The Koalitsiya-SV’s pneumatic autoloader delivers a firing rate of up to sixteen rounds per minute—quadrupling the Paladin’s four rounds per minute—while its ammunition capacity of 60 to 70 rounds ensures sustained operations under intense combat conditions.
Russia’s ongoing military modernization has worked out better for Moscow than many in the West would have liked. One such system that has proven itself to be a decisive tactical advantage for the Russian Army in its ongoing Ukraine War has been the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer—blending 21st-century technology with the country’s longstanding tradition of robust military engineering.
The 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV was first unveiled in 2015 during that year’s Victory Day parade in Moscow. This 152mm tracked artillery system is poised to replace the aging 2S19 Msta-S in the Russian Ground Forces. With its cutting-edge automation, extended range, and high rate of fire, the Koalitsiya-SV is often touted as one of the most advanced self-propelled howitzers in the world.
Russia’s Self-Propelled Artillery: A Long History of Killing
Going back to the early 2000s, Russia sought to modernize its artillery capabilities amid evolving battlefield demands. Initially conceived as an upgrade to the 2S19 Msta-S, the project took a bold turn with an ambitious twin-barreled prototype. This over-and-under dual 152mm gun design aimed to effectively double the rate of fire—and even enable multiple-round simultaneous impact (MRSI), a technique where several shells hit a target at once from different trajectories.
JSC Central Research Institute Burevestnik under the Uralvagonzavod umbrella designed this beastly artillery system. By 2010, however, the dual-barrel concept was abandoned due to its technical complexity and cost. The designers of the new artillery set instead pivoted to a more conventional single-barreled system built on a modified T-90 Main Battle Tank (MBT) chassis.
The Koalitsiya-SV underwent extensive testing throughout the 2010s. Early prototypes appeared by 2015, with serial production kicking off after trials concluded in October 2023—a year into Russia’s war with Ukraine. The first batch was delivered to the Russian Army later that year, reflecting an accelerated timeline due to the ongoing war.
Like so many Russian systems, the changes made by the designers of the Koalitsiya-SV reflected the need for a pragmatic approach to new battlefield artillery, balancing innovation with battlefield practicality. Historically, Russian weapons were minimalistic in their design, eschewing the more expensive whiz-bang aspects that have come to define American and NATO systems in favor of lower costs and simpler maintenance.
The Koalitsiya-SV Howitzer Is Simple but Effective
Simplicity does not mean ineffectiveness. Indeed, the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV stands out for its advanced capabilities. Its 2A88 152mm gun boasts a range of up to 43 miles, with precision-guided munitions that go as far as 25 miles out with standard rounds.
The Russian system outpaces many of its Western counterparts, such as the American M109 Paladin or the British As90 Braveheart. The Koalitsiya-SV’s pneumatic autoloader delivers a firing rate of up to sixteen rounds per minute—quadrupling the Paladin’s four rounds per minute—while its ammunition capacity of 60 to 70 rounds ensures sustained operations under intense combat conditions, of the kind that dominate the Ukrainian battlefields today.
Automation is a hallmark of this Russian artillery system. The turret is unmanned, with the crew—reduced to as few as two or three members, depending on the mission profile—housed in an armored capsule in the chassis. A unified command-and-control system integrates digital displays, allowing autonomous shell selection, charge adjustment, and targeting. This reduces human error and speeds up firing cycles.
The Koalitsiya-SV features a 12.7mm Kord remote weapon station for close defense, an Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) protection system, and a top speed of 37 miles per hour. Of course, Russia has an impressive fleet of tanks as well, but who actually needs those when these systems are running roughshod over the Ukrainian frontlines?
A New Weapon for a Classic Russian Way of War
While unconfirmed, reports on this dynamic weapons platform suggest that the Russians included Doppler radars to enhance accuracy by tracking projectile trajectories in real time, eliminating the need for traditional sighting shots. Though this has not been confirmed, such technology would align with the Koalitsiya-SV’s emphasis on precision and efficiency—and mark a major step forward for the platform.
Russia’s military doctrine is best understood as wars of attrition defined by tactical encirclement coupled with mass fires to degrade an enemy force. That was how Stalin’s Red Army defeated Hitler’s Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front, and it is how Putin’s army is grinding down the Ukrainians today. The 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV will play a critical role in this victory.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Andrey Kryuchenko.
