Slovakia transferred to Ukraine the first two Zuzana 2 wheeled self-propelled howitzers, the production of which is jointly funded by Denmark, Norway, and Germany as part of defense assistance.

Ludovit Odor, Prime Minister of Slovakia, announced this on Tuesday, August 1.

In total, within this joint project, the Defense Forces of Ukraine will receive 16 Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers.

The arms transfer ceremony took place in the Slovak city of Dubnytsia nad Vahom at the enterprise of the Konstrukta-Defence defense company.

“The protection of Ukraine and the ability to resist Russian aggression is in the interests of all of us. A world in which rules do not apply, and international rules are not respected is unacceptable to us. Our duty is to help in whatever way we can,” the Slovak Prime Minister said.

Ambassador of Ukraine Myroslav Kastran was also present at the handover ceremony of self-propelled howitzers in Dubnytsia.

“This project is an example of successful cooperation and the basis for new military and technical cooperation between Slovakia and Ukraine,” he emphasized.

According to Slovak media, in the coming months, the Konstrukta-Defence defense company, the manufacturer of Zuzana 2, will supply Ukraine with 14 more howitzers, the last of which should arrive next year.

Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine

At the beginning of October 2022, Militarnyi reported that Germany, along with Denmark and Norway, would finance the production and delivery of the Slovak 155-mm Zuzana 2 self-propelled guns for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the media, the value of the contract amounted to €93 million.

As previously reported, in June of last year, Ukraine and Slovakia signed a contract to supply eight 155mm Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers. Ukraine received the last of them on January 16, 2023.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on July 7, 2023, that Ukraine has signed a contract with Slovakia for the production of Zuzana 2 155-mm self-propelled howitzers. The cost of the contract was not revealed, but it was reported that it would cover the production of 16 units of Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers.

Zuzana 2 is a 155mm wheeled self-propelled gun produced by the Slovak ZTS Special. This is an upgraded version of the Zuzana 155 mm. Due to the 52-caliber length barrel, the Slovak ACS is capable of shooting at a maximum distance of up to 40 km. The howitzer also has an autoloading system. The turret turns 360 degrees, and thanks to automation, the number of crew members consists of 3 people.