The Russian 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer, despite all production problems, is considered a potential source of technology for the North Korean Juche-107 program. This conclusion was made by Military Watch Magazine, comparing the characteristics of the systems and the context of defense cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
The authors note that the Russian 152 mm howitzer stands out with an estimated firing range of up to 70 kilometers – 10 kilometers more than its North Korean counterpart. But the main trump card of the howitzer is its rate of fire: up to 20 rounds per minute, while most modern systems produce 6–8. Accuracy at maximum range reaches two meters, which is why Russian specialists compare the weapon to a sniper rifle.
In 2020, Vadim Kozyulin, a representative of the Russian Academy of Military Sciences, noted that the Koalitsiya works with a wide range of ammunition, including cluster and armor-piercing shells with laser correction. The system receives target coordinates both from observers and directly from drones, after which it independently aims at the object without crew involvement.
At the same time, Military Watch Magazine emphasizes that the stated parameters of the Koalitsiya-SV have not yet received full combat confirmation. A number of Russian programs in recent years have fallen short of promised indicators, and the absence of export contracts and modest procurement volumes even in conditions of active artillery warfare raise questions.
The publication does not rule out that the North Korean program, relying on mass production and rapid modernization cycles, is capable not only of catching up with but also surpassing the Russian model – with lower costs and in a shorter timeframe.
MWM's main conclusion is as follows: the Koalitsiya-SV on paper remains one of the most advanced howitzers in the world, but its real combat value depends on Russia's ability to establish serial production and confirm its characteristics in intense combat operations.
Thus, the Koalitsiya-SV demonstrates an impressive technological groundwork, but it is production maturity and combat testing that will be decisive factors for its status in modern artillery.