Netherlands orders 9 latest Czech howitzers for Ukraine

The Netherlands has ordered nine DITA self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine.

Two Czech defense contractors will provide the 155mm guns to Ukraine, the Dutch defense ministry announced without revealing the order details.

“The DITA howitzer is a modern firing system that can hit targets tens of kilometers away. Ukraine has a great need for this weapon,” the ministry said.

Newest Gun

Unveiled in 2021, the Excalibur Army-manufactured gun has not yet been ordered by any other country.

Ukraine reportedly has been interested in the wheeled gun since 2022, with Kyiv officials discussing it with the Czech firm’s representatives in May 2022.

The DITA is an upgrade on the 152mm DANA, featuring twice the range at 39 kilometers (24 miles).

Moreover, greater automation requires a crew of just two, three less than its predecessor.

Additional Features

The gun’s starting rate of fire is six rounds per minute, reducing to five rounds per minute during prolonged firing.

It carries 40 artillery rounds and can transition to traveling mode in 45 seconds.

The 8×8 Tatra truck-mounted howitzer travels at up to 90 kilometers (56 miles) per hour on paved roads for up to 600 kilometers (373 miles).

Additional features include an uncrewed turret for automatic reloading and a fire control system that offers a choice of munition to use upon receiving aerial drone data.