British AS90 Howitzer: The Unheralded Architect Behind Ukraine's Artillery Success
Often referred to as the "king of war," the British AS90 self-propelled howitzer demonstrated its power in a video. The AS90, which is essentially one of the forerunners of the Polish AHS Krab, was delivered to Ukraine back in 2022. Now, soldiers show how they use it on the front, firing at Russian positions.
Self-propelled howitzers are some of the most desired machines on the front due to their capability to support infantry during battles by covering fire. They also play a significant role in eliminating armoured structures and fortifications on the front. It's no wonder that Ukrainians have repeatedly praised the Polish Krab, noting its mobility, striking power, and overall usefulness in combat.
The AS90 is another weapon that is very similar to the aforementioned design from Poland. Its history was discussed in more detail by journalist Przemysław Juraszek of Wirtualna Polska, who pointed out that the British AS90 "is the result of a misunderstanding that occurred in the 1980s between the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany." Each of these countries had been working since the 1970s on the SP-70 Howitzer, whose design turned out to be underdeveloped. Consequently, Germany and the United Kingdom decided to develop their weapons. The AS90, adopted by the British in the 1990s, was the outcome.
Interestingly, the Poles chose the British design as a donor of the turret system for their native Krab. Ultimately, the final version of the Polish AHS Krab howitzer was built on the chassis of the Korean K9 while sharing its turret and gun with the British AS90. For this reason, it is called the "father" of the Krab.
British AS90 self-propelled howitzer
Introduced into the British army in 1992, the AS90 self-propelled howitzer replaced the previously used (and by then obsolete) M109 howitzers from the USA and the British FV433. The modern design is powered by a Cummins VTA 903T-660 diesel engine with a power of about 650 HP, enabling the vehicle to reach speeds of just under 60 km/h (approximately 37 mph). With a full fuel tank (capacity of around 750 litres), the AS90 can cover a distance of roughly 370 km (about 229 miles).
The hallmark of this British self-propelled howitzer is its gun – a 155 mm calibre, 39-calibre-length barrel housed in a manned turret. Standard projectiles fired from the AS90 can reach a range of approximately 25 km (about 15.5 miles), while rocket-assisted projectiles increase this range to about 30 km (roughly 18.6 miles). Although this is an impressive range, for comparison, competitive models with 52-calibre-length barrels can exceed a striking range of even 50 km (about 31 miles).
A crew of five people is required to operate the British machine. The crew can begin firing within a minute of the vehicle stopping. At that time, the rate of fire is 3 shots every 10 seconds. In subsequent firings, the rate of fire reaches a maximum of 6 shots per minute.
