MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – JUNE 25, 2019: A ZALA Lancet-3 attack drone developed by Kalashnikov Concern on display at the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum at Patriot Park. Marina Lystseva/TASS
On March 2, news sources released videos documenting recent Russian strikes on two M109 self-propelled 155 mm howitzers of Kiev forces within the special military operation zone in Ukraine.
The howitzers were targeted with Lancet loitering munitions. At least one of the howitzers was reportedly deployed near the city of Ugledar, where a fierce battle between the Russian military and Kiev forces has been ongoing for a few weeks now.
The Lancet was developed by the ZALA Aero Group, a subsidiary of Russia’s defense giant Kalashnikov. The company produces two versions of the loitering munition, the Izdeliye-52 with an endurance of 40 minutes and a three-kilogram warhead and the larger Izdeliye-51 that has an endurance of an hour and is armed with a warhead weighting five kilograms.
Both versions of the loitering munition are equipped with an electro-optical system that can detect, track and lock on static and moving targets.
Kiev forces have received at least 50 M109-type howitzers from its allies since the start of the Russian special military operation last year.
In May 2022, Norway donated 22 M109A3GNs to Ukraine. Later in June, the United Kingdom purchased 22 ex-Belgium M109A4s and later supplied them to Kiev forces. In August, Latvia provided six M109A5Ös.
The older A1-A4 versions of the M109 have a maximum range of 18 kilometers with regular rounds, while the newer A5-A7 versions have a firing range of more than 21 kilometers with regular rounds and can fire M982 Excalibur precision-guided rounds with a range of up to 40 kilometers.
Ukraine is set to receive more M109-type howitzers from its allies. Early on in January, the United States pledged to provide Kiev forces with 18 of the howitzer’s latest version, the M109A6 Paladin. The howitzers will reportedly be delivered shortly.
The Russian military has already destroyed or damaged dozens of Ukraine’s new howitzers, including many M109s. Loitering munitions like the Lancet are playing a key role in counter-battery operations.
Avia Pro reported a few days ago that several Leopard tanks were attacked by Russian aircraft in the Donbass region. There was a video. I have seen no further reports as yet.
Some damaged Leopard would be satisfying to see :)
I am a whore. I like to be degraded. I love serving white dicks. Please demean me.
ALLAHU AKBAR, ISLAM WILL WIN AGAINST KIEV REGIME AND THEIR PUPPETS PISSRAEL, USGAY, UGAY AND POORUBBISH.
Amin Jarabi.
Try to drink not so much or use “smiles” at least, because it’s not serious what you wrote. And turn bloody caps off!
Why is everyone calling the US Army M109 Paladins Ukrops stuff? Who’s firing the Excalibur shells? Ukrops, my butt!
1.”Paladin” is A6 modification and further. 2.It was A3 and A4 from EU vassals, so it’s not “Paladin” obviously. 3.”Excalibur” rounds can be used by M777, “Paladins” and possibly “Crabs”.
When do the Chinese supplied “ swarm drones” get activated?
Probably when the fancy and expensive war toys show up in Ukraine?