For the second time in two years: in the Russian Federation, a new 120-mm of SAU "Lotus" (photo) was brought to test

The test of a new artillery installation has been reported repeatedly since 2022. But, apparently, the Russian Federation sometimes "forget" about certain events on their own weapons. The Russian concern "Kalashnikov" has announced plans to start state tests of a new self-propelled artillery gun 2C42 "Lotus", which is intended for replacement of 2C9 "Non-S" in the airborne troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

On August 10, the head of the concern Alan Lushnikov said, Defense Express reports. "We conducted preliminary trials, conducted military testing. We received a rather serious development plan from the customer in this direction. And the DKR, which once opened, we need to be completed: we plan to go for state tests this year," said the head of the concern in an interview TASS.

The main technical characteristics of the 2C42 "Lotus": SAU 2C42 "Lotus" is intended for replacement of 2C9 "Nona-C" in Russian airborne troops. The car was first introduced at the Army forum in 2017, and in 2018 an experimental model was built. The initial plans provided for state tests in 2019 and the beginning of mass production in 2020. However, the timing was revised, and instead of serial production in 2020 began acceptance tests.

The authors of the material noted that in 2022 the propaganda media in the Russian Federation reported that the machine should soon enter the factory tests, after which the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation should announce the date of state tests. Moreover, the start of the Lotus test was reported in 2023. "This is not the first time when the Russian Federation is" forgetting "about certain events on their own weapons," the observers said.