Self-propelled howitzer 122mm SORA () is a Serbian 122mm

self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called locomotive artillery) is artillery equipped with its own propulsion system to move toward its firing position. Within the terminology are the self-propelled gun, self-propelled howitzer, self-propelled mo ...

developed by the

Military Technical Institute Military Technical Institute (; abbr. ) is a Serbian weapons and aircraft design institute, headquartered in Belgrade, and governed by the Ministry of Defence (Serbia), Serbian Ministry of Defence. It is a top-level military scientific research ...

for the

Serbian Army The Serbian Army () is the land-based and the largest component of the Serbian Armed Forces. Its organization, composition, weapons and equipment are adapted to the assigned missions and tasks of the Serbian Armed Forces, primarily for operatio ...

. Self-propelled howitzer SORA features whole upper part of 122mm howitzer D-30J mounted on the rear end of modified FAP 2026 BS/AV truck chassis. Main functions of the weapon system, such as navigation, gun lying, loading of ammunition and deployment, are fully automatic.Pantelic, M. (2021, August 6). Samohodna Haubica 122 D-30/04 sora. Tank Encyclopedia. https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/samohodna-haubica-122-d-30-04-sora/

Development

After the decision to keep the 122mm caliber in use, the Serbian army decided to modernize D-30 howitzer according to the world trends in self-propelled artillery. Assignment to develop the system was entrusted to the MTI, while production of the functional models was given to 14. oktobar. Work on this project began in March 2004, and in 2009, the first functional model was completed by IMK. After its March roll-out, it underwent a series of initial firing trials, involving about 18 rounds, the first three of which were conducted with reduced charges and the remainder with full charges. Improvements were subsequently made to the stabilisation system, whose forward-facing stabilisers proved unable to adequately absorb the recoil forces during firing. Another goal was to demonstrate loading of the weapon at all elevation angles, and this was successfully achieved, according to MTI. Sora 1

The first prototype of SORA was publicly demonstrated in 2009, representing a fairly simple installation of the 122mm D-30J howitzer on a wheeled chassis. But that was only the first phase of development. After that MTI begun work on further improvements of the system, which included installation of the automatic loader,

inertial navigation system An inertial navigation system (INS; also inertial guidance system, inertial instrument) is a navigation device that uses motion sensors (accelerometers), rotation sensors (gyroscopes) and a computer to continuously calculate by dead reckoning th ...

, automatic transition from the transport position to firing position... The second prototype of SORA was completed in 2013, and it was the first time publicly presented at Partner 2013 arms fair. This was the final configuration with the 122mm autoloader, inertial and satellite navigation, positioning and orientation subsystems, automatic combat to march position switching and a remote control unit which can be wired or

wireless Wireless communication (or just wireless, when the context allows) is the transfer of information (''telecommunication'') between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or other continuous guided transm ...

, allowing the control of the howitzer from the distance up to . Tests of this prototype have begun in July 2013, but the polygon fire testing is not expected before March 2014.

Main components

*D30J In the process of preparation for serial production (in 1975/1976), MTI carried out modifications of the basic Soviet model D-30 into model D-30J (aimed at facilitating operations of the crew during transition from traveling to firing position and reducing the effects of powder gases’ overpressure upon the crew), as well as by developing new HE projectile 122 mm M76 with the range of (compared to maximum range of of Russian round type OF482). Later, during the early 1980s, complete technology transfer of D-30J howitzer with associated sighting devices was made to Iraq (Project KOL-7), including design of entire infrastructure and introduction in production, rated for annual capacity of 200 units. *FAP 2026 BS/AV The

FAP 2026 FAP 2026 is a general purpose off-road lorry made by Serbian vehicle manufacturer Fabrika automobila Priboj (FAP). The six-wheel drive lorry is designed for transport of personnel, weapons and material up to of total weight, as for traction o ...

BS/AV 6t 6x6 off-road vehicle is designed for transport of crew, weapons and material up to of total weight, as for traction of weapons and trailer up to of weight. This vehicle has an 8-cylinder, 4-stroke, water cooled MERCEDES OM 402 diesel engine with direct injection, installed longitudinally under the cab. The vehicle’s transmission includes: friction clutch, 6-gear synchronous mechanical gearbox, two-stage differential transfer case that provides permanent all wheels drive, rigid drive axles with leaf springs, additional rubber springs and hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers. The pneumatic braking system has drum brakes on all wheels. The steering is hydraulic with servo assistance. The frame has two longitudinal and several transversal brackets, while the cab is a trambus type. Both inter-axial and all three axial differentials can be locked mechanically. The vehicle has a system of central pressure control in tires. In this case FAP 2026 is additionally modified and reinforced in order to meet requirements needed for this howitzer. *Autoloader SORA 122mm autoloader

Autoloader uses six rounds ( projectile and charge ) located in two drums on both sides of the gun. Projectiles in the right drum, the charges on the left.

Rate of fire Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. This can be influenced by several factors, including operator training level, mechanical limitations, ammunition availability, and weapon condition. In m ...

in this configuration is 6 rds/min. Thanks to the high level of automatization, SORA is capable to operate with only two crew members. *Fire-control system MTI inertial navigation system

Fire-control system A fire-control system (FCS) is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director and radar, which is designed to assist a ranged weapon system to target, track, and hit a target. It performs the same task as a hum ...

of SORA consists of ballistic computer which can work in two modes. The first one is when howitzer is operating independently, in which case the crew has to input the firing elements, meteorological data, ammunition data... In the second case, the ballistic computer receives firing data from the command spot and sends back the condition and position of the howitzer. Ballistic computer works together with other elements of the fire-control system, such as

inertial In classical physics and special relativity, an inertial frame of reference (also called an inertial space or a Galilean reference frame) is a frame of reference in which objects exhibit inertia: they remain at rest or in uniform motion relative ...

and

satellite A satellite or an artificial satellite is an object, typically a spacecraft, placed into orbit around a celestial body. They have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation ( GPS), broadcasting, scient ...

navigation, positioning and orientation subsystem.... *New ammunition Together with the development of SORA, MTI has been working on a new range of ammunition in 122mm

caliber In guns, particularly firearms, but not #As a measurement of length, artillery, where a different definition may apply, caliber (or calibre; sometimes abbreviated as "cal") is the specified nominal internal diameter of the gun barrel Gauge ( ...

. *TF-462 Basic projectile with a range of *TF ER BT ХМ08 Hollow-Base projectile with a range of *TF ER BB ХМ09 Base-Bleed projectile with a range of

Role

Self-propelled howitzer 122mm SORA is intended for general

fire support Fire support is a military tactics term used to describe weapons fire used to support friendly forces by engaging, suppressing, or destroying enemy forces, facilities, or materiel in combat. It is often provided through indirect fire, though th ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...

level units. It has been designed to fulfill requirements of the modern battlefield, which means that

shoot-and-scoot Shoot-and-scoot (alternatively, fire-and-displace or fire-and-move) is an artillery Military tactics, tactic of firing at a target and then immediately moving away from the location from where the shots were fired to avoid counter-battery fire, ...

principle is adopted as the main mode of operation. SORA is capable to fire in the firing cycles of 3.5 minutes. 90 seconds for switching from march to combat position, 60 seconds to fire all 6 shells in the autoloader, and another 60 seconds to move from the firing position.

Gallery

File:SORA_122mm_2.jpg, SORA self-propelled 122mm gun-howitzer on display at "Partner 2013" military fair. File:SORA_122.jpg, SORA self-propelled 122mm gun-howitzer on display at "Partner 2011" military fair.

References

{{Military Technical Institute Belgrade 122 mm artillery Wheeled self-propelled howitzers Sora Military Technical Institute Belgrade Six-wheeled vehicles