“Kropyva” Artillery Positioning and Fire Control System
Purpose and Intended Application
Purpose: to enhance the combat capabilities of armored and artillery platforms equipped with turret-mounted guns through the use of an auxiliary geodetic orientation toolkit and software-assisted fire control and targeting.
Function: to improve accuracy and reduce the time required for orientation and gun alignment on turreted combat vehicles (self-propelled artillery systems, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, airborne combat vehicles) by automating coordinate determination, ballistic calculations, and gun alignment in azimuth and elevation.
The system enables increased precision in fire mission execution under complex operational conditions, including nighttime operations and indirect (non-line-of-sight) firing positions. It also supports operator training and gunner proficiency development with integrated aiming accuracy monitoring and control.
Function: to improve accuracy and reduce the time required for orientation and gun alignment on turreted combat vehicles (self-propelled artillery systems, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, airborne combat vehicles) by automating coordinate determination, ballistic calculations, and gun alignment in azimuth and elevation.
The system enables increased precision in fire mission execution under complex operational conditions, including nighttime operations and indirect (non-line-of-sight) firing positions. It also supports operator training and gunner proficiency development with integrated aiming accuracy monitoring and control.
Composition of the “Kropyva” Artillery Positioning and Fire Control System and Component Layout
- 1, 2 – GNSS angle measurement antennas
- 3 – GNSS inclinometer (heading/angle unit)
- 4 – inclinometer (sight sensor)
- 5 – gunner/operator workstation
- 6 – data concentrator unit
- 7 – turret rotation angle sensor (optional equipment)
Key Capabilities of the “Kropyva” Artillery Positioning and Fire Control System
- automatic determination of coordinates and orientation of the gun barrel on turreted military platforms;
- automated acquisition of target coordinates (when integrated with the “Kropyva-D” information and communication system);
- calculation of firing solutions and azimuth angles using a ballistic computing module;
- automated gun laying in azimuth (horizontal plane) and elevation (vertical plane);
- gun laying capability in GNSS-denied environments (when equipped with a turret rotation angle sensor);
- integration into a unified information environment of the “Kropyva-D” system (when using a digital radio station or modem).
System Configuration
- GNSS angle measurement unit
- External GNSS antenna set
- Data concentrator unit
- Inclinometer
- Gunner/operator workstation
- ASPN software package (license)
- Installation and mounting kit
- Turret rotation angle sensor
- Set of operational documentation
- Spare parts and accessories kit (Spares Kit)
Advantages of the “Kropyva” Artillery Positioning and Fire Control System
- reduction of time required to open fire from 10 minutes to 1 minute;
- improved survivability of personnel and military equipment;
- higher aiming accuracy compared to conventional orientation methods;
- capability for integration into a unified digital battlefield information environment;
- reduced training and qualification requirements for personnel;
- ability for self-propelled artillery units (SPGs) to operate effectively without direct fire direction center (FDC) involvement;
- enhanced operational effectiveness during night operations and maneuver warfare;
- capability to operate in environments affected by enemy electronic warfare (EW);
- approximately 15 times lower cost compared to equivalent foreign systems.
