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BERLIN ($1=0.98 Euros) — KMW begins production of 100 155mm Panzerhaubitze 2000 or PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. KMW also confirmed that after production, it will deliver the artillery systems to Ukraine. According to the German online portal Soldat und Technik, which cited Der Spiegel, the deal is worth 1.7 billion euros and has already received the official approval of the Federal Ministry of Economics.
Soldat und Technik writes that KMW is trying to realize production and delivery as quickly as possible. Due to the specifics of the situation in Europe and the war in Ukraine, it is not clear whether Ukraine will receive the full set of services. In non-war situations, both the German manufacturer and other international companies provide spare parts and conduct training. At the moment, it is not clear whether the German manufacturer will proceed in the same way again.
BulgarianMilitary.com recalls that German self-propelled howitzers PzH 2000 are already in use on the battlefield. Also, from the beginning of the war until today, the Ukrainian military has been receiving various training courses in Germany and Poland to work with the weapons supplied to them. Although there are dozens of arms suppliers, Ukraine is primarily trained on weapons systems produced by the United States, Germany, France, and Great Britain.
On June 21 the German government has officially published a list of weapons systems, weapons, ammunition, and consumables that it has provided to Ukraine so far and a list of what is being implemented or is being prepared.
Officially, Berlin has provided Ukraine with 3,000 Panzerfaust 3 cartridges plus 900 grips, 14,900 anti-tank mines, 500 STINGER anti-aircraft missiles, 2,700 STRELA flying fists, 16 million rounds of ammunition handgun, 50 bunker fists, 100 MG 3 machine guns with 500 spare barrels and bolts, 100,000 hand grenades, 5,300 explosive charges, 100,000 meters of detonating cord and 100,000 detonators 350,000 detonators, 23,000 combat helmets, 15 pallets of clothing 178 motor vehicles, 100 tents, 6 pallets of material for explosive ordnance disposal, 125 binoculars, 1,200 hospital beds, 18 pallets of medical supplies, 60 surgical lights, Protective clothing, operating masks, 10,000 sleeping bags, 600 shooting glasses, 1 radio frequency system, 3,000 field telephones with 5,000 reels of field cord and carrying equipment, 1 field hospital [joint project with Estonia], 353 night vision goggles, 4 electronic anti-drone devices, 165 binoculars, Medical supplies [including rucksacks, first- aid kits], 38 Laser removal knife, Fuel diesel and petrol [current delivery], 10 tons of AdBlue, 500 pieces of wound dressings to stop bleeding, 500 pieces of food rations, MiG-29 spare parts and 30 armored vehicles.
In the second list, the German government describes the weapons systems, weapons, and consumables that are being prepared for dispatch or are already in the process of being dispatched. The list is also very long and includes tens of thousands of artillery shells, anti-tank missiles, nearly 6 million rounds of handgun ammunition, drones, radars, vehicles, and reconnaissance vehicles.
It is noteworthy that Germany confirms the sending to Ukraine of three MARS multiple rocket launchers with ammunition [the German version of the American system M270 MLRS], seven self-propelled 155mm howitzers PzH 2000, and 30 mobile anti-aircraft 35mm systems Gepard SPAAG. BulgarianMilitary.com previously announced the dispatch of Cheetah and PzH 2000, but it is unclear whether the three multiple rocket launchers are part of the promised four in Washington or a separate initiative from Germany.
PzH-2000 is a 155-mm closed-type cannon chassis, built based on components and units of the “Leopard-2” tank. Additional weapons consist of a 7.62-mm MG-3 machine gun and eight smoke grenade launchers [2×4]. The machine carries 60 artillery shells, 48 all-metal charges [six-segment], 2,000 machine guns, and 8 grenade launchers.
PzH 2000 is very suitable for the modern concept of war – from a great distance to hit the target with one volley and quickly leave the position. An automated fire control system helps to cover the target without shots, which directs the entire battery at once. PzH 2000 can fire three projectiles in 9 seconds or 10 in 56 seconds. Then the speed is from 10 to 13 shots per minute, depending on the heating of the barrel.
Range of firing with a standard NATO projectile L15A2 – 30 km. PzH 2000 holds the world record among 155 mm howitzers. At a test site in South Africa, she fired a specially designed V-LAP projectile, manufactured by the South African company Denel, 56 km away.
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