Ukrainian military boasts new cost-effective Howitzer tech
The first towed howitzer, Bogdana-B, developed based on the widely used self-propelled howitzer 2S22 Bogdana, has joined the ranks of the Ukrainian army. Ukrainians assert that the production of both artillery systems will skyrocket, potentially surpassing the capabilities of NATO countries in producing similar weapons.
The press service of the 47th Artillery Brigade released photos from the first firing of Bogdana-B. The UNITED24 Media portal reports that it was designed as a cost-effective and durable alternative to self-propelled artillery systems.
First firing of the Bogdana-B howitzer
The cost of the 2S22 Bogdana is approximately $2.5 million per unit. One unit of Bogdana-B is expected to cost about $1.5 million, making it a more affordable option for equipping artillery units awaiting long-range weapons.
Bogdana-B is an intriguing hybrid. UNITED24 Media explains that it uses the gun from the 2S22 Bogdana (155 mm caliber with a barrel length of 52 calibers) and a chassis similar to the towed 2A36 Hyacinth-B from Soviet times.
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Despite significantly reduced mobility, from the Ukrainian point of view, the towed Bogdana-B howitzer has several advantages. Besides lower production costs, it also requires less maintenance and facilitates easier mass production.
Ambitious plans of Ukrainians for artillery production
Official data from Ukraine indicates that in 2024, 154 units of the 2S22 Bogdana were produced. However, representatives of the local industry suggest that a production scale of up to 40 units of the 2S22 Bogdana per month could be achieved. The challenge, however, lies in the delivery of chassis from abroad, which necessitates a waiting period. The prototype of this weapon was built on the KrAZ-63221 chassis, but currently, Tatra Phoenix 8x8 chassis are being used.
In comparison, among European countries, the French company Nexter has been the most successful in producing similar weapons, with the potential to reach a production rate of up to 12 self-propelled CAESAR howitzers per month in 2024.
