The Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (Russian TsNIITochMash) has released the first publicly available photo of the Lotus, a new self-propelled, trackedartillery unit. The image, appearing in the design bureau's 2019 corporate calendar, was made available online on the design bureau's Instagram account.
The image was accompanied by a statement by Dmitri Melikhov, chief engineer in charge of the Lotus project, who explained that in designing the project, "the lotus flower was a kind of inspiration for us. Notwithstanding its outward fragility, it grows in the most difficult conditions. It is a perfect combination of beauty, grace and indestructibility."
According to the chief designer, the Lotus airborne artillery system boasts "high ballistic characteristics and effectiveness of ammunition, designed in accordance with the principal of the 'golden ratio'," i.e. not only optimal weight and dimensions, but also a graceful silhouette.
The Lotus is expected to replace the Nona-S, a lightweight, air-droppable 120 mm gun-mortar, a Soviet design first introduced in 1981 which proved its effectiveness against the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan. Earlier, designers explained that the Lotus project aimed to further enhance the firepower and manoeuvrability of the mobile artillery used by the Airborne Forces.
Earlier, it was reported that the system would be prepared for state trials later this year. If everything goes as plan, production of the new self-propelled guns will begin in 2020.
