Polish Rak mortars applauded in Ukraine: the new 'crustacean' battling Russian aggression
Following the Krab howitzers, the Raks have become the second "crustacean" fighting in Ukraine against Russian aggression. Ukrainians signed a contract to purchase three self-propelled mortars in April of the previous year. Consequently, the first of 24 ordered vehicles arrived in Ukraine in October.
Besides this, Kyiv purchased around 150 wheeled Rosomak armored personnel carriers and approximately 100 handheld portable Piorun anti-aircraft missile launchers. This is not only due to the vast front-line requirements but primarily because of the good reputation Polish products have in the East.
The Piorun anti-aircraft missile systems, Grom missile systems, and Komar grenade launchers initially received excellent reviews. These products were so well-regarded that there were considerations to resume their production and reintroduce them into service.
The real stars, however, have been the self-propelled Krab howitzers, which the crews praise for their ergonomics, comfort, and ease of use. This resulted in orders for three Regina system divisions (comprising howitzers and command vehicles). Now, there's a chance for the Rak to receive more orders from the East.
The Rak on the front line
The first Rak division was sent to the 44th Independent Mechanized Brigade, currently battling under Kupyansk. In recent weeks, the town has become a primary target of Russian attacks, with assaults happening several times a day.
Ukrainian soldiers are expressing appreciation for the equipment they received from Poland.
The new equipment mainly benefits from increased mobility compared to the previously used self-propelled howitzers 2S1 Carnation caliber 4.8 inch. This comes with a similar range of fire and significantly better accuracy, thanks to the integration of reconnaissance systems, command, and combat vehicles.
The Ukrainians highlight that automation allows them to spend significantly less time in danger zones.
The crew needs only 30 seconds to set up a firing position and 15 seconds to prepare for a position change. With a substantial density of visual identification tools, primarily drones, this is extremely critical for the vehicle's survival on the battlefield.
"The mortars mounted on armored platforms provide additional flexibility in defense operations," explained one of the soldiers from the 44th Brigade.
The next batter was sent to the 67th Independent Mechanized Brigade, originating from the Volunteer Corps "Right Sector," known for its extreme-right views. The brigade is currently fighting for Avdiivka. However, the Raks's performance on the front's main section remains unknown.
A new level of quality
The self-propelled mortar 120 mm caliber Rak is the latest product of the Polish defense industry. The concept for such fire support vehicles emerged in Huta Stalowa Wola in 2004, and a year later, conceptual work began.
The M120 Rak system testing was completed in 2013, and two years later HSW was ready for mass production. The first order had to wait for another year, and the first of 64 fire vehicles and 32 command vehicles were picked up by the army in 2017. The military was so satisfied with the new vehicle that they ordered more than 120 Raks.
A comprehensive system
The target configuration of the Rak system comprises eight self-propelled wheeled mortars, four artillery command vehicles — also built on the Rosomak chassis — two artillery reconnaissance vehicles, and logistical support vehicles, which include three artillery ammunition vehicles and one Artillery Armament Repair Vehicle. Thus far, three such complete systems have arrived in Ukraine.
An important feature of the system is the TOPAZ fire control system, which is already well-known to Ukrainians. It facilitates real-time data transmission from reconnaissance drones, such as the FlyEye from Ożarów (which has been used by Ukrainians since 2015), to the command vehicle and the fire vehicle.
NATO countries are watching closely
The fire control system can coordinate the firing times from various vehicles of one gun so that the missiles launched from different distances from the target hit simultaneously. This considerably complicates the task of detecting firing positions with artillery radars. Coupled with the vehicles' mobility, they can cause many problems for the Russians.
The Raks' first real test in combat is being closely watched among NATO countries, as the turret can be integrated with various chassis.
As more allied armies seek similar support vehicles, opportunities for further export success open up, granted that the industry can rely on the governing parties' support.
