Donar unleashed on world

Monday, 16 June, 2008

Being shown for the first time on the General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) stand (P030) is the recently completed Donar (or Thor) 155mm self-propelled (SP) artillery system. Donar is an autonomous system that is aimed, loaded and fired with the crew under complete armour protection. It has already completed a series of firepower and mobility trials.
This private venture between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) of Germany and GDELS has been created to meet emerging requirements for a highly mobile and lighter weight 155mm/52 calibre SP artillery system with the same firepower as the current KMW PzH 2000, which weighs about 55 tonnes.
Donar will be marketed on a worldwide basis as a potential replacement for the widely deployed US M109 155mm SP artillery system that was first developed some 50 years ago. The consortium has already started to brief other potential Donar customers, including the German Army, which has a possible requirement for up to 41 systems. Donar is also a potential replacement for the currently deployed Spanish Army M109 155mm systems.
For a high level of cross-country mobility, Donar has a new armoured chassis that uses automotive components of the latest General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas (part of GDELS) ASCOD 2 infantry fighting vehicle chassis with a fully protected crew compartment at the front.
ASCOD 2 is the latest ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development); earlier versions are in service in Austria (called Ulan) and Spain (called Pizarro).
Mounted on the rear of the chassis is a remotely controlled turret armed with the same 155mm/52 calibre ordnance as fitted to the current KMW PzH 2000. The turret is a further development of the KMW Artillery Gun Module that has already carried out successful firing trials installed on a tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System chassis.
A total of 30 rounds of 155mm ammunition and associated modular charges are carried for ready use. Maximum range depends on projectile/charge combination but, using the South African Denel Munitions VLAP (Velocity-enhanced Long-range Artillery Projectile), a range of 56km can be obtained. With a combat weight of about 31 tonnes, Donar is air-transportable in the new A400M transport aircraft.