Ukraine will receive Polish Rak self-propelled mortars
6 April, 2023 Rak wheeled self-propelled mortars. Photo credits: Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA Ukraine and Poland agreed to supply Rak 120mm self-propelled mortars to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced this at a joint press conference on Wednesday, April 5. During the working visit of the President of Ukraine to Warsaw, agreements on the supply of Polish military equipment to Ukraine, as well as on cooperation in various sectors of the defense industry, were signed. They cover not only assistance but also about cooperation, in particular in form of purchases for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In particular, a document was signed to supply Polish Rosomak wheeled armored personnel carriers, Rak self-propelled mortars, Piorun man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), MiG-29 fighter jets, and other weapons.
Rak 120mm self-propelled mortar. Photo credits: Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa
According to Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki, the agreements will cover the supply of three company-level sets of Polish Rak 120mm self-propelled mortars on wheeled chassis to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In the Polish military, a company-level kit consists of 8 mortars and 4 fire control vehicles. This means a total of 24 units of Rak self-propelled mortars will be supplied to Ukraine. Additionally, on April 5, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and the Ukrainian Artem State Joint-Stock Holding Company signed an agreement to jointly produce ammunition.
The agreement covers cooperation regarding tank ammunition production.
Polish 120mm and 125mm tank rounds of the MESKO SA
The Rak 120mm self-propelled mortar is designed to destroy enemy manpower, armored targets, and fortifications. It can hit targets at a distance of up to 12 km and is equipped with an ammunition load of 46 mortar rounds.
RAK 120mm self-propelled mortar. Photo from open sources
The Rak is based on the wheeled chassis of the Rosomak APC.
The crew consists of 4 people. The supply of Rak self-propelled mortars to the Polish military started after the first contract for 8 company-level sets was signed in 2016. After that, additional mortars were ordered, with deliveries scheduled between 2022 and 2024.
Rosomak armored personnel carriers of the Polish army.
Photo credits: Rosomak S.A.
Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of Poland, announced the order to supply Rosomak armored personnel carriers to the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the beginning of April.