Russia has resorted to all available resources to sustain the war against Ukraine, including alliances with countries like North Koreawhich sends troops and artillery systems to it. Among these teams, the presence of M-1978 Koksan long-range gunswhose participation in the conflict could be imminent.
The addition of these cannons is a reminder of the logistical and strategic difficulties facing Moscow. As the conflict drags on, Russia appears to be increasingly reliant on external resources. As these weapons begin to operate on the front, it will also reflect the level of impact that this North Korean reinforcement can have on the course of the war.
Koksan Features
Not much is known about the M-1978 Koksan. In fact, that’s not even his real name, but a designation given by the United Statessince this self-propelled gun was first seen in the city of Koksan in 1978. North Korea later introduced an improved version, the M-1989, with modifications to the chassis and operational capability.
This artillery system is based on affordable but functional platforms. For example, the original model could be mounted on the chassis of a Chinese Type 59 tank, while the M-1989 version uses a Soviet ATS tracked truck base.
He The 170 mm cannon it uses probably comes from Soviet naval weapons from the mid-20th century, which North Korea first adapted for coastal defense and later for land use. The Koksan is also known for its significant range, as the conventional projectiles they can reach targets at 40 kilometerswhile long-range ones extend this range up to 60 kilometers.
However, the rate of fire is limited– It can only fire one or two shots per minute, due to its size and design. Furthermore, the weapon does not have closed turretwhich leaves his crew of eight exposed during the operationa common feature in low-cost heavy artillery systems.
