Slovakia Boosts Ukraine's Artillery Firepower with 16 Advanced Zuzana 2 155mm Howitzers.

European Pravda, Ukraine's leading online news outlet, broke the news on July 7, 2023, that Slovakia's President Zuzana Čaputová, during her summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, revealed the signing of an exceptional deal. The contract orders the provision of 16 advanced Zuzana 2 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, marking a milestone in Slovak-Ukrainian defense cooperation.
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Slovak army Zuzana 2 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer. (Picture source Slovak MoD)

This strategic announcement comes on the heels of Slovakia's commitment to enhance Ukraine's military arsenal, amid Russia's invasion of the country. Previously, we highlighted Slovakia's ambitious project to jointly produce a new self-propelled howitzer with the Ukrainian defense sector. This new artillery piece will be an evolution of the EVA, a Slovakian self-propelled howitzer built by Konstrukta Defence that was first introduced to the public at a 2015 defense exposition in Slovakia.

Čaputová's disclosure likely refers to a prior agreement, unveiled by the Slovakian Defence Minister, to supply Ukraine with 16 Zuzana self-propelled guns within the span of a year. Notably, this initiative is bankrolled by Germany, Norway, and Denmark.

Previously, on October 2, 2022, "The Local Denmark" website broke the news that Germany, Denmark, and Norway had collectively committed to finance Ukraine's acquisition of the Slovak-produced Zuzana-2 artillery systems.

Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, Slovakia has already supplied 8 Zuzana 2 155mm howitzers to the Ukrainian army, which are currently in active service on the frontlines against Russian forces.

The Zuzana 2, a superior version of the original Zuzana 155 mm 45 caliber, is a brainchild of the renowned Slovak Company Konstrukta Defence. This upgraded iteration features a new 155mm 52 caliber gun and offers enhanced firing capabilities with a multiple-round simultaneous impact (MRSI) functionality.

The robust armament of the Zuzana 8x8 wheeled self-propelled howitzer includes a 155mm/52 caliber gun equipped with an automated loading system, delivering a firing rate of 5 rounds per minute in automatic mode or 5 rounds in one minute. Its manual mode can deliver 2 rounds per minute, carrying a total of 40 projectiles and charges.

The Zuzana 2 is compatible with all standard NATO 155mm ammunition and boasts both direct and indirect firing capabilities. With ERFB-BB (Extended Range Full Bore – Base Bleed propellant) extended-range artillery ammunition, it can achieve a maximum firing range of 41.5 km.

The formidable Zuzana 2 8x8 wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer is built on an 8x8 truck chassis developed by the Czech company Tatra. Equipped with a TATRA T-3B-928.70 V8 turbocharged diesel engine, delivering 442 hp mated to a TATRA gearbox TATRA 10 TS 180, the Zuzana 2 can reach a top speed of 80 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 600 km. This blend of mobility and firepower underpins its prowess on the battlefield.

Defense News July 2023