Ukrainian brigade destroys Russian artillery with cutting-edge Howitzer

The Ukrainian 45th Artillery Brigade marked a significant triumph during recent battles in the Luhansk region. The brigade's artillerymen, operating the FH77BW Archer howitzer, successfully destroyed a Russian self-propelled artillery system, the 2S19 Msta-S.

Near the village of Czerwonopopiwka in Luhansk, Ukrainian reconnaissance teams spotted a Russian 2S19 Msta-S gun-howitzer in a forested area. This artillery piece is considered the equivalent of the Polish Krab within the Russian army. Quick intelligence sharing about this high-value target enabled the 45th Artillery Brigade to shell it effectively.

A video that captured the destruction of the Russian equipment subsequently surfaced online. This drone-captured footage showcases the targeted attack on the gun-howitzer by artillerymen wielding the FH77BW Archer system.

However, the video's editing fails to highlight the primary advantage of the Ukrainians' weapon: the remarkably quick transition from travel mode to combat readiness and its impressive rate of fire.

The FH77BW Archer, provided to Ukraine from Western arsenals, stands out for its exceptional mobility and the rapid rate at which it can commence firing. Switching from traveling to combat mode and back takes just thirty seconds.

This howitzer is capable of positioning itself, firing three shells, and relocating all within 75 seconds. For distant targets, this feature allows the gun-howitzer to move before the shells even reach their destination.

The video also highlights the challenges and successes of effectively utilizing reconnaissance drones along the front lines. Notably, the Russian gun-howitzer seemed unprotected by any electronic warfare (EW) countermeasures, thereby enabling the Ukrainians to detect and destroy it.