According to information published by the "Polskie Radio 24" on July 30, 2022, Poland is ready to send the first batch of eight KRAB 155mm self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine which are part of the contract signed in June with the Polish defense industry.
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The Polish-made KRAB 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzer is already in service with the Ukrainian army. (Picture source Telegram Horevica)
Citing information from the Polskie Radio 24, the KRAB 155mm howitzers are awaiting the final administrative formalities before being transferred to Ukraine. Currently, Ukrainian soldiers are in Poland to train in the use of the KRAB howitzers.
This first batch of eight KRAB 155mm howitzers is not a donation but this is a part of the contract signed between Poland in Ukraine for the delivery of 60 KRAB 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers for an amount of €650 million.
On May 30, 2022, the Army Recognition editorial team reported that Poland has delivered 18 Krab 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Poland has provided a large amount of military equipment as well as armored vehicles and tanks as part of military aid to Ukraine.
According to Polish military sources, Poland has already provided to Ukraine 230 T-72M/T-72M1R main battle tanks, 40 BWP-1 tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), 20 2S1 122mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, 20 122mm BM-21 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System), an undisclosed number of FlyEye UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) manufactured by the Polish company WB Electronics and 100 R-73 air-air missiles.
The KRAB is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer designed and manufactured in Poland by the Defense Company HSW (Huta Stalowa Wola) in cooperation with BAE Systems and OBRUM.
The KRAB is a self-propelled howitzer based on tracked armored chassis. The main armament of the KRAB consists of one 155 mm/L52 gun which can fire all the all standard 155mm NATO projectiles with a range from 4.7 to 40 km. An automated loading system enables the gun to fire with a burst rate of three rounds in fewer than ten seconds, an intense rate of six rounds a minute for three minutes, and a sustained rate of two rounds a minute. The vehicle can carry a total of 40 shells and 48 charges, with 29 rounds in the turret and 11 in the chassis.
The KRAB 155mm self-propelled howitzer uses the chassis of the South Korean K9 self-propelled howitzer. Presumably, the KRAB will use the same engine as the K9 that consists of an MTU MT 881 Ka-500 water-cooled diesel developing 1,000 hp at 2,700 rpm coupled to an Allison Transmission X1100-5A3 automatic transmission with 4 forward and 2 reverse gears. It can run at a maximum road speed of 67 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 650 km.
