On Thursday, March 14th, after successfully completing all interoperability tests, Poland obtained membership in the international initiative Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities (ASCA). As a result, TOPAZ confirmed its status as a national artillery system for the Rocket and Artillery Forces, integrated into the chain of allied command by the Polish Armed Forces.
Photos: WB Group
Poland has become a full member of the Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities initiative. The decision was made through voting during the ASCA conference, held from March 6th to March 14th in Koblenz. This marks the culmination of six years of efforts to join the international community.
In 2023, the automated fire control system TOPAZ with the ASCA interface underwent detailed interoperability tests. Following the procedure, initial trials were conducted using the introducing state’s system, which for Poland since 2020 had been the United States (with the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System). Subsequently, the same scope of tests was confirmed with another ASCA member state, which was Canada (with the Fires Automation and Targeted Effects System).
The summaries consisted of reports from the conducted tests and established procedures for the national implementation of the ASCA interface. These documents served as the basis for analysis and led the operational and technical subcommittees to conclude unanimously that Poland had completed all necessary steps and was ready to join the community as a full member. Formally, this status was unanimously granted by the ASCA Committee on the last day of the conference in Germany.
Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities is an international initiative, with significant participation from member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The aim of the ASCA initiative is to increase interoperability and enable direct collaboration between automated artillery fire control systems of various countries. This is achieved through the implementation of standardized norms and uniform interfaces within individual national systems.
Poland’s entry into the ranks of full-fledged members of the ASCA initiative confirmed the maturity of the automated fire control system TOPAZ used in the Polish Armed Forces and verified its interoperability. It is another stage in the development of a national solution aligned with the needs of the Rocket and Artillery Forces.
TOPAZ with the ASCA interface has already been introduced into two battery modules of 155mm self-propelled gun-howitzers. The first utilizes Polish-manufactured Krab howitzers, while the second utilizes K9 howitzers supplied by South Korea. Alongside American HIMARS rocket launchers, they will participate in international exercises both in Poland and abroad (Dynamic Front).
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