Ukrainian Artillery Units are now equipped with 16 Slovak Zuzana 2 155mm Howitzers.

Assisted by the Slovak Government, the Ukrainian army is now equipped with 16 units of the Zuzana 2, a 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer. In a significant disclosure made during a summit in July 2023, Slovakia's President Zuzana Čaputová, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced the signing of a deal. This agreement involves the transfer of 16 Zuzana 2 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, symbolizing a pivotal advancement in the defense collaboration between Slovakia and Ukraine.
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A Slovak-donated Zuzana 2 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer of the Ukrainian army. (Picture source Social Network)

The Zuzana 2 is an upgraded version of the Zuzana 155 mm 45 caliber variant of the Dana 152 mm 8x8 self-propelled gun-howitzer designed and manufactured by the Slovak Company Konstrukta – Defence which is now in service with the Slovak Army. In December 2018, the Slovak government approved the purchase of 25 Zuzana 2 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers developed by the Company KONŠTRUKTA-Defence and produced by ZTS – ŠPECIÁL, for a total amount of €175 million. In July 2021, the Slovak Ministry of Defense released a statement to announce the delivery of the first eight Zuzana 155mm howitzers to the Army of Slovakia.

The Zuzana 2, a modernized variant of the previous 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 Zuzana 8x8 wheeled self-propelled howitzer is armed with 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 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 January 2024