Sora 122mm

• Name — Self-propelled howitzer 122mm SORA • Origin — Serbia • Type — Self-propelled artillery • Is Artillery — yes • Is Vehicle — yes • Designer — Military Technical Institute • Manufacturer — 14. oktobar, PPT Namenska • Number — 2 prototypes • Weight — 18 t • Crew — 3 • Cartridge — 122 x 447mm R Separate loading charge and projectile • Caliber — 122 mm • Rate — 6 rds/min • Max Range — TF-462: 15.3 km TF ER BT ХМ08: 18.5 km TF ER BB ХМ09: 21.5 km • Feed — Automatic • Elevation — -5° to +70° • Traverse — 25° left and right • Primary Armament — 2A18 122 mm howitzer • Engine — Mercedes-Benz OM 402 • Engine Power — 188 kW • Pw Ratio — 10.68 kW/t • Vehicle Range — 500 km • Speed — Road: 80 km/h Off-road: 20 km/h

After the decision to keep the 122mm caliber in use, the Serbian Army decided to modernize D-30 howitzer according to the world trends in self-propelled artillery. Assignment to develop the system was entrusted to the Military Technical Institute, while production of the functional models was given to 14. oktobar. Work on this project began in 2004 and in 2009 the first functional model was completed. After its initial roll-out, it underwent a series of initial firing trials, involving about 18 rounds, the first three of which were conducted with reduced charges and the remainder with full charges. Improvements were subsequently made to the stabilisation system, whose forward-facing stabilisers proved unable to adequately absorb the recoil forces during firing. Another goal was to demonstrate loading of the weapon at all elevation angles, and this was successfully achieved, according to MTI. • Illustration — Sora 122mm self-propelled gun-howitzer on display at "Partner 2009" military fair. The first prototype of SORA was showcased in 2009, representing a fairly simple installation of the 122mm D-30J howitzer on a wheeled chassis. But that was only the first phase of development. After that, the Military Technical Institute begun work on further improvements of the system, which included installation of the automatic loader, inertial navigation system, automatic transition from the transport position to firing position... The second prototype of SORA was completed in 2013, and it was showcased at Partner 2013 international weapons fair. This was the final configuration with the 122mm autoloader, inertial and satellite navigation, positioning and orientation subsystems, automatic combat to march position switching and a remote control unit which can be wired or wireless, allowing the control of the howitzer from the distance up to 200 m. Tests of this prototype have been conducting since 2014.

Self-propelled howitzer 122mm SORA is intended for general fire support of brigade level units. It has been designed to fulfill requirements of the modern battlefield, which means that shoot-and-scoot principle is adopted as the main mode of operation. SORA is capable to fire in the firing cycles of 3.5 minutes. 90 seconds for switching from march to combat position, 60 seconds to fire all 6 shells in the autoloader, and another 60 seconds to move from the firing position.

• Illustration — SORA self-propelled 122mm gun-howitzer on display at "Partner 2013" military fair. • Illustration — SORA self-propelled 122mm gun-howitzer on display at "Partner 2011" military fair.