2S4 Tulpan

The 2S4 Tulpan is a Soviet 240mm self-propelled heavy mortar, designed to engage fortified positions, command posts, and personnel. It is notable for being the largest caliber mortar system in active use, capable of firing high-explosive, incendiary, and nuclear projectiles.

Developed in the late 1960s by Uraltransmash, the 2S4 was designed to provide the Soviet Army with a highly mobile, armored siege weapon capable of destroying hardened fortifications that standard artillery could not breach. The system officially entered Soviet service in 1971, utilizing a modified GM-123 tracked chassis to carry its massive ordnance. It saw its first major combat deployment during the Soviet-Afghan War, where it proved highly effective against mountain fortifications, and was later used in the Chechen Wars and the Syrian Civil War. Today, the Tulpan remains in active service with Russian forces, having seen extensive use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and continues to be modernized with updated targeting and communication systems.