Germany to supply Ukraine with two more MARS II rocket launchers and 4 PzH 2000 155mm howitzers


On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced the delivery to Ukraine of two more MARS II M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) and four PzH 2000 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, as well as new air defense missile systems.
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German army PzH 2000 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzer. (Picture source Army Recognition)


Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Germany has already supplied Ukraine with two MARS II M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) and four PzH 2000 155mm self-propelled howitzers.

Citing information published by the IFW Kiel Institute for the World Economy on October 11, 2022, in the period now additionally covered (August 4 to October 3), the U.S. made new pledges of just under 12 billion euros, bringing the total to just over 52 billion euros in military, financial and humanitarian aid. EU countries and institutions expanded their commitments by only about 1.4 billion euros over the same period, and now collectively reach just over 29 billion euros.

The MARS II is an upgraded version of the American-made M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) which is in service with the German army. According to the military balance 2021, before the war in Ukraine, the German armed forces had a total of 41 MARS II MLRS.

The German M270 has been upgraded to the standard MARS II/MLRS-E to fire-guided rockets at a maximum range of 70 km. It keeps the original two pods of six launcher tubes able to fire guided and unguided 230 mm rockets.

The PzH 2000 is German-made 155mm self-propelled howitzer and is considered a state-of-the-art artillery system. The howitzer is armed with a Rheinmetall 155 mm L52 caliber cannon equipped with the matching Rheinmetall Modular Charge System (MTLS), giving the required range and rate of fire. The gun has a maximum firing range of 30 km with the standard L15A2 projectile and up to 40 km with extended-range ammunition. The artillery system is fitted with an automatic electrically driven projectile loading system enabling loading and firing to take place within the full traverse and elevation range. The 60-round projectile magazine as well as the complete shell handling system is controlled by an automatic data management system. It has a crew of five.


Germany to supply Ukraine with two more MARS II rocket launchers and 4 PzH 2000 155mm howitzers 925 002
German army MARS II M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. (Picture source KMW)