howitzer turret
-new generation fire control system, which is interfaced with the fully automatic ammunition loading system.
-The new loading system also allows a higher rate of fire, intense fire rate is increased of one round per minute, up to 7-8 rpm
-With these modifications the Firtina 2 is capable to carry out Multiple Round Impact missions, hitting the same target with three rounds at the same moment.
-The new inertial navigation system allows the Firtina 2 to open fire within 30 seconds from reaching its position
-A key element in terms of safety is the adoption of an all-electric turret, avoiding the dangerous hydraulic piping
-length is increased from 12 to 13.1 meters due to the presence of the RCWS, and weight increases from 47 to 48 tonnes

 

[Bogeyman]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1354072061422002176

BORAN light towed howitzer entered the inventory of the TSK.

 

[Orkunhun]

It is pity if this is true.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1354452451915669506

 

[CAN_TR]

It is pity if this is true.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1354452451915669506

Similar howitzers have the same problem actually, that's one of the cons you have to accept when building such a compact and high performance weapon. If you don't want that problem you have to make it just bigger in size, but in order to fix this weakness you create another one... weight, size -> which would influence it's transport capability with Helicopters.

 

[Combat-Master]

It is pity if this is true.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1354452451915669506

Remember that there are two versions of Boran

-Air Transportable Light Howitzer (designed light as possible, no baseplate, reduced traverse) (M3 Howitzer equivalent)

-Towed Light Howitzer (Heavier and includes a baseplate) (L118 equivalent)

Both are designed specifically to the theatre they would be deployed in.

 

[Combat-Master]

Ejder Yalçın 4x4 Mortar carrier variant with Aselsan Alkar 120 mm

https://cdnuploads.aa.com.tr/uploads/VideoGallery/2021/02/09/cde3ef23ec9ccfa2b965d9355d5fc37d.mp4

 

[adenl]

Ejder Yalçın 4x4 Mortar carrier variant with Aselsan Alkar 120 mm

https://cdnuploads.aa.com.tr/uploads/VideoGallery/2021/02/09/cde3ef23ec9ccfa2b965d9355d5fc37d.mp4

View attachment 13761 View attachment 13762

Great for Azerbaijan to replace/augment their Cardom and Spear mk2.

 

[Combat-Master]

Great for Azerbaijan to replace/augment their Cardom and Spear mk2.

As Long as it's integrated into their C4I Systems, yes.

 

[Test7]

Ejder Yalçın 4x4 Mortar carrier variant with Aselsan Alkar 120 mm

https://cdnuploads.aa.com.tr/uploads/VideoGallery/2021/02/09/cde3ef23ec9ccfa2b965d9355d5fc37d.mp4

View attachment 13761 View attachment 13762

Strong, muscular, handsome

 

[Combat-Master]

Aselsan's Tracked mortar carrier - CONCEPT

 

[mulj]

Looks nice hut questionanble value in terms cost and effect, this vehice above looks perfect for light mobile artillery support.

 

[Stuka]

The Firtina 2 Self Propelled Howitzer and the question about its Propulsion.

Firtina 2 Upgrades:

>Aselsan’s SARP RCWS on top of the howitzer turret
>New generation fire control system
>Fully automatic ammunition loading system.
>The new loading system also allows a higher rate of fire, intense fire rate is increased of one round per minute, up to 7-8 rpm
>Multiple Round Impact missions, hitting the same target with three rounds at the same moment.
>The new inertial navigation system allows the Firtina 2 to open fire within 30 seconds from reaching its position
>A key element in terms of safety is the adoption of an all-electric turret, avoiding the dangerous hydraulic piping
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The Question which was Always a Concern especially when it comes to Export is the Power pack. A Timeline:

Planned Power pack:

MT 881 Ka-500​

Specifications:

735 kW (1000 PS)

2700/min

1108 × 972 × 742 mm

1400 kg

144/140 mm

8 Zyl./2,28 l

18,2 l

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In 2018

Many Media Outlets claimed that Turkey was Opting for an Ukrainian Engine.

Fırtına obüsüne ihracat yolu

FIRTINA obüsü ihracatında yıllardır Almanya iznine takılan Türkiye, bu engeli Ukrayna’yla aşmaya hazırlanıyor.

www.hurriyet.com.tr

Looking for an alternative, Makina Kimya Endustrisi Kurumu (MKEK) officials found the solution in Ukraine. Having negotiated with Ukrainian officials and engine manufacturer UkrOboronProm, MKEK ordered 20 engines from this country when it received the commitment "there will be no export restrictions".

We haven't heard from This solution since but the Engine in Question is the Following:

5TDFMA​

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In 2019 (1 Year Later) The News broke at IDEF 19

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1123261730010861568

Caterpillar Defense UK & Turkish Defense Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the power packs for Thunder Howitzers.

The Engine which the Power pack will be based of.

CAT C18​

CAT C18

597 kW (800 PS)

2000/min

2736 lb-ft @ 1300 rpm

1716 kg

In-Line 6

6 Zyl./3,01 l

18,1 l

The Information's Suggest that the Engine in Question has 6cylinders and a similar Displacement as the MTU, with 18,1 l.
The Engine is a quite a bit heavier than the MTU V8, about 316kg. And produces less Power!

The Final Product which will be integrated in The Firtina Howitzer will probably be an Upgraded Version.

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Current Production Batch distribution of 140 Ordered.
- 3 Howitzers Per Month

According to Yusuf Akbaba the First 10+ Firtina 2 will have the MTU Engine and Renk Transmission and the Following ones will have different Power packs.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1352884413542100992

23.01.2021
> 3 Firtina with MTU Engines Delivered

03.2021 - 06.2021
> 3 - 18 Firtina with remaining MTU Engines to be Delivered.

07.2021 -
> Firtina deliveries with CAT Engines to start.

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(Continuation until BMC Power UTKU Power pack with 1000HP is ready. First Ignition 11.2020, 2.5 years of Tests, approx. readiness 06.2023. )
The Testing phase after Ignition is an Estimate which I based on the 600HP AZRA Power pack. AZRA Ignition 10.2018 Vehicle Tests are almost Finished according to
Osman Dur which means 10.2018 - mid 2021 equals 2.5 Years of Testing
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07.2021 - 06.2023
> 72 Firtina 2 with CAT Engines
> (90 Firtina Howitzer Total)

06.2023 - 11.2024
> Remaining 50 Firtina with National Power pack UTKU




Feel Free to add your two cents.