May 19, 2014. 25 years ago, on May 17, 1989, the USSR Defense Ministry’s Order 0127 put the self-propelled howitzer Msta-S into service.

‘The howitzer was developed by Transmash Design Office of Uraltransmash (currently a member enterprise of Uralvagonzavod) under the guidance of Chief Designer Yuri Tomashov. Msta-S outstripped both its predecessor 2S3M Akatsia and its foreign counterparts at the time in terms of every single parameter,’ the corporation’s press service says.

2S19 Msta-S has an increased maximum fire range and yet can still use the ‘old’ ammunition from Akatsia set. Thanks to the automated packet loading process and the mechanized charging process, it is possible to fire over eight shots a minute.

What is more, fired cartridges get removed automatically, the armor is made stronger, and the machine can also operate on a power supply unit. The chassis are made with the parts from the Russian T72 and T80 tanks. This was a no-choice solution in many ways, yet it meant that the chassis had a certain tonnage reserve for future upgrades.

The renovated Msta-S is still mass-produced by Uralransmash and enjoys demand on today’s weaponry market.