Zelenskyy touts Ukraine as Europe's leader in self-propelled artillery production

Ukrainian defense industry has become a European leader in the self-propelled artillery segment in terms of production rates

Andrii Vodianyi

Senior editor

July 15, 15:35

Zelenskyy touts Ukraine as Europe's leader in self-propelled artillery production — 2S22 Bohdana howitzer (Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/EPA)

Ukraine has reached production rates of Bohdana self-propelled artillery units that allow it to claim leadership in Europe in this segment, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a press conference on Monday.

"Today, we are producing a significant number of Bohdana self-propelled artillery units per month. I think the number is really significant. Among factories in Europe, I would say our enterprise produces the largest number of artillery systems per month," said the president.

He decided not to disclose the exact number.

In April, it was ten units per month.

2С22 Bohdana is a Ukrainian wheeled self-propelled howitzer with a NATO-standard 155 mm gun. It completed combat trials in January 2022 and received its baptism of fire in June of the same year during the battles for Snake Island in the Black Sea. At that time, the howitzer destroyed a Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft artillery system, which the enemy used to protect the island, and helped destroy a radar station.

The caliber is 155 mm, with a barrel length of 8 m. The maximum firing range depends on the ammunition – 42 km (high-explosive fragmentation shell) and 60 km (rocket-assisted projectile). The maximum rate of fire is six rounds per minute, with 20 shells in the ammunition load.

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