2S43 Malva
The 2S43 "Malva" is a 152 mm Russian self-propelled gun mounted on an 8x8 wheeled chassis.
Development
The 2S43 Malva was developed by the central institute of research Burevestnik based in Nizhny Novgorod. The development of the system was done in the context of the Nabrosok program, which is supposed to develop an entirely new range of artillery systems for the Russian armed forces.The main innovation of the project is the use of an AWD wheeled chassis of eight wheels. This increases the mobility and lowers the mass, but with an unchanged combat ability. Wheeled chassis are also less expensive to exploit and produce. It is produced by Uraltransmash, a branch of Uralvagonzavod. The chassis, BAZ-6610-02 "Voshchina" is produced by the Bryansk Automobile Plant.
In 2021, the technical and tactical exigencies were fixed, in anticipation of future tests. These tests began in 2021 and ended on 17 May 2023.
On 26 October 2023, the first batch of Malva howitzers was reported to be delivered to the army. The second batch was reportedly delivered in June 2024. Deliveries reportedly continue since July 2024. Supplies of a new version codenamed 2S44 Giatsint-K reportedly begun in December 2024.
Deployment in Ukraine
On June 2, 2024, an aerial image of the 2S43 surfaced showing the vehicle's deployment to a firing position in the Kharkiv region in Ukraine as part of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. While the image is confirmed to be a 2S43, there is very little information available regarding how many are on the front or their uses.The gun is in service with the artillery division of the 238th separate artillery brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, firing OF59 long-range shells. As of August 2025, the open source intelligence website Oryx has reported that at least three Malvas have been destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.