Artillery Systems: From Howitzers to Rocket Launchers
Artillery remains the dominant killer on the modern battlefield, accounting for the majority of casualties in conventional warfare. The Ukraine conflict has demonstrated that despite advances in precision munitions and air power, massed artillery fires remain decisive in ground combat. Modern artillery systems range from towed howitzers to self-propelled guns, multiple launch rocket systems, and precision-guided rockets capable of striking targets at hundreds of kilometers.
The M142 HIMARS has become the most consequential artillery system of the 2020s through its employment in Ukraine. Firing GMLRS rockets with GPS guidance to ranges of 70+ kilometers and ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles to 300 kilometers, HIMARS demonstrated the ability to strike Russian ammunition depots, command posts, and logistics nodes with devastating precision. The system's truck-mounted mobility and shoot-and-scoot capability make it highly survivable.
Self-propelled howitzers like the German PzH 2000, Korean K9 Thunder, and Swedish Archer provide rapid, protected artillery fires. The K9 has become the world's most exported self-propelled howitzer with sales to Poland, Egypt, Australia, Norway, Finland, Estonia, and India. Its combination of capability, reliability, and competitive pricing drives export success. Turkey's Firtina T-155 is based on K9 technology with local modifications.
Serbia's Nora B-52 truck-mounted howitzer represents successful independent artillery development, with exports to UAE, Kenya, and other customers. Russia's Koalitsiya-SV features an automated turret with exceptional rate of fire. China's PCL-191 modular multiple launch rocket system can fire either 370mm guided rockets or 750mm tactical ballistic missiles from the same launcher.
Future artillery development focuses on extended range through ramjet-assisted projectiles potentially reaching 150+ kilometers, autonomous munitions that seek targets independently, and counter-battery systems that detect and engage enemy artillery within seconds of firing.