The first development prototype of a self-propelled weapon dubbed Lotos for the Russian Airborne Forces will be created and tested in 2017, the Research Institute of Precision Machine Building (TsNIITochMash) CEO said Friday.

Chief Executive Dmitry Semizorov said previously that the Russian Defense Ministry had replaced the Zauralets-D self-propelled gun with the Lotos project.

"The contract on this work is at the signing stage. Terms of reference have been proved, design documentation should be adjusted in the near future taking into account the groundwork achieved while working on Zauralets-D. Prototype production and testing will begin in 2017," Semizorov told RIA Novosti at the ArmHitec-2016 exhibition in Armenia.

He said Lotos differs from Zauralets in its extended shooting range and newer high-precision ammunition.