Ukraine leads europe in artillery production amidst ongoing conflict
The Ukrainian defense industry is operating at full capacity. Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Ukraine produces the most artillery systems monthly among European countries, primarily the self-propelled howitzers 2S22 Bohdana. Here, we describe the capabilities of this equipment.
3:24 PM EDT, July 16, 2024
For the past 2.5 years, Ukraine has been in a state of war, requiring continuous mobilization and readiness. Despite difficult conditions, the Ukrainian defense industry is working at full capacity to meet military needs. The production of military equipment and artillery systems is ongoing to ensure the army has the necessary resources.
Record artillery production
Recently, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced the commencement of serial production of Ukrainian howitzers 2S22 Bohdana. Production has ramped up because Ukraine is now the European leader in producing such equipment.
When asked about the monthly production of Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems in Ukraine, Zelensky answered during a press conference: "We are currently producing many Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems. Our enterprise is the leader in monthly artillery system production among European factories."
Although Zelensky stated that Ukraine currently produces a "significant number" of Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems, he did not provide an exact number.
The President of Ukraine also revealed that Ukraine is developing long-range weapons. In an interview, he said, "We are currently working on other systems that will enhance our long-range capabilities."
Ukrainian prototype self-propelled howitzer
As Przemysław Juraszek, a journalist for Wirtualna Polska, wrote, the self-propelled howitzer 2S22 Bohdana is a powerful machine that can be compared to the French Caesar. Initially, the KrAZ-63221 truck was used as a base, but now the Czech Tatra Phoenix 8x8 model, well-known and valued in the Ukrainian industry, is used. The truck's cabin has been additionally armored, providing adequate protection against cluster munitions and FPV drones, which can be equipped with a single cumulative warhead.
The main hitting element in the 2S22 Bohdana is a 155 mm caliber gun with a length of 52 calibers. It is equipped with a semi-automatic loading system, greatly facilitating the soldier's work. His task is only to remove the projectile from the ammunition magazine and place it in the feeder nearby. He does not have to carry and load it into the gun manually. Thanks to this solution, it is possible to achieve a fire rate of up to six shots per minute.
The effective range of the 2S22 Bohdana howitzer varies and largely depends on the type of ammunition used. In the case of the simplest DM121 type shells, one can expect a range of about 19 miles. However, if rocket-boosted M549A1 shells are used, it is possible to hit targets up to 37 miles away. There is also the possibility of using the guided M982 Excalibur shells, which have a range of over 31 miles. After integrating with the fire control system, it would likely also be possible to use sub-caliber Vulcano GLR 155 shells, which have a range of up to 50 miles.
