Ukrainian artillery takes lead with new Bogdana-B howitzer
The first towed howitzer, Bogdana-B, developed from the already popular self-propelled howitzer 2S22 Bogdana, has appeared in the ranks of the Ukrainian army. Ukrainians claim that the production of both these artillery systems will grow rapidly, significantly surpassing NATO countries' capabilities in producing similar weapons.
The press service of the 47th Artillery Brigade published photos from the first firing of Bogdana-B. The UNITED24 Media portal reports that it was designed with a focus on finding a cost-effective and durable alternative to self-propelled artillery systems.
First firing of the Bogdana-B howitzer
The cost of the 2S22 Bogdana is approximately $2.5 million each. One unit of Bogdana-B is expected to cost about $1.5 million, making it a much more affordable way to equip artillery units awaiting long-range weapons.
Bogdana-B is an interesting hybrid. UNITED24 Media explains that it uses the gun known from 2S22 Bogdana (calibre 155 mm with a barrel length of 52 calibres) and a chassis similar to the towed 2A36 Hyacinth-B from Soviet times.
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Although one has to consider significantly reduced mobility, from the Ukrainian perspective, the towed Bogdana-B howitzer also has many advantages. Besides lower production costs, it also has reduced maintenance requirements and is easier to produce in large quantities.
Ambitious plans of Ukrainians for artillery production
Official data provided by Ukrainians indicate that in 2024, 154 units of 2S22 Bogdana were produced. However, representatives of the local industry suggest that achieving a production scale of up to 40 units of 2S22 Bogdana per month is possible. The issue, however, is the delivery of chassis from abroad, which requires waiting. The prototype of this weapon was built on the KrAZ-63221, but currently, Tatra Phoenix 8x8 chassis are being used.
In comparison, among European countries, the French company Nexter has been the most successful with the production of this type of weapon, with the capability of reaching a production rate of up to 12 self-propelled CAESAR howitzers per month in 2024.
