Ukrainian Bohdana self-propelled howitzers have been equipped with a ballistic radar to measure the flight speed of shells and improve firing accuracy.

This became known due to a video report by Bild.

The released video footage shows that the Bohdana self-propelled howitzers are equipped with a small radar mounted on the barrel.

Such radars allow measuring the actual speed of shells as they exit the barrel, as it may differ from standard table data due to various factors. This enables additional adjustments, which improves the accuracy of fire control.

The released footage shows that several different Bohdana self-propelled howitzers on various chassis are equipped with these radars. This indicates that it is already a serial modification of this artillery system, although the self-propelled guns delivered to the military earlier have not yet been fitted with them.

Externally, the radar antenna installed on the Bohdana self-propelled howitzer visually resembles the Ukrainian radar system 112L4 for measuring the flight speed of shells. However, it is not definitively known if this is the same radar.

112L4 Radar

The Ukrainian 112L4 projectile velocity measurement radar was created in 2019 and put into service in September 2023.

The 112L4 operates in the millimeter (Ka-band) frequency range and is designed to measure the initial velocity of ballistic objects with speeds up to 2000 m/s and calibers from 4.5 mm.

The radar, weighing up to 10 kg, can be deployed in two ways – either on the ground on a tripod or on self-propelled artillery systems. The radar is expected to be integrated into artillery fire control systems.

In the stationary version, using a mechanical support and rotation device, the radar can rotate in the azimuthal projection ±180º and in the elevation angle – from 0º to 70º.

The device can be deployed from a transport position to combat readiness in 15 minutes. The operator’s workstation can be located up to 50 meters away and placed in a safe location.

The Ministry of Defense noted that before developing this device, Ukrainian artillerymen used either outdated Soviet-era ABS-1 systems or Danish Weibel systems.