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Russia Deploys New 152mm “Bereh” Guns to Pacific, Sparking Questions
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
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Russia has introduced a modernized version of its coastal artillery system, the A-222M “Bereh,” reportedly capable of firing 152mm guided Krasnopol shells with a maximum range of up to 50 kilometers.
According to Defense Express on May 11, citing Russian state-linked media and Army Recognition, the first set of these upgraded systems has been deployed to the Pacific Fleet.
The decision to send the system to the Far East is described as aligned with what Russian sources call “rising tensions” in the Asia-Pacific region. However, no technical documentation or official confirmation regarding the operational readiness or production scale of the A-222M has been publicly disclosed.
The original A-222 “Bereh” system is equipped with a 130mm gun derived from the naval AK-130 mount, previously used on Slava-class cruisers such as the Moskva. With a firing range of up to 23 kilometers and a rate of fire of 10–12 rounds per minute, the system was designed for shore defense.
Only around 36 units were believed to be in service, primarily with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. No use of the system has been documented during the full-scale war against Ukraine.
The original platform has significant limitations. Its combat vehicle weighs over 43 tons, lacks integrated radar or fire control systems, and offers limited operational mobility. Additionally, the short effective range of the 130mm gun raises questions about its relevance on the modern battlefield.
As Russia has begun depleting its stockpiles of 130mm ammunition—once used with both the Bereh and older M-46 systems—conversion to a 152mm caliber could be an effort to standardize logistics and extend operational capability.
The upgraded variant may utilize gun barrels from existing systems like the 2A36 Giatsint-B or 2A65 Msta-B, possibly mounted on wheeled chassis similar to the 2S43 Malva or Giatsint-K.
Defense Express suggests that despite the Pacific deployment, some of the upgraded A-222M systems could also be allocated to the Black Sea region, potentially to bolster coastal defenses against Ukrainian naval drones. However, the exact number of modernized units and their combat performance remains unverified.
Earlier, in December 2024, Russian media reported the development of a new wheeled self-propelled howitzer based on the 152mm Giatsint-B gun and BAZ-6910 chassis, drawing design parallels with France’s Caesar and Ukraine’s Bohdana. The system reportedly offers improved range and mobility by combining existing artillery components with a modern wheeled platform.
