British Army bids farewell to AS90 guns, eyes early retirement
Great Britain completed its final training exercise with the AS90 self-propelled guns in early May 2024. These guns, instrumental in developing Poland's AHS Krab, are set to be retired from the British Army soon, though their future remains uncertain.
4:59 AM EDT, May 15, 2024
The decision to phase out various weapons, including the Challenger 2 tanks, some armored vehicles, and the valuable AS90 artillery systems, has been public for a few weeks. The AS90s, in particular, have completed their last training firing. Shortly, these pieces of equipment will be officially decommissioned.
Weapons to Be Retired Sooner Than Anticipated
Originally scheduled for retirement in 2030, the AS90 guns will now be retired "a few years earlier," according to Defense Express. It is speculated that the British Army will deploy the AS90s to support its mission in Estonia under NATO, suggesting these guns could exit service as early as 2025.
The exact future of the AS90 artillery systems is yet to be determined. According to a report by Portal ZBiAM, cited by Defense Express, around 30 AS90 units might still operate within the British forces. This follows Britain's recent donation of 50 units to Ukraine, with an additional 12 provided for spare parts.
There's also the possibility that the British Army might store the AS90s, or they may further support the Ukrainian armed forces with these vehicles. For Ukraine, receiving more AS90 howitzers would be beneficial, considering their military's intense usage of this equipment.
The AS90 Howitzer: Forerunner to the AHS Krab
The AS90 is often called the "father of the Krab" because the Polish AHS Krab uses the same turret and gun system. This collaboration signifies a key relationship between the equipment both nations use, with the AHS Krab’s chassis sourced from the Korean K9.
The AS90's defensive prowess is highlighted by its 155 mm caliber, 39-caliber barrel. This capability allows for a standard firing range of about 15.5 miles, extendable to roughly 18.6 miles with rocket-assisted projectiles. The AS90 can fire up to six rounds per minute, with a rapid-fire capability of three shots every 10 seconds.
