28 June 2019

Army 2019: Russia displays 4S21 Drok 82 mm self-propelled mortar

by Mark Cazalet

Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) subsidiary TsNII Burevestnik unveiled the 2S41 Drok 82 mm self-propelled mortar at the Army 2019 defence exhibition being held in Kubinka near Moscow on 25–30 June. The base vehicle used is the Taifun K-4386 4×4 manufactured by Remdizel, which has also been referred to as the Taifun-VDV. It is a mine-resistant protected patrol vehicle, and the Drok variant was developed under the Nabrosok programme.

Drok is equipped with an 82 mm mortar with a maximum range of 6,000 m and a minimum range of 100 m. The mortar has a maximum firing rate of 12 rounds per minute and has a full complement of 40 mortar bombs. The mortar turret offers sufficient depression for use in the direct-fire role, which provides further engagement options for close-range targets.

The vehicle also has a remotely operated weapon station fitted with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun for close-in protection, enabling the crew member operating it to engage targets independently of the mortar turret. The vehicle has two banks of six obscurant smoke grenade launchers for protection against laser threats, with three each side firing forwards and three firing rearwards of the turret.

The vehicle has a pair of laser-warning receivers per side, which appear to be similar to those used on the Epoch turret, and their positioning suggests that they provide 360° coverage against laser illumination threats.

The vehicle has an empty weight of 14 tonnes and is powered by a KamaZ-650.10-350 engine that develops 350hp, providing a top speed of 100 km/h. It can carry enough fuel to provide a maximum range of 1,200 km.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/army-2019-russia-displays-4s21-drok-82-mm-self-propelled-mortar

Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) subsidiary TsNII Burevestnik unveiled the 2S41 Drok 82 mm self-propelled mortar...