This month, the Ukrainian defense industry is producing 10 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers for the first time, with more to come in May and beyond.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced this.

“The share of our own production is constantly growing. The state enters into serious, long-term contracts with our enterprises, which provide predictability, the ability to recruit people and attract investment. This month, our industry will produce 10 Bogdana howitzers for the first time, and in May and beyond, even more,” the President shared.

At the beginning of April, Militarnyi reported that the Ukrainian arms industry is building eight Bohdana self-propelled howitzers each month.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov first publicly reported the start of mass production of Ukrainian self-propelled howitzers in January 2023.

He stated that Ukraine has financed the serial production of the domestic Bohdana 155mm self-propelled howitzers. According to the Minister, the work started in the spring of 2022.

Some critical parts are produced at their own sites abroad.

In December 2023, it was announced that about 30 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers had already been assembled for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Militarnyi reported on March 30 that the Ukrainian Bohdana self-propelled guns received special protective screens made of metal mesh for protection against drones.

Mounted screens made of metal mesh are designed to protect the wheel self-propelled guns primarily from enemy strike drones, which are constantly hunting for Ukrainian artillery.

According to the photo, the structures cover important units of the Bohdana self-propelled guns, such as the front and upper part of the cabin, where the driver and howitzer crew are located, the hood above the engine, and the places where the 155mm shells and propellant charges are stored.

The main function of these screens is to protect against light-impact FPV drones or reduce the effectiveness of Russian loitering munitions like the Lancet.