The 203mm 2S7M Malka heavy self-propelled artillery gun of Russia is an extremely powerful weapon capable of destroying bridges, leaving craters of up to seven meters on the ground and piercing enemy armour with just one shot.
According to Russian state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec, the tremendous impact of the gun and the detonation of nearly 20 kg of explosives create a powerful destruction effect on the battlefield.
An enhanced version of the earlier 2S7 Pion, the gun's firepower and advanced capabilities make it one of the most formidable pieces of artillery in the world. The Malka is designed to strike major enemy targets and installations in the tactical defense depth beyond the frontline. The gun has a rate of fire of up to 2.5 rounds per minute and can engage targets at a range of about 50 km.
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“It is capable of wiping out even concrete-made fortifications, structures, bridges, river crossings and other installations. Heavy munitions leave craters of up to seven meters in the ground and tear armor to pieces,” the company said.
Each projectile scatters a mass of fragments over a considerable radius, Rostec added.
The heavy artillery gun is a priority target for the enemy in the area of the special military operation in Ukraine, and Russian artillery crews accomplish their combat objectives as quickly as possible, minimising the time of their deployment to the position to avoid an adversary counterattack, the company further stated, according to news agency TASS.
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The commander of a Malka artillery gun engaged in the fighting in the Avdeyevka frontline area in the Donbass region had earlier claimed that the gun is capable of making "buildings fold down" and destroying armor even if hitting close to it.