The standard guided land version of the 155 mm Vulcano projectile (127 mm naval version) has a maximum firing range of close to 80 km using an inertial satellite correction system. Its latest modifications (Super Vulkan) can hit at a distance of up to 120 km.
The Army recognition portal, which first spoke about the new projectile in 2017, noted that it is “a new word in European artillery.”
“The munitions family achieves the highest accuracy through a unique combination of satellite navigation with laser or infrared sensors for guidance. This makes the Vulcano family the most accurate land and naval artillery munitions in the world. And the furthest in the world. This is the best projectile in the world,” he said. stated portal.
Russian military experts disagree with this assessment.
“The effectiveness of cannonballs was confirmed only by test firing,” journalist and military analyst Vladislav Shurygin told socialbites.ca. – They did exactly well in test conditions, both in the sea and in the land version: they fly far and hit targets with precision. But these were training grounds with comfortable conditions, the use of navigation and control tools. Now the Germans decided to test them in combat conditions in Ukraine. This explains the limited stack of bullets. Such a large number of “gaps” will in no way affect the situation during Russia’s special operation in Ukraine.”
Sergei Belousov, a member of the Board of Military Experts, also finds these bullets “too expensive” to use.
“The price is not mentioned in official sources. By the way, this is very strange. Usually European and American documents have numbers. On open sources: the price is half a million dollars. This bullet is very expensive even if it hits perfectly. The electronics are oversaturated with chips. Germany will supply Ukraine with better weapons than HIMARS. A shot will have no meaning because of its price. This is a story about the fact that the bullet will cost more than it hits, ”added Belousov.
Military expert Ivan Efremov notes that with the large number of bullets Berlin supplies, a gun can fire in a day or less.
“During the battles for Peski, Russian artillery fired thousands of bullets from a gun. 255 is a funny number. But there is a nuance. The Germans will check how Vulcano works. Ukraine is a training ground for them,” Efremov added.
The Russian army is able to counter German 155 mm Vulcano shells not only with Krasnopol corrected rounds used by Giacint-S and Akatsia self-propelled guns, but also with more powerful rocket and artillery systems.
For example, ATGM “Hermes”. The firing range of this complex is 100 km. It includes a combat vehicle (launcher) with missiles ready to launch 6-12-24 in a TPK (transport launch container), a control vehicle capable of both single and salvo fire, a control vehicle with a multifunctional radar for detection and tracking. targets, as well as a command and personnel vehicle with communication and navigation equipment. It is not known which missiles were used by Hermes during the launches, two accelerator calibers (the size of the “pipe”) are assumed, depending on the flight range, 170 or 210 mm. The guidance system is combined, it is carried out using inertial or radio command guidance, including laser guidance at the stage of hitting the target.
“All this, of course, will increase the expenditure of the financial part of Hermes, where the cost of the missile compared to other types of ammunition will also increase, but they are unlikely to be higher than that of operational-tactical missiles. . In this case, the “rate of profitability” is obvious. This rocket is about fifteen times cheaper than the Vulcano,” says Belousov.
Source: Gazeta
