In a recent development, Ukraine employed HIMARS artillery to target Russia’s 2S4 Tyulpan self-propelled mortar system, potentially destroying the world’s largest self-propelled mortar system. A video shared by Ukrainian war correspondent Yuriy Butusov on June 15 captured the moment when a Ukrainian reconnaissance drone identified the Russian 2S4 Tyulpan in the fields. Ukrainian forces then initiated a precise attack on the target, resulting in a substantial explosion and a rising column of smoke. The video showed several members of the operations team laying motionless nearby, suggesting they were either deceased or severely injured. Butusov stated that the Russian 2S4 Tyulpan mortar system was obliterated, with the hit carried out by HIMARS rocket artillery situated near the village of Bilogorivka in the eastern Lugansk province.
The video footage also highlighted the destructive power of the 2S4 Tyulpan self-propelled mortar system, renowned for its capability to demolish fortified structures and operate effectively in urban warfare situations. With a caliber of 240 mm and a combat weight of 27.5 tons, the 2S4 Tyulpan possesses a range of 9.5 km with conventional ammunition and 19.5 km with rocket-propelled projectiles. Despite its strengths, such as the ability to fire at high angles and deliver lethal payloads, the system faces challenges related to mobility and adaptability due to its size and operational limitations. Each 2S4 Tyulpan system reportedly costs around $1.7 million.
Moreover, information analysis site MilitarnyiOryx revealed that Russia has lost over half of its original fleet of these systems since
