Russian military personnel are preparing to use the 2S42 "Lotos" self-propelled artillery gun (developed by TsNIITOCHMASH) with a caliber of 120 mm in combat operations. This is a "truly powerful" weapon capable of smashing enemy fortified areas to splinters, according to the Polish publication Interia.
Successor to "Nona" and "Floks"
Military experts call the 2S42 "Lotos" a successor to the "Nona" and "Floks" artillery systems, which are considered among the best in the world in terms of their technical characteristics. The "Lotos" is based on a modified BMD-4 chassis. The hull is armored, with protection against bullets.
Technical characteristics of "Lotos":
- 120 mm smoothbore gun
- 2B-06-2 diesel engine, with a power of 450 hp.
- Fire control system integrated with tactical-level communication equipment
- Optoelectronic countermeasures system
- "Kitolov" guided projectile
- Weight — 18 t
- Driving speed — up to 70 km/h
The 2S42 "Lotos" was officially presented at the "Army-2019" forum. It was previously reported that state tests of the self-propelled gun for the Airborne Forces will begin in the spring of 2024.
