Ukraine Receives 18 Locally Produced Bohdana Howitzers Financed by Denmark, Completed in Just Two Months.

The Ukrainian army has received 18 domestically produced Bohdana self-propelled howitzers, financed by Denmark, announced Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen on September 14, 2024. With weapon production in Ukraine significantly cheaper than purchasing them from Western countries, funding the Bohdana production is particularly relevant, especially since these howitzers have already proven their effectiveness on the battlefield.
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Mounted on various truck chassis, the Bohdana systems are the first artillery pieces produced in Ukraine to be manufactured in the NATO-standard 155 mm caliber (Picture source: Ukrainian Army)

Mounted on various truck chassis, the Bohdana systems are the first artillery pieces produced in Ukraine to be manufactured in the NATO-standard 155 mm caliber. These self-propelled howitzers can move quickly, fire multiple rounds in under a minute, and exit the area before the enemy can respond, providing an advantage in speed and mobility.

Poulsen made this statement on September 14 during the 20th annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) meeting in Kyiv. He emphasized that producing weapons in Ukraine is less costly and more efficient than in Western countries, encouraging other European nations to adopt a similar approach. "This was the first agreement we concluded. In July, we placed an order with Ukrainian manufacturers for the production of 18 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers, and this weekend they have already been handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces," he stated.

Ukraine has been trying to convince allied countries to support its military through direct purchases from Ukrainian companies, as Kyiv's defense budget does not match domestic production capacities. In July, the Ministry of Strategic Industries announced that foreign partners had pledged to invest around $675 million in the Ukrainian defense industry to arm Kyiv's forces.
The Bohdana systems had been in development for several years before the start of the large-scale invasion. They were first used in combat in the summer of 2022, targeting Russian positions on Snake Island in the Black Sea. Production began in 2015 at the Kramatorsk Heavy Duty Machine Tool Building Plant, part of the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries (NAUDI). The howitzers were officially adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2023.

The 2S22 Bohdana is a 6x6 self-propelled howitzer unveiled in 2018 during the Independence Day parade in Kyiv. It conducted its first firing and trial tests in October 2021. Since then, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have deployed this vehicle in combat, and in January 2023, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense secured funding for the acquisition of additional units of this wheeled artillery system.

Equipped with a 155 mm cannon, the self-propelled howitzer is mounted on a KrAZ-6322 military truck and is entirely designed and manufactured in Ukraine by the Kramatorsk Heavy Duty Machine Tool Building Plant. Similar in design to the French CAESAR and Israeli ATMOS wheeled self-propelled howitzers, the 2S22 Bohdana is built on a 6x6 truck chassis featuring an armored cabin at the front and the artillery system at the rear.

The howitzer can use conventional NATO ammunition with its 155 mm cannon, allowing it to achieve a firing range of up to 42 km with HEIAP ammunition and up to 50 km with rocket-assisted artillery projectiles.

Equipped with a modern aiming and fire control system, including a computerized fire control system, a ballistic calculator, an automatic gun-laying system, and a navigation system, the 2S22 Bohdana can quickly determine its position and engage targets. The system is operated by a crew of five.

Thanks to the use of the KrAZ truck chassis, the 2S22 Bohdana offers excellent mobility both on roads and off-road terrains. It can reach a maximum speed of 80 km/h and has a range of up to 1,000 km. The vehicle can overcome vertical obstacles of 0.7 meters, trenches of 1 meter, gradients of 60%, and side slopes of 30%. Additionally, it can ford water up to a maximum depth of 1.2 meters.

This initiative is part of a broader international effort to support Ukraine's defense in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. Cooperation among allied countries, including Denmark, underscores the international commitment to support Ukraine in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.