Ukraine outpaces NATO in self-propelled howitzer production
Ukraine has significantly increased the production of Bohdana self-propelled howitzers, reaching a level of 36 units per month. This production scale far exceeds the capabilities of European NATO members, including major powers like France.
Previously, the Ukrainian Defense Procurement Agency reported the production of "over 20" such guns per month. However, according to sources from Army Technology and a report published on April 25, the production scale has now increased to as many as 36 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers per month.
Development and production of Bohdan howitzers
Bohdana became a notable weapon and artillery showcase for Ukraine due to its involvement in the operation to liberate Snake Island. It was long an experimental weapon, officially put into service only in 2023. This marked the start of serial production by Ukrainians, who swiftly increased their pace while systematically integrating additional improvements.
As a result, at least five versions have been developed, differing in chassis and cabin configurations. The production process has been dispersed across multiple locations, including some facilities abroad, to ensure continuity even in the event of attacks on production sites located within Ukraine.
This Ukrainian design uses a 155 mm calibre gun, compliant with NATO standards, offering a maximum firing range of approximately 60 km (enabled by a barrel length of 52 calibres) and a firing rate of 6 rounds per minute. When implementing modifications in the latest versions of this howitzer, Ukrainian designers adopted Tatra Phoenix 8x8 chassis, used armoured cabins, and installed a semi-automatic loading system.
Ukraine's artillery showcase
It is estimated that the cost of one Bohdana self-propelled howitzer is around $2.5 (CAD 3.5) million, depending on the chassis used. The production scale of 36 units per month significantly exceeds the capabilities of European NATO members. For example, France, a leader in this field, reached a production level of 12 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers per month in 2024.
Simultaneously, Ukrainians are also developing a towed version known as Bohdana-B, which was first shown in photos from live-fire exercises in March of this year. This design is significantly cheaper, at approximately $1.5 (CAD 2.1) million per unit.
As noted by the Ukrainian service UNITED24 Media, the production of domestic artillery systems has become crucial as Ukraine faces continuous equipment losses on the battlefield and limited weapon supplies from allies. Among the artillery delivered from the West are British AS90s, German PzH 2000s, French CAESARs, and Polish Krabs.
