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2S19 Msta-S
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Key Information
The 2S19 Msta-S is a 152.4 mm self-propelled howitzer designed and manufactured by Uraltransmash in the Soviet Union and later in Russia, which entered service in 1989 as the successor to the 2S3 Akatsiya. The vehicle has the running gear of the T-80, but is powered by the T-72's diesel engine.[4]
Development
[edit]The Msta-S (also known by the GRAU index 2S19) bears the Msta (Russian: Мста, after the river Msta) howitzer, which was designed for deployment either on a self-propelled vehicle or as a towed gun. The 2S19 Msta-S is the armoured self-propelled howitzer, while the 2A65 Msta-B is a towed gun.[5]
Development of the 2S19 started in 1980 under the project name Ferma. The prototype was known as Obiekt 316. The 2S19's standard equipment consists of a semi-automatic laying system 1P22, an automatic loader, an NBC protection system, passive night-vision device for the driver, a vehicle snorkel, a dozer blade, a smoke generator and 81 mm smoke launchers, 1V116 intercom system and a 16 kW generator AP-18D. In 2008, the Russian Armed Forces ordered an improved model with an automated fire-control system.[citation needed]
Russia offered its Msta-S 152 mm howitzer to foreign countries, particularly in the Middle East. A demonstration was organised in 2020 by Rosoboronexport, the country's nodal agency for arms export, for representatives from various Middle Eastern countries.[6]
Specifications
[edit]Msta-S specifications provided by manufacturer[citation needed]
- Range:
- 24.7 km (15.3 mi) standard round
- 28.9 km (18.0 mi) base-bleed
- 36 km (22 mi) rocket-assisted
- Rate of fire: 6–8 rounds per minute
- Weapon elevation: −4° to +68°
- Weapon traverse: 360°
- Deployment time: 22 minutes
- Unit of fire: 50 rounds
Variants
[edit]- 1K17 Szhatie – a "laser tank" armed with a battery of lasers meant to disable optoelectronic systems; based on the Msta-S.[7]
- 2S19M1 (unveiled in 2000, first deliveries in 2007) – Improved fire-control system and added GLONASS antenna. Modernised V-84AMS engine.[7]
- 2S19M2 or 2S33 Msta-SM2 (2013) – Improved version currently in production equipped with a new automatic fire-control system which increases the rate of fire to 10 rounds per minute. Digital electronic maps are now available which significantly speeds up the terrain orientation in difficult geographical conditions and allows performing faster and more efficiently firing missions. The 2S33 Msta-SM2 howitzer is fitted with a new 2A79 152 mm/L60 ordnance that has improved ballistics. It can fire ammunition with more propellant charges and with a higher breech pressure than the original 2S19 Msta-S. The gun is longer and has a heavier barrel. As a result, it has a greater range of fire. Maximum range of fire with standard HE-FRAG shells is 30 km (19 mi) and 40 km (25 mi) with rocket-assisted shells.[8]
- 2S19M1-155 (2006) – 155 mm export version of the 2S19M1, fitted with an L/52 gun with a range of more than 40 km (25 mi). Modernised in 2020.[9]
- 2S21 Msta-K – Wheeled variant, based on an eight-wheel truck chassis. It used the 2A67 gun, a variant of the 2A65 modified for use from wheeled platforms. There were several different prototypes, including one based on the Ural-5323 and one on the KrAZ-6316. The project was abandoned in 1987.[7]
- 2S19M (also known as 2S30 Iset and 2S33 Msta-SM) – Project for a version with improved range and rate of fire, easier maintenance and optimised manufacturing process. Started between the 1990s and the early 2000s, but quickly abandoned in favour of the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV.[7]
- 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV – Project for a new artillery system for the Russian Ground Forces (SV stands for "sukhoputniye voyska"). Early prototypes consisted of a 2S19 chassis with modified turret, fitted with an over-and-under dual autoloaded 152 mm howitzer. Development of this variant was abandoned in favour of an entirely new artillery system using the same designation.[10]
Operational use
[edit]About a dozen Msta-S howitzers were purchased by Ethiopia in late 1998, and used during the Eritrean–Ethiopian War. They were successfully used to destroy an Eritrean Air Force radar station outside Adi Quala.[11]
Msta-S howitzers were used by the Russian Ground Forces to deliver artillery strikes against Chechen separatists during the Second Chechen War.[12]
Msta-S howitzers have been used in the Russo-Ukrainian War by the pro-Russian separatists who captured one machine during the conflict.[13] Both Msta-B and Msta-S were used by the Ukrainian Ground Forces in the Battle of Bakhmut.[14] With their vehicles wearing out from continued combat use since 2014, and the 152 mm caliber gradually becoming obsolete, the Ukrainian Armed Forces has refitted some non-operational units with T-72 turrets or converted them into armoured personnel carriers.[15]
As of 9 August 2025[update], there is visual evidence of Russian forces losing 246 Msta-S (194 destroyed, 14 damaged, 3 abandoned and 35 captured) and 54 Msta-SM2 (33 destroyed, 3 damaged and 18 captured).[16]
Operators
[edit]
Current
[edit]
Azerbaijan – 18 as of 2024[17]
Ethiopia – 10 as of 2024[18]
Georgia – 1 as of 2024[19]
Russia – Estimated to have 300 2S19/2S19M1 Msta-S and 300 2S19M2/2S33 Msta-SM in service with the Ground Forces, 36 2S19M1 Msta-S in service with the Naval Infantry, plus 150 2S19 Msta-S in storage as of 2024[20]
Ukraine – 35 as of 2024[21]
Venezuela – 48 as of 2024[22]
Former
[edit]
Belarus − 12 in 2023,[23] none as of 2024[24]
Soviet Union
References
[edit]- ^ "152-мм самоходная гаубица 2С19 "Мста-С" в Вооруженных Силах Российской Федерации. Версия 2.0" (in Russian). 24 April 2019. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019 – via LiveJournal.[better source needed]
- ^ "2S19 Msta". WeaponSystems.net. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ Pike, John (19 June 1999). "2S19 MSTA-S 152-mm Self-Propelled Howitzer". Military Analysis Network. Federation of American Scientists. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ Zaloga, Steven J. (2009). T-80 Standard Tank: The Soviet Army's Last Armored Champion. New Vanguard. Vol. 152. Illustrated by Tony Bryan. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp. 43, 45–46. ISBN 978-1-84603-244-8.
- ^ Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945-1995. Quantico, VA: Marine Corps Intelligence Activity. 1995. pp. V-16 – V-17. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Krishna, Om (25 March 2020). "Msta-S 155mm Howitzer: Russia offers new self propelled artillery gun". Defence Star. Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d Benoît.C (16 September 2019). "[Dossier] Le 2S19 Msta-S". Red Samovar (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "Russian Western Military District Gets Newest 2S33 Msta-SM2 Self-propelled Howitzer". MilitaryLeak. 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ Fediushko, Dmitry (30 March 2020). "UVZ upgrades STANAG-compatible 2S19M1-155 155 mm howitzer". Janes. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ de Larrinaga, Nicholas (22 April 2015). "New Russian heavy armour breaks cover". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ Cooper & Fontanellaz 2018, p. 60.
- ^ Pashin, Alexander (2002). "Russian Army Operations and Weaponry During Second Military Campaign in Chechnya". Moscow Defense Brief. No. 3. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ Ferguson, Jonathan; Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (2014). Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine (PDF) (Report). Armament Research Services. Research Report No. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Ukrainian Airborne Brigade soldiers use captured Russian Msta-S ACS". Ukrainian Military Portal. 17 February 2023. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ Yan, Oleksandr (8 August 2025). "FrankenMsta: Ukrainian Mechanics Refitted Self-Propelled Howitzer". Militarnyi. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Janovsky, Jakub (24 February 2022). "Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Archived from the original on 31 July 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ IISS 2024, p. 180.
- ^ IISS 2024, p. 491.
- ^ IISS 2024, p. 185.
- ^ IISS 2024, pp. 193, 199.
- ^ IISS 2024, p. 212.
- ^ IISS 2024, p. 454.
- ^ IISS 2023, p. 175.
- ^ IISS 2024, pp. 182−184.
Bibliography
[edit]- Cooper, Tom; Fontanellaz, Adrien (2018). Ethiopian-Eritrean Wars: Volume 2 - Eritrean War of Independence, 1988−1991 & Badme War, 1998−2001. Helion and Company. ISBN 978-1-913118-35-8.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. ISBN 978-1032508955.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (13 February 2024). The Military Balance 2024. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-040-05115-3.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2S19 Msta-S.
2S19 Msta-S
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Development
Design origins and requirements
The 2S19 Msta-S originated as a Soviet effort to modernize divisional artillery during the late Cold War, addressing limitations in range and fire rate of earlier self-propelled howitzers. Development began in the late 1970s, with the project spanning 1976 to 1989 under the designation Ferma, led by Uraltransmash in Ekaterinburg for the chassis and OKB-2 Barrikady for the ordnance.[9] This initiative aimed to replace the 2S3 Akatsiya and 2S5 Giatsint-S systems, which had entered service in the 1970s but lacked sufficient mobility and firepower for evolving tactical needs.[9][10] Key requirements emphasized a tracked, turreted 152 mm howitzer capable of providing indirect fire support at the division level, targeting unsheltered and covered manpower, weapons, and materiel to enable maneuver warfare.[3][10] The design drew from proven tank components, incorporating elements of the T-72 and T-80 chassis for enhanced cross-country mobility and survivability on the battlefield.[9] Soviet doctrine at the time prioritized rapid, massed artillery barrages to suppress enemy defenses and support armored advances, necessitating a system that could integrate with existing 152 mm ammunition stocks while offering improved automation for sustained fire.[3] The howitzer was accepted into Soviet Army service in 1989, with initial production units completed that year at Uraltransmash facilities, and named after the Msta River in northwestern Russia, a convention for Soviet artillery systems.[10] This timeline reflected the urgency to field a next-generation platform amid ongoing refinements to counterbalance perceived gaps in artillery capabilities relative to Western systems.[9]Production history and initial deployment
The 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzer began production at the Uraltransmash plant in Yekaterinburg in 1989, following development in the mid-1980s as a successor to earlier Soviet artillery systems.[1][3] Serial manufacturing ramped up in 1990, with the system designed for integration into motorized rifle and tank divisions to provide divisional-level fire support.[11] By the late 1980s, initial batches were completed under Soviet Ministry of Defense oversight, prioritizing enhanced range and automation over predecessors like the 2S3 Akatsiya.[12] By February 1991, the Soviet Army had accepted approximately 371 2S19 units into inventory, marking the system's initial operational fielding within artillery regiments and brigades for doctrinal testing and baseline performance evaluation.[1] These early deployments focused on exercises to validate mobility, fire control, and ammunition compatibility in divisional maneuvers, establishing reliability metrics amid the transition from towed to self-propelled artillery dominance in Soviet forces.[1] The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 introduced economic disruptions to the defense sector, including funding shortfalls and supply chain interruptions at Uraltransmash, which constrained expansion of production lines into the early 1990s.[13] Despite these hurdles, output persisted, with inventory growing to 563 units by January 1995 as Russian forces inherited and reorganized Soviet-era stocks for ongoing brigade-level integration.[1] Cumulative production exceeded 700 units by the early 2000s, laying the foundation for subsequent export variants without significant design alterations at the time.[5]Design and technical specifications
Chassis, mobility, and protection features
The 2S19 Msta-S utilizes a tracked chassis derived from elements of the T-72 main battle tank, providing a robust mechanical foundation for self-propelled artillery operations. This design incorporates a torsion bar suspension system, which enhances stability and ride quality over varied terrain. The chassis supports a combat weight of approximately 42 tons, enabling effective maneuverability in forward artillery roles.[1][14] Mobility is driven by a V-84A twelve-cylinder diesel engine producing 840 horsepower, allowing a maximum road speed of 60 km/h and an operational range of 500 km on prepared surfaces. Off-road performance reaches up to 25 km/h, facilitated by the vehicle's low ground pressure and independent torsion bars that permit each road wheel to articulate independently for better cross-country traversal. These specifications support rapid repositioning after firing to avoid counter-battery fire, with the engine's multi-fuel capability ensuring logistical flexibility in sustained operations.[1][14][3] Protection features include welded steel armor plating that safeguards the crew, ammunition, and systems against 7.62 mm small arms fire and artillery shell fragments. Standard equipment encompasses NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection and automatic fire suppression systems. In response to drone threats observed since 2022 in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, Russian forces have retrofitted some units with cage armor structures to detonate incoming FPV drones prematurely, though this adaptation is not part of the original design and varies by field modification.[1][5][15]Armament, ammunition, and fire control systems
The primary armament of the 2S19 Msta-S is the 2A64 smoothbore 152 mm howitzer, mounted in an armored turret with a length of 48 calibers.[4] This weapon features an autoloader capable of sustaining a rate of fire of 6 to 8 rounds per minute, with burst rates up to 8 rounds per minute and sustained rates of 2 rounds per minute.[4] [12] The howitzer achieves a maximum range of 24.7 km using standard high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) projectiles, extending to 29 km with base-bleed rounds and up to 36 km with rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP).[5] [6] It is compatible with a range of ammunition types, including HE-FRAG, high-explosive anti-tank fin-stabilized (HEAT-FS), base-bleed variants, cluster munitions, and laser-guided projectiles such as the 2K25 Krasnopol for precision engagements at ranges up to 20-25 km.[3] [16] The autoloader holds 42 rounds, with additional ammunition stored externally for resupply.[1] Fire control is managed by the semi-automatic 1P22 laying system in the base model, which supports indirect fire adjustments via optical and electro-optical sights.[6] Later modernizations, such as in the 2S19M2 variant, incorporate the ASUNO-M automated fire control system, enabling digital computation of firing solutions, integration with GLONASS for positioning, and reduced crew intervention during targeting to minimize exposure.[17] This upgrade facilitates multiple round simultaneous impact (MRSI) fire and automated loader operations for enhanced responsiveness.[18]Crew operations and logistical aspects
The 2S19 Msta-S employs a crew of five—commander, gunner, driver, and two loaders—positioned with the driver at the front hull and the remainder in the turret, all within a sealed compartment equipped for NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection via filtration and overpressure systems. The driver benefits from a passive night-vision device, enabling operations in darkness without active illumination that could reveal the vehicle's position.[19][14][5] Crew operations center on a semi-automatic laying system integrated with the fire control suite, allowing the gunner to align the 152 mm 2A64 howitzer for indirect fire while the commander oversees targeting inputs. The autoloader mechanism handles standard projectiles at a rate of 6 to 8 rounds per minute, supporting an internal capacity of 42 to 60 rounds depending on configuration, with provisions for specialized loads like four guided Krasnopol shells. However, the system requires manual crew intervention for resupply through a rear external tray, which limits sustained rates to approximately 6 rounds per minute during external feeding, and for loading non-standard or jammed ammunition types that the autoloader cannot process autonomously.[14][5] Logistical demands hinge on the 152 mm caliber, a Warsaw Pact standard incompatible with NATO 155 mm equivalents, which restricts interoperability in multinational resupply chains but leverages Russia's dedicated production infrastructure at facilities like Uraltransmash for scalable output of high-explosive and extended-range variants. Maintenance protocols draw from the shared T-72/T-80 chassis components, emphasizing periodic inspections of the 780 hp V-84A diesel engine, hydraulic systems, and autoloader mechanics to mitigate wear from high-rate firing, though field sustainment relies on dedicated artillery repair units for turret and suspension overhauls.[5][19]Variants and modernization efforts
Base 2S19 model
The 2S19 Msta-S base model, accepted into service with the Soviet Army in 1989, represents the initial production variant of this 152 mm self-propelled howitzer designed primarily for divisional-level fire support.[1][19] It mounts the 2A64 smoothbore gun, a 47-caliber (L/47) ordnance capable of firing standard Soviet 152 mm ammunition types, including high-explosive fragmentation rounds with a maximum range of approximately 24,500 meters using rocket-assisted projectiles.[5][20] The gun features a semi-automatic vertical wedge breech mechanism and is served by an electro-hydraulic system for elevation (-3° to +63.5°) and traverse (±25° manual, or limited power-assisted).[1] Fire control in the base configuration relies on the 1P22 semi-automatic laying system, integrated with optical sights such as the PG-1M panoramic telescope for the gunner, enabling manual targeting adjustments coordinated with forward observer data via radio links to a fire direction center.[1] An automatic rammer and conveyor system facilitates loading at angles up to 63°, achieving a maximum rate of fire of 7-8 rounds per minute for short bursts from the onboard ammunition supply, though sustained rates are lower at 2-3 rounds per minute to manage barrel wear.[3][20] The system lacks the digital automation and satellite navigation of later upgrades, depending instead on analog computation and manual input for ballistic solutions, which limits precision in dynamic conditions but supports indirect fire missions against area targets.[5] The base model carries 39-42 rounds of mixed ammunition in the turret and hull stowage, comprising projectiles and modular charges, with provisions for separate loading to accommodate various propellant configurations.[21] This load supports extended engagements without resupply, though the vehicle's design emphasizes rapid deployment over heavy sustainment. Hydraulic recoil and stabilization mechanisms allow stabilized firing from short halts, with capability for low-speed indirect fire while moving (up to 5-10 km/h), though accuracy degrades without full emplacement using the trailing spades.[1] Initial deployments included transfers to Soviet successor states as part of military inheritance following the USSR's dissolution, with Ukraine receiving approximately 40 units by the early 2000s for integration into its artillery brigades prior to geopolitical shifts in 2014.[12] These early versions retained the original analog fire control and 2A64 gun without post-Cold War enhancements, serving as the reference for subsequent export offers to allied nations.[19]Upgraded models (2S19M1, 2S19M2, and subsequent enhancements)
The 2S19M1 upgrade, introduced in the early 2000s, incorporated an automated fire control system with digital laying mechanisms and GLONASS satellite navigation integration, enabling precise targeting in adverse weather and low-visibility conditions regardless of time of day.[5][22] This modernization retained the base 2A64 152 mm gun with a maximum range of approximately 29 km using rocket-assisted projectiles, but enhanced overall system responsiveness through reduced manual inputs in aiming and positioning.[1] The 2S19M2 (also designated Msta-SM2), entering production around 2013, represented a deeper overhaul with the adoption of the 2A79 152 mm cannon, automated fire control incorporating digital navigation and mapping, and provisions for firing precision-guided munitions such as the Krasnopol laser-guided projectile up to 25 km.[17][23] These enhancements improved accuracy and integration with external targeting data, while the autoloader supported sustained fire rates up to 10 rounds per minute by automating shell selection and ejection to minimize crew fatigue.[24] Post-2022 enhancements, driven by operational feedback from high-intensity conflicts, included the addition of slat-style cage armor on the hull and turret to counter top-attack drone threats, as observed in field modifications reported in 2025.[15] Further refinements to the fire control suite facilitated rapid target acquisition from unmanned aerial vehicle feeds, with batches of upgraded units delivered to Russian forces in 2023–2024 to address dispersion and vulnerability issues identified in prior deployments.[25][26] These iterative changes prioritized empirical survivability gains over radical redesigns, maintaining compatibility with existing 152 mm ammunition stocks while incrementally boosting effective engagement ranges through better ballistic computation.[27]Operational history
Early Soviet and Russian deployments
The 2S19 Msta-S entered service with the Soviet Army in 1989, assigned to artillery regiments within motorized rifle and tank divisions to provide divisional-level fire support, including counter-battery engagements and suppression of enemy positions during maneuvers.[28][21] This integration aligned with late Cold War doctrine emphasizing mobile, responsive artillery to support advancing mechanized forces in potential European theater operations, though specific exercise data from 1989–1991 remains limited in open sources.[29] Following the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991, the system transitioned to Russian Ground Forces inventories without major doctrinal shifts initially, retaining its role in training for combined-arms operations. In the First Chechen War (1994–1996), the Msta-S achieved initial combat deployment alongside older systems like the 2S3 Akatsiya, with at least one equipped regiment operating under the 8th Army Corps in the North Caucasus.[1] Its tracked mobility facilitated repositioning in rugged terrain for indirect fire support against separatist positions, but operations exposed broader Russian logistical vulnerabilities, including intermittent ammunition resupply amid poor infrastructure and extended supply lines from mainland bases.[30] These issues stemmed from post-Soviet force contraction and corruption, which hampered sustainment rates across artillery units, limiting sustained barrages despite the howitzer's design for high-volume fire.[31] Amid 1990s military contractions reducing active divisions from over 200 to fewer than 20, Russian reforms prioritized retaining capable systems like the Msta-S as the divisional artillery mainstay, focusing production on domestic needs to rebuild firepower projection capabilities eroded by economic constraints.[12][32] This emphasis underscored its baseline role in fire support doctrines, informing later brigade-based structures while highlighting the need for improved logistics in limited-intensity conflicts.[33]Use in post-Soviet conflicts
The 2S19 Msta-S entered combat during the Second Chechen War (1999–2009), where Russian Ground Forces employed it for indirect fire support against separatist fighters in urban and highland areas, enabling infantry advances by suppressing fortified positions and mobile guerrilla units with high-explosive shells fired at ranges up to 24.7 km.[34][35] This marked the system's debut in asymmetric warfare, highlighting its utility in delivering sustained barrages—up to 8–10 rounds per minute in burst fire—to disrupt enemy ambushes and logistics, though operations revealed vulnerabilities to close-range sabotage in contested terrain.[21] In the Russo-Georgian War of August 2008, Russian artillery batteries integrated the Msta-S into offensive operations, using it to conduct preparatory bombardments that neutralized Georgian defensive lines during the push into South Ossetia and beyond, with fire missions coordinated via forward observers to target troop concentrations and supply nodes.[15] The system's mobility allowed repositioning under fire, supporting rapid mechanized maneuvers, but at least one unit was reported lost to counter-battery fire or abandonment amid the conflict's intensity.[36] Exports of the 2S19 to post-Soviet states extended its role in regional clashes, such as Azerbaijan's use against Armenian positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh theater during escalations in the 2010s, where it proved effective in engaging entrenched defenses with conventional and guided munitions like Krasnopol for precision strikes on bunkers.[6] Such applications informed Russian export doctrines by demonstrating the howitzer's adaptability to hybrid threats, prompting upgrades for improved survivability against drone reconnaissance and anti-artillery tactics observed in adversary captures and analyses.[37]Role in the Russo-Ukrainian War
The 2S19 Msta-S entered service in the Donbas phase of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict (2014–2021) through captures by pro-Russian separatist forces, with documented instances of at least one unit seized from Ukrainian positions and employed for artillery support against government-held areas.[35][6] These early deployments were limited in scale, relying on opportunistic acquisitions rather than systematic Russian supply, and focused on indirect fire to suppress Ukrainian advances in contested regions like Debaltseve.[35] The system's role expanded dramatically after Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, positioning the Msta-S as a primary self-propelled howitzer for Russian ground forces across fronts from Kharkiv to Kherson, delivering sustained high-volume barrages to soften Ukrainian defenses and support mechanized assaults.[38][8] Russian artillery units, leveraging Msta-S platforms, emphasized massed fire tactics, with daily shell outputs contributing to reported ratios of 5:1 or higher over Ukrainian counterparts in intense phases like the 2022 Donbas offensive.[39] Adaptations emerged to address battlefield realities, including field modifications to Msta-S hulls with metal cope cages and wooden revetments for anti-drone protection, alongside integration of electronic warfare pods on upgraded 2S19M2 variants to jam Ukrainian FPV and reconnaissance drones.[15][40] These enhancements enabled continued operations despite vulnerability to precision counter-battery fire, with some units retrofitted for compatibility with Russian Krasnopol laser-guided shells to improve strike accuracy beyond unguided volume fire.[23] Open-source visual confirmations tallied over 290 Msta-S losses by mid-2025, predominantly from Ukrainian drone strikes, HIMARS intercepts, and artillery duels, yet Russian forces offset attrition by reactivating stored units from Soviet-era reserves and accelerating production of modernized batches.[8] This refurbishment cycle sustained the system's frontline presence, underpinning Russian doctrinal reliance on artillery saturation to achieve localized fire superiority amid attritional warfare.[38]Operators
Current operators
Russia maintains the largest fleet of 2S19 Msta-S howitzers, estimated at over 1,000 units including base models, 2S19M1 upgrades, and newer 2S19M2 variants as of 2025, with ongoing production and modernization efforts by Uraltransmash to sustain operational readiness amid attrition.[41][42] Azerbaijan operates approximately 18 units, inherited from Soviet-era stockpiles and integrated into its artillery forces for exercises as recently as 2024.[43] Ethiopia fields around a dozen systems, sourced from Soviet exports in the late Cold War period and mobilized for internal conflicts.[44] Belarus retains a small inventory of about 12-13 howitzers from post-Soviet dissolution assets, with limited recent activity reported.[45] Venezuela acquired at least 47 units directly from Russia starting in 2011, bolstering its artillery capabilities through bilateral military cooperation.[46] Morocco has incorporated an undisclosed number of 2S19M1 variants via recent purchases from Rosoboronexport, diversifying its artillery from traditional Western suppliers.[47]Former and captured operators
Ukraine inherited an estimated 40 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers from Soviet stocks following the dissolution of the USSR, as documented in early assessments of post-Soviet inventories.[12] These units formed part of Ukraine's artillery capabilities prior to 2014, but subsequent military reforms, equipment attrition, and integration of NATO-compatible systems led to their effective phase-out from active service by the early 2020s, with remaining examples likely relegated to storage or disposal.[48] In the Russo-Ukrainian War commencing in 2022, Ukrainian forces have captured numerous Russian-operated 2S19 Msta-S units, enabling their repurposing against original operators. Documented captures include operational examples seized in early 2022, which Ukrainian technicians have repaired and employed in counter-battery roles.[49][50] Such acquisitions have supplemented dwindling native stocks, with modifications like turret integrations on alternative chassis reported to extend service life amid ammunition and parts constraints.[8] The Soviet Union served as the primary operator until 1991, after which production ceased and units were apportioned among successor republics, contributing to the proliferation and eventual attrition in downsized post-Cold War militaries. Limited evidence exists of systematic scrapping in states like Ukraine, where economic pressures and doctrinal shifts favored lighter or Western systems over maintenance of 152 mm Soviet-era platforms.[51]Combat performance and assessments
Demonstrated effectiveness and achievements
The 2S19 Msta-S has provided critical high-volume fire support in the Russo-Ukrainian War, with its autoloader enabling sustained burst rates of up to 10 rounds per minute from the 152 mm 2A64 howitzer, surpassing the capabilities of many towed systems and facilitating suppression of fortified Ukrainian positions to enable Russian infantry advances.[52] Integrated into brigade artillery groups positioned 2–4 km behind front lines, the system delivers concentrated firepower in alignment with Russian doctrine's focus on massed barrages for doctrinal close battle dominance.[53] Upgrades such as the Uspekh-S automated guidance system and compatibility with Krasnopol-D guided projectiles have enhanced precision, achieving a circular error probable (CEP) of under 5 meters at ranges up to 43 km, allowing effective engagement of high-value targets including command centers, artillery batteries, and logistics infrastructure through UAV-supported reconnaissance-fire complexes with targeting cycles as short as 3 minutes.[54][52][53] This adaptability supports "shoot-and-scoot" tactics and synchronized fire raids, contributing to causal impacts on enemy operational tempo.[52] Russia's annual production exceeding 50 units, including refurbished and modernized variants like the Msta-SM2, has sustained fleet availability amid combat attrition, ensuring persistent delivery of firepower superiority essential for territorial objectives in attritional engagements.[55]Limitations, vulnerabilities, and criticisms
The 2S19 Msta-S has demonstrated significant vulnerabilities to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and precision counter-battery fires in the Russo-Ukrainian War, with Ukrainian FPV drones repeatedly destroying units despite protective measures such as cope cages. For instance, on July 16, 2025, Ukraine's Omega Wings unit used an FPV drone to eliminate a 2S19 positioned for firing, highlighting the system's susceptibility to low-cost, loitering munitions that exploit its thermal signature and limited active protection. Ukrainian forces have also employed Western-supplied systems like HIMARS to target Msta-S batteries, as evidenced by strikes on concentrations of two howitzers detected via aerial reconnaissance. Russia has incurred heavy losses of the type, with reports documenting substantial attrition rates over short periods, such as dozens destroyed in a single month in mid-2024, underscoring survivability gaps against networked, real-time targeting in peer-level conflicts.[56][57][58][59] Design shortcomings further compound operational risks, including low hydraulic system reliability that can impair mobility and firing cycles under sustained combat stress, and the lack of internal armored partitions, which leaves the five-person crew exposed to spall, overpressure, or secondary effects from near-misses. Reloading procedures, reliant on a semi-automatic system carrying 50 rounds internally, still necessitate periodic external resupply that exposes crews to detection and small-arms fire in forward areas without full enclosure. Ammunition compatibility remains a doctrinal constraint, as the 152 mm caliber adheres to legacy Soviet standards incompatible with prevalent NATO 155 mm rounds, restricting logistics interoperability in multinational operations and forcing reliance on domestic supply chains vulnerable to disruption.[52] Critics of Russian artillery doctrine, which prioritizes high-volume, saturating barrages over stealthy or dispersed positioning, argue that this approach renders Msta-S batteries predictable and detectable via electronic warfare and satellite reconnaissance, amplifying losses against adversaries with superior counter-battery radars and precision munitions. While effective for overwhelming less-equipped foes through sheer output—up to 7-8 rounds per minute initially—this massed-fire reliance proves inefficient in contested environments where rapid relocation and low observability are paramount, as prolonged exposure invites retaliatory strikes that outpace the system's 60 km/h road mobility.[52]Comparative analysis with Western artillery systems
The 2S19 Msta-S employs a 152 mm 2A64 howitzer with a standard maximum range of 24.7 km using high-explosive fragmentation rounds, extendable to 29 km with base-bleed projectiles and 36 km with rocket-assisted variants.[5][19] In contrast, the German PzH 2000 (155 mm) achieves 30 km with standard munitions and up to 40 km with base-bleed or 50 km with velocity-enhanced rounds, while the US M109A7 Paladin (155 mm) reaches 30 km standard and over 40 km with extended-range or guided projectiles like Excalibur.[60][61] The Msta-S's maximum rate of fire is 8 rounds per minute for short bursts, exceeding the Paladin's 4-6 rounds per minute but comparable to the PzH 2000's 10 rounds per minute sustained capability, though the latter benefits from advanced autoloaders reducing crew exposure.[12][62]| System | Caliber | Standard Range | Extended Range | Max Rate of Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2S19 Msta-S | 152 mm | 24.7 km | 36 km (RAP) | 8 rpm |
| PzH 2000 | 155 mm | 30 km | 50 km (VE) | 10 rpm |
| M109A7 | 155 mm | 30 km | 40+ km (ER/G) | 6 rpm |