Sometimes low-tech is better. Pound the enemy with cheap artillery as a demoralizing tactic.
The Russians never went away from that, and this artillery upgrade program is intended to get us caught up to them. Right now, Russian artillery currently outranges US and NATO artillery by a not small margin.
https://www.ausa.org/articles/king-battle-russia-breaks-out-big-guns
“While the U.S. Army remains fixed on 155 mm cannon artillery with a maximum range upward of 22 kilometers, the Russian army has begun reactivating its heavy artillery forces, beginning with its 2S7 Pion, mounting an impressive 203 mm round with a maximum range of 37.5 km. The Russian army is also in the midst of reactivating its 2S4 Tyulpan heavy mortar, with an Earth-shattering 240 mm projectile capable of ranging targets at 9,650 meters (and up to 20 km with special munitions), making the U.S. 120 mm mortar look rather small in comparison.
“While some critics may point to a relatively slower rate of fire for heavy artillery and mortars, the enormous power of these munitions, massed with multiple systems, can mimic the destructive effects of close-air support, as demonstrated with devastating results against Ukraine’s Luhansk International Airport in 2014. In addition to the sheer power of these systems, Russian forces will surely use their long-range standoff to wreak havoc on U.S. forces whose artillery would remain severely outranged.
“While the U.S. maintains its artillery at the brigade level for centralized control, the Russian army is fielding its artillery directly to maneuver battalions, providing maximum responsiveness when short windows of opportunity present themselves on the dynamic multidomain battlefield. Additionally, the Russians have mastered integrating a network of UAVs, forward observers and fire direction centers directly with rocket and cannon batteries.
“Russians have also used counterbattery radar with lethal effect, prosecuting rapid-fire missions, giving Ukrainian artillery minimal time to conduct immediate survivability moves after conducting their own fire missions, since remaining idle means certain death from a hail of dual-purpose improved conventional munitions and thermobaric top-attack munitions. This unparalleled responsiveness allows Russian forces to quickly fix and destroy an opposing force with minimal need for a lengthy decision-making process or complex schemes of maneuver.”
Ivan hasn’t been idle since the end of the Cold War...
Forgot to note: The Russian 2S7 and new 2S7M can reach out to 55.5km with their own rocket assist projectiles.
“We’ve shelled the Germans for two weeks and all we have to show for it is a Dachshund with a slight limp.”
-—Capt. Black Adder (WW1)
(one of my favorite British comedy series)
“Sometimes low-tech is better. Pound the enemy with cheap artillery as a demoralizing tactic.“
The 6-10 seconds between rounds caught my attention.
More artillery is also better.