Ukraine's Howitzer production surpasses all NATO countries
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that Ukraine produced 154 2S22 Bogdana howitzers per month in 2024, a number reportedly higher than all NATO countries combined. Here, we provide the behind-the-scenes details of its production and the performance of the howitzer, whose fate closely resembles the Polish Krab.
During a press conference with President Zelensky, the figure of 154 2S22 Bogdana howitzers produced in 2024 was highlighted. This output is claimed to exceed that of all NATO countries combined.
The Ukrainians may be exaggerating slightly here, as the French Nexter Group reportedly aimed to achieve a production level of up to 12 CAESAR howitzers per month in 2024, based on information from early last year. And that's just France; Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Sweden, and the USA should also be considered.
Artillery production is a difficult process
It's important to note that the Ukrainian industry has transitioned to wartime production, unlike Western industries, which have only increased their capabilities. A crucial component for producing the 2S22 Bogdana howitzer is the 155 mm caliber barrel, with a length of 52 calibers. Besides fulfilling domestic needs, Western barrel manufacturers are also supplying new barrels for artillery systems transferred to Ukraine.
Given the war, the Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Building Works may face limited production capabilities, as large machinery used for barrel production cannot be easily relocated or concealed. It is likely that the barrels currently used by Ukrainians are mostly sourced from subcontractors in Europe. There are not many of these, but an example includes the Slovakian factories within the ZTS Special group, which have partnered with Ukraine for several years.
2S22 Bogdana — a cheap yet effective howitzer
The Ukrainian howitzer 2S22 Bogdana, bears a history similar to the Polish Krab and is the first Ukrainian artillery piece in the NATO-standard 155 mm caliber. Like Poland, Ukraine initially aimed to design it independently but eventually collaborated with foreign partners.
The project involved the Czech company Tatra, known for its Phoenix 8x8 chassis, which is well-regarded in the Ukrainian industry. Conceptually, the 2S22 Bogdana is very similar to the French CAESAR; it is a 155 mm caliber gun with a length of 52 calibers mounted on a truck chassis. Compared to earlier versions, it has been armored to offer protection against artillery fragments and, to some extent, against FPV drone attacks.
This Ukrainian howitzer is equipped with a semi-automatic loading system with a firing rate of up to 6 rounds per minute, requiring only the removal of the projectile from the magazine and insertion into the nearby feeder. Although simple and relatively reliable, this system requires some of the crew to operate outside.
The range of the Bogdana depends on the ammunition used. For basic DM121 shells, the effective maximum range is 19 miles, while M549A1 rocket-assisted shells can engage targets up to 37 miles away. Optionally, the 2S22 Bogdana can also fire guided M982 Excalibur projectiles, offering a range of over 31 miles. However, these have become almost useless in the era of GPS jammers.
The Ukrainian howitzer can also fire in MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact) mode, where fired shells reach the target simultaneously, maximizing the destructive effect. This capability provides a significant advantage over Russian armaments in the 122 mm and 152 mm calibers in terms of range, precision, and firepower.
