2S43 “Malva”: The latest Russian self-propelled howitzer seen for the first time on the battlefield. Photo: Twitter @OSINTua
For the first time, the latest Russian 152 mm self-propelled artillery system, the 2S43 “Malva“, was spotted in action on the battlefield.
+ Click here to watch the video of the Russian 2S43 Malva self-propelled howitzer
The image was released by a marine and OSINT researcher, Kriegsforscher, on his X account.
+ Video: Ukrainian drones shot down two Russian reconnaissance drones
According to reports, the “Malva“, belonging to the 9th Artillery Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, was detected by a long-range reconnaissance drone in the Belgorod region.
The first batch of these self-propelled weapons was delivered to the Russian army in October 2023, after the completion of a state test cycle that lasted three years and concluded in July.
Developed by the Central Research Institute Burevestnik in the 2010s, as part of the “Sketch” research and development project, testing of the 2S43 “Malva” began in 2020.
The 2S43 is equipped with a 152 mm 2A64 gun with a 47-caliber barrel, similar to those used in the self-propelled howitzers “Msta-S” and its towed version “Msta-B”. The maximum firing range of the howitzer with conventional high-explosive fragmentation ammunition is 24.7 km, reaching about 29 km with rocket-assisted projectiles.
Photos and video: Reprodução telegram t.me/rostecru
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Although similar weapons, such as the French Caesar self-propelled howitzers or the Ukrainian Bohdana, can fire up to 40 km due to their longer barrels, the “Malva” stands out for its open installation without additional armor protection or turret, which reduces its weight to 32 tons, making it a quarter lighter than the tracked Msta-S.
The structure of the self-propelled gun is mounted on the chassis of the BAZ-6010-027 truck, which reduces costs and speeds up production.
Photos and video: Reprodução telegram t.me/rostecru, Twitter @OSINTua. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
