Ukraine equips more National Guard brigades with Czech Dita 155mm howitzers for long-range strikes against Russian troops.

As reported by Praise the Steph on March 24, 2025, the Czech-made Dita 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer has been integrated into the armament of the Ukrainian National Guard’s 13th Brigade of Operational Assignment ‘Khartia’. This marks the fourth National Guard unit confirmed to operate the system, following the 3rd ‘Spartan’ Brigade, the 12th ‘Azov’ Brigade, and the 16th Artillery Brigade. The Dita is also in service with the State Border Guard of Ukraine.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The Azov Brigade stated that the arrival of the Dita improved their capacity to engage enemy targets at distances of up to 39 kilometers, including rear positions, and that two personnel were sufficient to operate the howitzer in combat. (Picture source: TCH via Twitter/Praise the Steph)

Ukrainian sources have compared the Dita’s arrival to previous deliveries from Excalibur Army, such as the RM-70 Vampire, a rocket launcher system derived from the Czechoslovakian version of the Soviet Grad system, also built on an eight-wheeled Tatra chassis. On November 15, 2024, images circulated on Telegram confirmed the presence of Dita howitzers within the Ukrainian National Guard. These systems were seen in use by units including the Azov Brigade. The Azov Brigade stated that the arrival of the Dita improved their capacity to engage enemy targets at distances of up to 39 kilometers, including rear positions.

Prior to this, the brigade relied on towed artillery. The Dita was reported to have been deployed in combat near Toretsk, in the Donbas region. Azov Brigade personnel indicated that all control software and system markings are configured in the Ukrainian language. One commander, using the call sign “Vorzel”, stated that the system had not experienced electronic failure, and that two personnel were sufficient to operate the howitzer in combat. In his account, all operations are conducted from within the armored cab.

The Dita was first introduced publicly in 2021, with a prototype completed in January of that year. It has since undergone trials and has been exhibited at several defense exhibitions, including IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi and MSPO 2021 in Poland. The system was also displayed at IDET in Brno. Azerbaijan has also placed an order for at least 70 units, according to known production figures. Ukraine remains one of the most active users, as the Netherlands has ordered a total of 15 Dita howitzers as part of a broader support package. The initial batch of nine units was ordered in February 2024 and delivered by the summer of that year. A second batch of six units was ordered in October 2024, with delivery expected by 2025.

Developed by the Czech company Excalibur Army, the DITA (Digital Integrated Targeting Artillery) is designed as a fully autonomous self-propelled gun-howitzer with integration of automation and advanced fire control. It can be mounted on alternative platforms due to its independent turret module. The system has been noted for its rapid deployment, quick repositioning, and minimal crew requirement. Mounted on a Tatra 8x8 wheeled chassis, the Dita weighs 29 tonnes and measures 13.02 meters in length, 3.085 meters in width, and 3.122 meters in height. It is powered by a Tatra T3C-928-90 diesel engine generating 300 kW at 1800 rpm, coupled with a Tatra 10 TS 210N transmission with 10 forward and 2 reverse speeds. The vehicle is capable of reaching a maximum road speed of 90 km/h and an off-road speed of 25 km/h. It has a cruising range of 600 km.

The Dita is equipped with a NATO-standard 155mm gun with a barrel length of 45 calibers. The gun has an elevation range from -3° to +70° and a traverse range of ±60°. Its maximum firing range is 39 kilometers when using DN1CZ high-explosive extended-range base-bleed (HE ER BB) ammunition. It has a maximum rate of fire of six rounds per minute and a sustained rate of five rounds per minute. The system includes an automatic loading and firing mechanism and supports fully automatic, manual, and emergency guidance modes. It can perform in single-round, rapid-fire, programmed, and multiple-round simultaneous impact (MRSI) modes. A total of 40 rounds can be stored within the turret's conveyors.

The crew compartment is protected to STANAG 4569 Level 1 standard, providing protection against small arms fire and artillery fragments. The cab also contains an NBC filtration system, heating, and air conditioning. The vehicle is fitted with R20 14.00 tires and a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS). It can cross trenches up to 2.0 meters wide, climb vertical obstacles of 470 mm, ford water obstacles up to 1.2 meters deep, handle gradients of 30°, and traverse side slopes of 15°.

The Dita's operational control is handled by the Onboard Control System (OCS), which incorporates subsystems for diagnostics, navigation, automatic gun guidance, ballistic computation, and ammunition management. The OCS allows rapid deployment, target acquisition, and repositioning. It can operate independently from GPS and includes a backup optical sight for manual gun aiming in case of system failure. Control of both the OCS and the automatic loading mechanism is performed using the M4 control panel, which is portable and can be used outside the vehicle. An auxiliary 24-volt hydraulic power unit serves as the primary power source for the weapon systems and turret operation.