Germany will purchase 10 PzH 2000 howitzers to replace those transferred to Ukraine

30 March, 2023 Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 self-propelled howitzer Photo credits: German Ministry of Defense The German armed forces will receive 10 new Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers. They will replace those transferred to Ukraine as military aid to repel the full-scale Russian invasion.

The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag approved the decision to purchase these howitzers on Wednesday, as reported on the website of the German Ministry of Defense. German parliamentarians approved the allocation of EUR184 million to purchase 155-mm PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers. Funds will be allocated under the "Recovery Initiative," which is an instrument of the security policy of the German federal government aimed at military assistance of partner countries.

PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer

"Since the German Armed Forces transferred PzH 2000 from their stockpiles to Ukraine, the new howitzers are being financed under the Recovery Initiative," the German Ministry of Defense explained.

The German military should receive the new Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers in 2025 and 2026. German-made PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers are actively used by the Ukrainian military in the war against the Russian invasion forces. According to the German Ministry of Defense, Ukraine received 14 155-mm PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers.

Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) ACS of the German military.

2012. Photo credits: Tobias Nordhausen

In March, Germany and Slovakia agreed to repair German-made armored vehicles, including PzH 2000 howitzers, for Ukraine. The German arms manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann is in charge of organizing the repair base.

Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) self-propelled howitzer of the Ukrainian servicemen.

Summer 2022. Ukraine. Photo credits: Radio Svoboda

Panzerhaubitze 2000 is a German self-propelled artillery system with an autoloading system and a high level of automation of all systems.

The turret armor provides protection against small arms and artillery shell debris. The gun barrel with the rifled channel is 52 calibers long. The ammunition package consists of 60 shells and 228 modular propellant charges.

The range of firing with standard ammunition reaches 30 km, and with rocket-assisted projectile - 40 km.