The Kremlin wants the latest weapons. Photos of the transportation of the self-propelled artillery system 2S42 "Lotos" appeared on the network.
The Russian army wants to break through Ukrainian defenses. For this, the Kremlin is preparing to use really powerful weapons. It is a self-propelled artillery installation 2S42 "Lotos" . His tests took place only four years ago, and it turned out that he is already ready to work in the realities of the war in Ukraine .
It is not known where the photos were taken, but since the system was equipped with a cage that protects against kamikaze drones , it can be assumed that it will soon reach Ukraine.
It is interesting that since the beginning of the war, no materials about the 2C42 Lotus have appeared on the Internet. This means that this system will appear in Ukraine for the first time in history. Soldiers of the Armed Forces reported that their drones are already waiting for the first meeting with this Russian invention .
2S42 Lotos was developed by the Russian company CNIIToczMash, which is part of the Russian state consortium Rostec. The idea of its creation is to replace the currently used self-propelled mortar 2С9 "Nona-S", which is based on the chassis of the BTR-D armored landing vehicle .
The 2S42 Lotos is armed with a 120 mm 2A80-1 mortar based on the upgraded 2S1 Goździk self-propelled howitzer. Released information indicates that the effective range of this weapon is approximately 13 kilometers, which is 5 kilometers more than its predecessor, which is an excellent result. An additional advantage is the automatic loading system, which provides a rate of fire of 6 to 8 shots per minute.
The 2S42 Lotos can also launch new guided missiles with a range of 25 kilometers. The weight of the system is 28 tons, the drive is a 2W-06-2 diesel engine with a capacity of 450 hp. It allows the howitzer gun to accelerate to approximately 70 km/h and provides a range of 500 kilometers. The machine is also capable of air landing with a parachute and floating.
