UK ramps up military aid, sends more AS90 howitzers to Ukraine

The government of the United Kingdom has decided to increase support for Ukraine. As a result, 16 AS90 self-propelled howitzers, among other equipment, will be sent to the front. However, declarations made a few weeks ago spoke of a smaller number of these artillery systems, whose most important features we outline.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Ministry of Defence representatives emphasised that within 100 days of taking office, they would deliver 12 AS90 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine. In the end, this equipment is included in increasing and accelerating equipment deliveries to Ukraine. The defending army can expect 16 such artillery systems. In a communication, the British highlighted that this is one of the key types of weapons of great importance to the defending army fighting the Russian invaders.

"A total of 16 units are now on course to be delivered, with 10 already delivered and six more to follow in the coming weeks. Artillery has played a vital role in providing cover for Ukrainian troops and destroying key Russian targets," the British Ministry of Defence said in its statement.

The AS-90 entered service in the British Army in 1992. Designers used a 155 mm calibre gun with a barrel length of 39 calibres mounted in a manned turret installed on a tracked chassis. The range of the AS-90 depends on the type of ammunition used.

Using standard ammunition, the range reaches approximately 26 kilometres, but thanks to rocket-assisted projectiles, it can be increased to nearly 31 kilometres. It is also possible to conduct fire in MRSI mode (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact). This mode causes the projectiles to leave the gun at different angles and thus reach the target at the same time.

The British AS90 howitzer, mounted on a tracked chassis, weighs 42 tonnes. Soldiers who have used it emphasise that it can leave the firing position in less than 60 seconds. It is also characterised by a good rate of fire—up to 6 rounds per minute.

The entire structure is approximately 3.3 metres wide and nearly 10 metres long. It is equipped with a fuel tank with a capacity of 900 litres, which translates to a range of just under 400 kilometres. The maximum speed the AS90 can reach is approximately 60 kilometres per hour.

The AS-90 is among NATO-standard artillery using 155 mm calibre ammunition, which has a more excellent range than the Soviet-era 152 mm artillery that Ukraine had to rely on when the war broke out. On the other hand, the AS-90 has a shorter barrel than some other NATO solutions, so it is not a record holder in terms of range. For example, French CAESAR howitzers have a gun with a barrel length of up to 52 calibres, where the range with base ammunition exceeds 40 kilometres.