Russia advances with 2S42 Lotos artillery amid intensifying front-line mobilisation
Russians are most likely sending a new self-propelled mortar, the 2S42 Lotos, to the front - reports the Army Recognition website, citing a video of the mentioned weapon's transport in Russia. We explain the capabilities of this recently produced equipment.
"The latest self-propelled gun 2S42 Lotos has received grid armour and is on the move. Of course, it's not headed to an exhibition" – reads a post on the Btvt.info profile on Telegram. The transport of the weapon belonging to the Russian Federation was spotted in an unspecified location in Russia – the local army does not inform about the deployment of the Lotos to the front, however, equipping the gun with grid protection against attacks from above (using drones) very likely means the vehicle will soon be sent into battle.
The deployment of the Lotos to the front coincides with the mass mobilisation of Russians, predicted by many experts. The aggressor's army may soon attack with numerous machines that the military has accumulated in warehouses over the years.
Among these machines are armoured carriers from the BTR family, of which Russia has several thousand. It is also important to emphasise, in the context of plans for a strong attack on Ukraine – recently, the Russians have managed to significantly intensify missile attacks. In light of recent events, the 2S42 Lotos vehicle seems to be one of the pieces of equipment that will soon be sent into battle.
2S42 Lotos spotted in transport
Besides the mentioned detail that may indicate plans to deploy the Lotos in battle, namely the installed anti-drone cage, the 2S42 mortar deserves attention also because it is one of the newest pieces of equipment in the Russian army. Meanwhile, the Ukrainians have not published any photos or videos confirming its presence on the front for the last two years, so the vehicle visible in the video below may be one of the first to appear in Ukraine.
The 2S42 Lotos project was first revealed during the Army-2017 military forum, and its prototype was shown in 2019. Tests of the weapon began in August 2023 - explains Army Recognition. After rigorous trials on land and in water, engineers still had a lot of work to do because problems with the onboard electronics, loading system, and chassis were identified during the tests. Many modifications were made based on experiences from the war in Ukraine.
The drive of this vehicle is provided by a diesel engine 2W-06-2 with a power of 450 HP, which can accelerate the construction to a speed of around 70 km/h. A full fuel tank, in turn, guarantees a range of approx. 500 km. The armament of the Lotos includes a 2A80-1 calibre 120 mm mortar (with a firing range of over 13 km) and a 7.62 mm machine gun.
