Czech company Excalibur Army Set to Deliver Over 70 155mm DITA Self-Propelled Howitzers to Azerbaijan.

According to an article published by AZE. Media on May 6, 2024, the Czech defense company Excalibur Army is planning to deliver over 70 units of the 155mm/L45 "DITA" self-propelled howitzers to Azerbaijan. This transaction represents the largest order of Czech or Slovak artillery systems since 1989. 

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Czech company Excalibur Army 155mm DITA Self-Propelled Howitzers (Picture source: Excalibur Army)

In September 2021, Excalibur Army already delivered 152mm Dana-M1 self-propelled howitzers and 122mm RM-70M1 Vampire MLRS to Azerbaijan, as explained in an article dated September 21, 2021.

The DITA 155mm, an 8x8 self-propelled howitzer developed by Excalibur Army, is designed to address modern artillery challenges. Derived from the Tatra 8x8 truck-mounted howitzer designs, it features a fully automated superstructure, requiring only a driver and commander on board. In January 2021, a functional prototype was completed, paving the way for performance testing. The DITA made its debut at IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi, presented in partnership with the UAE-based EDGE Group.

Measuring 13.02 meters in length, 3.08 meters in width, and 3.12 meters in height, and weighing up to 29 tons, the DITA is versatile and capable of being mounted on various wheeled or tracked chassis. Its ballistic crew cabin offers STANAG 4569 Level I protection and is equipped with a high-performance heating, air conditioning, and NBC filtration system.

Armed with a NATO-standard 155mm L45 gun, the DITA can fire up to 39 km using HE BB shells, achieving a maximum rate of fire of six rounds per minute. It supports various firing modes and can store 40 rounds in its turret conveyors.

Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) is a capability of some modern artillery systems where multiple shells are fired in rapid succession but timed to reach the target simultaneously, designed to overwhelm enemy defenses or achieve a concentrated effect.

The DITA features a modern Onboard Control System (OCS) for diagnostics, navigation, automatic gun guiding, and ammunition management. Powered by a Tatra T3C-928-90 engine with a maximum power output of 300 kW, it can reach speeds of 90 km/h on roads and 25 km/h off-road, with a maximum cruising range of 600 km.

For crew protection, the DITA offers Stanag 4569 Level 1 ballistic protection, ensuring crew safety in combat situations. Its advanced OCS allows for quick adjustments in firing position and streamlined operation by just two crew members. In case of navigation system failure, an emergency optical sight ensures continuous gun aiming capability.

Overall, the DITA 155mm represents a significant advancement in military mobility and operational flexibility, equipped to meet the demanding requirements of modern warfare.

According to the Military Balance 2022 report, Azerbaijan currently possesses a diverse artillery arsenal, totaling 630 units. This includes 102 self-propelled artillery pieces, consisting of 46 units of the 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika, 39 units of the 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya, 18 units of the 152mm 2S19 Msta-S, and 15 units of the Dana-M1M. Additionally, Azerbaijan has 5 units of the 155mm ATMOS 2000 self-propelled howitzer and 12 units of the 203mm 2S7 Pion.

The primary objective of the Azerbaijani armed forces is territorial defense, marked by the resumption of armed conflicts with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh after September 2020. This conflict, lasting six weeks, concluded in favor of Baku, but tensions between the two nations persist, with sporadic exchanges of fire occurring in late 2020 and throughout 2021. Azerbaijan maintains military cooperation with Russia and has recently developed ties with Turkey, evidenced by the signing of the "Shusha Declaration" in June 2021, implying a mutual defense agreement. Additionally, Azerbaijan maintains a defense relationship with NATO, having completed its fifth cycle of the NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan in 2019. Preparedness within the Azerbaijani armed services, based on compulsory military service, varies among units, with the country participating in multilateral exercises and conducting bilateral exercises with Turkish troops, such as the "Indestructible Brotherhood" in 2021.

While the armed forces have limited expeditionary capability, they have contributed to NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. Over the past decade, Azerbaijan has prioritized defense modernization and procurement to replace its aging inventory, with recent orders focusing on air defense, artillery systems, and wheeled and tracked armored vehicles, primarily of Russian origin. Notably, there has been significant procurement and industrial cooperation with Israel, particularly in drones and guided weapons, and increasing collaboration with Turkey as a key defense partner.