Rak Mortars Headed to Wędrzyn

According to the release issued by HSW, head of the Polish MoD handed off further examples of the Rak mortar for use to the 17th “Wielkopolska” Mechanized Brigade. The above means that the unit would be receiving the second fire module consisting of 8 RAK self-propelled mortars, 4 AWD command vehicles and AWRU artillery armament repair vehicle. The mortars were handed off to the brigade based in Wędrzyn in parallel with certification of the units of the 12th Mechanized Brigade deployed to Lebanon.

HSW S.A. is finalizing another phase of the agreement signed on 28th April 2016, concerning the deliveries of the equipment for eight Rak company-level fire modules.

By delivering more company-level fire modules on time we are accomplishing the next stage of the contract signed with the MoD back in 2016. Thus we are reinforcing our reputation as a diligent supplier and manufacturer of artillery assets for the Polish military, while the know-how established over the course of work on programmes as complicated as RAK and REGINA allow us to efficiently work on the future orders placed within the scope of the modernization programme concerning the Polish Armed Forces, said Bartłomiej Zając, President of the Management Board, General Director, at HSW S.A

The first elements of the company-level fire module including the 120 mm Rak self-propelled wheeled mortar have been handed off by HSW S.A. on 30th June 2017, for use by the 17th “Wielkopolska” Mechanized Brigade. The delivery inaugurated the supplies cycle concerning the new artillery assets acquired by the Polish military. The second Company-level Fire Module was delivered to the 12th Mechanized Brigade based in Szczecin, the third one was received by the 15th Mechanized Brigade, while the 4th module was received by the Polish 21st Highland Brigade. The 5th module is used by the 5th Highland Battalion based in Przemyśl. Module number six has been received by the 15th “Giżycka” Mechanized Brigade.

Noteworthy, on 13th August this year, HSW S.A. has signed an agreement worth more than 100 million zlotys with the Armament Inspectorate of the Polish MoD, in presence of Mariusz Błaszczak, the head of the MoD, concerning the delivery of ammunition carriers for the RAK 120 mm self-propelled mortar units. Błaszczak also announced that further mortars would be procured soon.

120 mm Rak self-propelled mortar placed on the Rosomak APC platform has been developed at HSW S.A.  It has been fitted with an auto-loader and is capable of laying down fire at distances from 8 to 12 kilometres. The mortars are being delivered in the period between 2017 and 2019 on the grounds of the agreement signed back in 2016, with a pricetag of PLN 968 million. The mortar is manned by a crew of 4. One should mention the fact that a tracked variant of the Rak mortar is also offered by HSW.

HSW is also working on delivering the support vehicles for the Rak elements - Artillery Armament Repair Vehicles (deliveries in progress already), Artillery Ammunition Carriers (last stage of negotiation with the MoD) and Artillery Reconnaissance Vehicles (R&D project in progress).

According to the release issued by the MoD on the occasion of the order pertaining to the AWA vehicles, each of the modules would include eight mortars, four command vehicles, three ammunition carriers, two reconnaissance vehicles and one armament repairs and one recovery vehicles.