Moscow has announced that the official testing of the modernized version of the 125-mm 2S25 self-propelled anti-tank gun has been successful, and it could soon be incorporated into the Russian military.
Vladimir Artyakov, the first deputy CEO of Rostec, a state-owned Russian defense company, broke the news to Sputnik.
“It has already passed state tests. Shortly, we expect to assign the O1 label to this prototype, after which the vehicle can be introduced into service,” Artyakov said.
The O1 designation usually indicates the modification of the engineering documentation in light of the test results. The upgraded 2S25 tank destroyer is an amphibious armored track vehicle outfitted with an artillery missile system.
According to Artyakov, the machine is very mobile and maneuverable, capable of navigating water obstacles without special training, and can fire simultaneously. The tank destroyer is supposed to be capable of combat in environments with high elevations, tropical climates, and swampy terrain.
“Its firepower is equal to that of main battle tanks such as T-80 and T-90. In terms of mobility on land and water, it is equal to the infantry fighting vehicles BMD-4M and BMP-3. This vehicle is a cut above the rest in Russia and the world,” the Rostec deputy CEO said.
The tank destroyer can land with a crew on board and range up to 500 kilometers (310.7 miles). The upgraded 2S25 vehicle is primarily developed for Russia’s airborne forces.
125-mm 2S25 Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun
Meanwhile, the first deputy CEO of the state-owned corporation does not mention a deadline for introducing this modernized version. The original 2S25, known as the Sprut-SD, was developed at the Volgograd Tractor Plant’s design bureau in the mid-1980s.
In an interview with Politika Segodnya, a Russian expert, Andrey Koshkin, noted that the modernization of the 2S25 gun was a response to how modern hostilities had changed. The outcome represented a significant advancement for the military-industrial complex.
The analyst also pointed out that the Russian army has long been working on updating outdated weapons so they can compete equally with more modern weapons.
The 2S25 self-propelled anti-tank gun last underwent an upgrade in 2015. Following the current modernization, state tests will be performed, and they will be ready for service. This weapon is projected to become one of the most crucial components of the Russian military.
It is believed that domestic artillery is constantly being improved, drawing on combat experience gained in Syria and, more recently, during a special operation in Ukraine.
The 2S25, a self-propelled anti-tank gun, is a light tank for the VDV (Airborne Forces) and Naval Infantry. This self-propelled gun was initially developed for the Russian Airborne Troops and was meant for crew parachute landing from the military transport aircraft Il-76.
The 2S25 is an armored tracked amphibious vehicle with swim and maneuvering capabilities at par with airborne infantry combat vehicles.
It is equipped with a 125mm anti-tank gun, guided missile control hardware, a day/night sight with a sighting and a ranging channel, and a gunner’s sight. The coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and the 125mm two-axis stabilized smoothbore tank gun make up the main armament.
The vehicle can operate in high mountains and challenging terrains thanks to its high power-to-weight ratio, and its capabilities are increased by the installed rubber-coated shoes or snow-riding tracks.
The 2S25 can fully submerge at one-fourth of its cross-country speed. The ground clearance can be adjusted within 400 mm over 6-7 seconds to guarantee concealment.
The 2S25’s armor is light, made of aluminum alloy – the designers were severely constrained by maximum weight requirements due to the Sprut-SD’s airborne delivery. The crew consists of only three people, all housed inside the fighting compartment, close to each other.
On the front deck is a hatch for the driver, and on the turret deck, hatch for the commander and gunner.
The control department is situated in the self-propelled gun housing’s forward section. At the same time, the fighting compartment with the turret consumes the machine’s middle section and is home to the motor-transmission department. The 125mm gun has an autoloader and is a low-pressure variation of the standard Russian 125mm gun.
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