russian Instrument Design Bureau, a subsidiary of the High-Precision Complexes holding, presented the Krasnopol-M2 155 mm guided artillery shell at the Army-2024 forum. This shell is an adaptation of the Krasnopol-M 152 mm guided shell.
The Krasnopol-M2 shell is intended specifically for export to countries utilizing 155 mm artillery systems, which poses a significant challenge. The russians assert that the shell has a firing range of 20-25 km, depending on the type of artillery system and operational conditions.
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The claimed accuracy of the Krasnopol-M2 shell is noteworthy, with a reported hit probability of 0.6 at ranges of 5 to 9 km, 0.8 at 9 to 16 km, and 0.7 at distances of 16 to 20 (or 25) km. Despite these figures, the Instrument Design Bureau representatives maintain that the Krasnopol-M2 shell can destroy tank-type targets with the first shot without requiring correction.
There is speculation that the company may be attempting to repackage an older design. There are references to 155 mm version of the Krasnopol shell, designated K155, that existed prior to this point. However, it remains unclear who russia intends to sell the Krasnopol-M2 shell to. Even if they target markets in Africa and Asia, where buyers might be reluctant to purchase Western arms and ammunition, these markets may already be dominated by China. China has been actively exporting its 155 mm copy of the Krasnopol shell, including to participants in the Libyan conflict, and has also developed a self-propelled artillery unit compatible with its Krasnopol copy.
This raises questions about the credibility of the Krasnopol-M2 155 mm shell’s claimed specifications. Conducting tests would require access to 155 mm artillery systems, yet it is unclear where russia could obtain such systems, given that its military-industrial complex does not mass-produce 155 mm artillery.
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