Feature: NATO and Ukrainian versus Russian artillery capabilities
New artillery systems for Europe (Janes)
NATO and Russia are implementing lessons from the employment of artillery in Ukraine. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, European NATO countries are procuring new wheeled and tracked self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) or upgrading existing ones, replacing those phased out after the Cold War or donated to Ukraine. The build-up is being complemented by the procurement of reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and loitering munitions (LMs).
Artillery has historically played a key role in the Russian Armed Forces, which continue to rely on Soviet-era artillery systems to an extent, with long-term stores exploited as they seek to replace heavy artillery losses suffered in Ukraine. They continue to field new and modernised 152 mm self-propelled artillery systems such as the tracked 2S19M2 Msta-SM2, albeit in small numbers, and the latest 2S35 and wheeled 2S43 Malva. The Russian Armed Forces' use of LMs and one-way attack (OWA) UAVs has greatly increased in Ukraine.
Kremlin coverage of the Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026 included footage of Russian weapons, including 2S44 Giantsint K wheeled SPHs. Footage of the Giansint K showed it being fired by the crew outside the vehicle, followed by similar footage of the 2S43 Malva SPH being fired in the same way. The Giantsint K was first shown in 2019.
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