History
The first self-propelled Nora B (developed on the basis of the Nora C) was designed by the Military Technical Institute in 1984 with a modified 152 mm Nora M-84 howitzer mounted on a FAP 8x8 truck bed. It belonged to the third generation of artillery systems. Later, in the 2000s, the Military Technical Institute developed a new fourth generation artillery system with a 52 caliber 155 mm gun for integration on a new system of the Nora family with the B-52 designation.
By 2013, Serbia had exported the K1, KE, KI variants, as well as reconnaissance BOV M11, command (BOV M10) and battery fire control and meteorological vehicles, ammunition loading trucks, artillery battlefield software for platoon, battery and division level to the armed forces of Myanmar, Kenya, and Bangladesh. One fully equipped battery usually consists of 6–12 self-propelled howitzers, 1–2 BOV M11 reconnaissance vehicles, three BOV M10 command vehicles (1 for each platoon and 1 for battery command), 3–6 munition trucks, a communications and workshop vehicle, 2–3 general supply vehicles (fuel, food, water, etc.) and 1–2 fire direction and gunfire locator vehicles with radar and sound ranging. With the order for Cyprus, the new BOV M16 Miloš was delivered as the artillery reconnaissance and artillery battery command vehicle instead of the BOV M11.
Variants
The Nora B-52 is made in the following versions:
- K0 – first serial variant, open turret, manual power drive and line of sight.
- K1(S) – semi-open turret, full automatic, independent automatic navigation, automatic fire and control system, smaller crew number.
- M03 (S) – semi-open turret, automatic based on K0, K1 designs, with S designation for Serbian Army.
- KE – semi-open turret, full automatic export variant.
- K-I (M15) – additional armored full automatic with closed turret, new stronger chassis, radar on barrel for measuring projectile trajectory and speed, NBC protected cabin and turret, automated fire-suspension system, smoke grenade launcher, intercom for crew and new software; with M15 designation for Serbian Army.
- M21 – upgraded variant featuring STANAG 4569 level 2 protection.
- NG – upgraded variant with increased auto-loader capacity (30 in the auto-loader with additional 6 on the vehicle), 60 second deployment time and fully automatic fire data setting.
- MGS-25 Aleksandar – newest variant featuring a rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute and a maximum firing range of 32.5 km with standard ammunition and 56 km with the 155 mm HE ERFB RA/BB (VLAP), laser guided long range ammunition, smaller crew, 12 rounds ready for fire in a revolver type of automatic loader, 12 additional ammunition that are stored in a storage box located at back behind the crew cabin and engine-hydraulic compartment, smaller weight (~25 tonnes), automatic levelling of the gun towards the north, new smoke and light grenade. Due to a high level of automation of all functions, it can be remotely controlled by the crew up to 100 meters from the vehicle. As a fully autonomous module, it can be mounted on different trucks chassis (such as Kamaz or MAN).
The K designation is applied to vehicles that use a Kamaz chassis, the number refers to the orientation of the main weapon in relation to the north and the letter for the level of equipment and/or export designation.
All versions have differences in chassis, armour, turret, loading and support systems. All versions with an automatic loader have multiple rounds simultaneous impact capability. Standard equipment includes a computerized fire control system and a land navigation system. Ballistic protection is provided against small arms fire, shell splinters and some mines. For training and simulation purposes, a special computer simulator was developed by the Mihajlo Pupin Institute that includes terrain maps of the customers' respective countries. This system has the ability to train the crews of an entire battalion of 18 self-propelled howitzers, including for the designation of targets.
.jpg)
