Ukraine has surpassed Europe in artillery production volumes

Ukraine has surpassed Europe in artillery production volumes

Ukraine is expanding the production of 2S22 "Bohdana" self-propelled howitzers and is reaching a new level of defense capabilities. According to information from Ukrainian volunteer and military analyst Taras Chmut, the Ukrainian arms industry is currently capable of producing 16 howitzers per month.

Commenting on this news, Polish observer Adam Sverkowski in his Defence24 article noted that this is a significant increase compared to April’s figures, when production was 10 units over the same period.

According to the Polish journalist, the increase in production capacity is due to several factors.

Firstly, Ukraine is actively involving not only state-owned but also private arms factories in production, which increases the number of enterprises participating in the creation of artillery.

Secondly, significant investments and the use of technologies adapted to current needs allow for faster assembly processes. For example, in the case of "Bohdana" howitzers, Tatra Phoenix civilian truck chassis, as well as used equipment from Czech manufacturers, are used. This simplifies and shortens production time in wartime conditions.

Sverkowski also noted the modernization of other weapon systems, such as the "Bureviy" multiple launch rocket system, which uses a similar Tatra chassis. Such solutions allow for the quick adaptation of existing infrastructure to new tasks. Moreover, these steps signify a gradual transition from Soviet-era artillery systems to more modern 155-mm howitzers.

Advantages and Challenges

The production rate of 16 units per month indicates more than a 50% increase in Ukraine’s production capacity, highlighting the ability of the Ukrainian industry to respond to growing front-line demands. Thus, according to the observer, Ukraine can be considered one of the leading producers of artillery in Europe. This also allows for a gradual transition from Soviet-era artillery systems to more modern 155-mm howitzers.

However, there remain several questions regarding the sources of components, particularly barrels for the howitzers, which are currently in short supply for many manufacturers. It is also of interest to explore what volume of production is actually fulfilled by Ukrainian enterprises and what is imported from abroad. For example, the chassis for the equipment is supplied from the Czech Republic, which facilitates the work of Ukrainian industry.

Nevertheless, despite the complexities of logistical and production chains, the increase in the production of "Bohdana" howitzers is a significant achievement for Ukraine, especially considering the constant attacks from Russia. This production rate not only compensates for losses but also re-arms Ukrainian units with more mobile and effective self-propelled artillery systems, significantly enhancing their combat capabilities.