Bohdana Self-Propelled Artillery System Will Receive a 39-Caliber Barrel

The Ukrainian Bohdana self-propelled artillery system will be armed with a new 39 caliber short barrel.

Polish journalist Mariusz Marshalkowski of Defence24 and Militarnyi’s sources reported this.

The developers are working on several new versions of the self-propelled gun, including one on a truck chassis. This will allow diversifying the system’s configurations and expanding the possibilities of its use for the Defense Forces.

German MAN or Korean Daewoo chassis are being considered as chassis, which Ukraine receives as part of international technical assistance.

Security circles have confirmed to Militarnyi that they are interested in such a system to obtain brigade-level firepower.

The 39-caliber version of the system could serve as an alternative to existing systems with longer barrels, offering flexibility for various tactical conditions.

Bohdana self-propelled artillery system

The development of Ukraine’s first 155-mm wheeled artillery system, the 2S22 Bohdana, started in 2016 at the Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant. An important aspect was the production of the barrel, which had never been manufactured in Ukraine before.

At the end of January 2022, it was reported that Bohdana had successfully passed preliminary fire tests: it fired 450 shots and reached a range of 42 kilometers. In January 2023, it was announced that mass production had started.

The cost of one Ukrainian self-propelled artillery system ranges between EUR 2.3 and 2.8 million. The price probably depends on the type of chassis and armored cab used for a particular modification.

According to the manufacturer, to secure the process, production was dispersed across several locations, including abroad. Duplication has also been introduced – no part is manufactured in just one location.

With monthly production exceeding 30 units, the Ukrainian industry maintains the pace required to replace losses at the front and re-equip outdated artillery models.

Among the improvements to Ukrainian self-propelled artillery systems, the installation of ballistic radar to measure the actual velocity of projectiles is worth mentioning. This allows for an increase in the accuracy of the hit by introducing additional corrections.