M109 self-propelled artillery systems in service with five Ukrainian units

In March-April, M109 self-propelled howitzers were spotted in service with four Ukrainian brigades and an assault regiment.

This is evidenced by photos of the military with the new equipment on the units’ official pages and in media reports.

The self-propelled 155 mm artillery systems were first used by the newly formed 156th Mechanized Brigade, which, until recently, had been armed only with mortars and 122 mm D-30 trailed howitzers.

The new howitzers were also seen in use by paratroopers from the 25th Airborne Brigade, artillerymen from the 1st Tank Brigade, and the 32nd Mechanized Brigade. They also entered service with the recently reformed 425th Skala assault regiment.

The artillery divisions of these brigades had been equipped with 122 mm self-propelled guns 2C1 Gvozdika and 152 mm howitzers 2C3 Acacia and D-20 since the beginning of the invasion. Western-caliber artillery systems replaced them.

The relatively massive re-equipment of units with Western self-propelled systems can be attributed to new supplies from abroad, as well as the release of vehicles from other units that have received longer-range 2S22 Bohdan wheeled guns.

In addition, the Ukrainian military is gradually moving toward a complete re-equipment from 152-caliber howitzers due to the worn-out nature of Soviet howitzers and the shortage of ammunition.

All of the guns in service with these units are old M109 modifications in A3-A4 versions with a 39-caliber barrel. They are capable of throwing a basic M107 high-explosive fragmentation projectile at a distance of 18 kilometers, and active-jet and bottom-gas-generator projectiles at a distance of 25 and 30 kilometers, respectively.

It is worth noting that in the available photos, all combat vehicles in the combat zone are equipped with massive anti-drone superstructures and operate exclusively from caponiers equipped with protective nets.

Other units of the Defense Forces are also actively rearming. Recently, Army Technology reported that the production of Ukrainian Bohdana self-propelled howitzers has increased to 36 units per month.

The Bohdana self-propelled howitzer has already been put into service with at least 18 brigades of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, including artillery, marines, the National Guard, and even a consolidated brigade of the National Police. It has also been spotted in service with the DIU special forces.

The army has also already received the first Bohdana-B trailer gun, which was armed with the 47th Artillery Brigade. Currently, the Bohdana-B uses a carriage from the Soviet Hyacinth-B gun. This is due to the need for rapid development, but by the end of 2025, it will receive a new carriage.