UK increases AS90 Howitzer support for Ukraine amid conflict

The government of the United Kingdom has decided to increase support for Ukraine. As a result, 16 AS90 self-propelled howitzers will be sent to the front, although declarations made a few weeks ago suggested a smaller number of these artillery systems. Here, we outline their most important features.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and representatives of his Ministry of Defence emphasized that within 100 days of taking office, they would deliver 12 AS90 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine. In the end, this will be equipment included in the strategy of increasing and accelerating equipment deliveries to Ukraine. The defending army can expect 16 such artillery systems. In a communication, the British highlighted that this constitutes one of the key types of weapons essential to the defending army fighting the Russian invader.

"A total of 16 of these units are on track, of which 10 have already been delivered, and the remaining six will appear on the front in the coming weeks. Artillery plays a crucial role in covering Ukrainian troops and destroying key Russian targets," the British Ministry of Defence said in its statement.

The AS90 is a weapon that entered service in the British Army in 1992. Designers used a 155 mm calibre gun with a barrel length of 39 calibres, mounted in a manned turret installed on a tracked chassis. The range of the AS90 depends on the type of ammunition used.

Using standard ammunition, the range reaches approximately 26 kilometres, but thanks to rocket-assisted projectiles, it can be increased to nearly 30 kilometres. It is also possible to conduct fire in MRSI mode (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact). This means the projectiles leave the gun at different angles and thus reach the target at the same time.

The British AS90 howitzer, mounted on a tracked chassis, weighs 42 tonnes. Soldiers who have had the opportunity to use it emphasize that it allows for leaving the firing position in less than 60 seconds. It is also characterized by a good rate of fire - up to 6 rounds per minute.

The entire structure is approximately 3.4 metres wide and nearly 10 metres long. It is equipped with a fuel tank with a capacity of 750 litres, which translates to a range of just under 400 kilometres. The maximum speed the AS90 can reach is approximately 60 kilometres per hour.

The AS90 is among NATO-standard artillery using 155 mm calibre ammunition, which has a greater range than the Soviet-era 152 mm artillery that Ukraine had to rely on when the war broke out. However, the AS90 has a shorter barrel than some other NATO solutions, so it is not a record holder in terms of range. For example, French CAESAR howitzers have a gun with a barrel length of up to 52 calibres, where the range with base ammunition exceeds 40 kilometres.