Russia's reliance on North Korean artillery grows amid shortages
The Russians are increasingly deploying the M-1989 "Koksan" howitzers received from North Korea, as evidenced by their destruction by the Ukrainians. Here, we examine the capabilities of this system and the forces attacking it.
The Ukrainians from the 413th "Raid" Unmanned Systems Forces unit detected and destroyed the M-1989 "Koksan" howitzer. The operation took place at night, executed by the "Vampire" drone, a nickname for the "Baba Yaga" type bombing drones equipped with thermal cameras.
In the footage below, you can observe three bombs being dropped on the Koksan, potentially eliminating the crew. Unfortunately, the video ends post-attack, so it remains unclear whether a fire, such as in the propellant charges, or an explosion of the stored ammunition eventually followed.
Without Kim, Russian artillery struggles
Currently, the Russians face significant issues with barrel artillery, as domestic barrel production capabilities fall short of meeting demand, and the cannibalisation of systems in storage has ceased, as suggested by satellite images showing rows of inoperative towed howitzers without barrels.
This situation compels Russia to seek North Korea's assistance, as demonstrated by instances like the M-46 howitzers with a 130 mm calibre, the D-74s, which Russia possessed in limited numbers, or the emergence of North Korea's most powerful howitzers, the M-1989 "Koksan," on the frontlines. This scenario highlights Russia's reliance on Kim, following ammunition supplies covering even 60 per cent of Russia's requirements.
M-1989 "Koksan" - the most formidable artillery of the DPRK as the only competitor to Krab
The North Korean M-1989 "Koksan" howitzers, conceptually akin to the 2S7 Pion howitzers, are fitted with a 170 mm calibre gun approximately 11 metres long, mounted on a modified tank chassis from the T-54/55 family, resulting in a 40-ton howitzer with tremendous firepower.
The "Koksan" is believed to fire shells weighing between 60 to 100 kilograms to a distance of 40 kilometres, and in the version with a rocket booster, even 60 kilometres. Although the system's accuracy is not its strongest feature, a shell containing dozens of kilograms of TNT can inflict significant damage. These guns were designed as an economical weapon to bombard Seoul from positions concealed in the mountains. In such a scenario, where the target is a city, precision is less significant than firepower for this weapon of terror.
The firing rate of the "Koksan" is estimated at 1-2 shots every five minutes, operated by six soldiers. While it may be outdated, with intensive shelling, it can still be effective. It is also currently one of the few systems in the Russian arsenal capable of delivering a range comparable to modern Western 155 mm solutions, such as the German PzH-2000 self-propelled guns or Polish Krabs.
