JSC Ural Transport Machine-Building Plant (Uraltransmash, a subsidiary of Rostec's concern Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) is conducting works to maintain and upgrade the 2S3M Akatsiya 152 mm self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) of the Russian Armed Forces, the UVZ's press department told TASS on June 4.
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2S3M Akatsiya 152 mm self-propelled howitzer displayed at Army-2017 defense exhibition near Kubinka (Picture source: Army Recognition)

"The [Uraltransmash] enterprise is now implementing a contract for the overhauling and modernization of the 2S3M SPGs, with further delivery of the artillery systems to the troops. The upgrade results in the fitting of the vehicle with a new communications suite. The vehicle's foreign components have been replaced with Russian-made subsystems that feature enhanced performance. [The SPHs'] ageing instruments have given place to modern units," said a spokesperson for the concern.

According to the UVZ's press department, the enterprise is also developing some specialized vehicles that are based on the chassis of the 2S3M Akatsiya SPH.

In the late 1970s, Uraltransmash brought the baseline 2S3 to the 2S3M ('M' for Upgraded, Modernizirovannaya) standard, fitting the vehicle with an automated firing data transmission unit. In 2004-2009, the SPH was upgraded to the 2S3M2 standard that features an automated gun laying and fire-control system (ASUNO).

According to the official portfolio of the Uraltransmash enterprise, the export-oriented variant of the upgraded 2S3M2 Akatsiya 152 mm SPH with the ASUNO weighs some 27 t and produces an average firing range of some 17-20 km. The SPH also fires the Krasnopol guided artillery projectile at a distance of more than 20 km, and carries a semi-automatic loader.

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