The Mariupol Brigade was reinforced with new Dana-M2 self-propelled guns

2 January, 2024 Dana-M2 ACS of the Ukrainian military. December 2023, Ukraine. A frame from the 56th Motorized Brigade video

The new Czech Dana-M2 152mm artillery system reinforced the Mariupol Brigade. Footage capturing the deployment of these self-propelled installations was published on the official page of the 56th Motorized Brigade. Ukraine received 26 ACS of this modification, along with several thousand DN1CZ shells with a firing range of up to 25.5 km.

The installations are currently presumably used to defeat Russian forces in the Donetsk region. Dana-M2 is an upgrade of the Czechoslovak ShKH vz.

77 DANA howitzer from the Czech defense company Excalibur Army. Vz.

77 Dana self-propelled howitzer was developed in the late 1970s in the former Czechoslovakia. The new self-propelled howitzers received a new cabin and fire control system.

The
ACS has an automated firing mode for which the commander only enters target data. The artillery installation is developed on the basis of the Tatra-815-VP31-M chassis with an 8x8 wheel arrangement. The manufacturer claims that its maximum firing range is 20-25.5 km and depends on the type of ammunition.

Dana-M2 ACS of the Ukrainian military.

December 2023, Ukraine. A frame from the 56th Motorized Brigade video

Prior to the full-scale invasion, Ukraine was considering purchasing such howitzers. The manufacturer reported on the production of 26 Dana-M2 self-propelled howitzers for the needs of Ukraine.

In 2020, it was reported that the contract to purchase Dana-M2 self-propelled howitzers from the Czech company Excalibur Army was closed back in 2018.

The production process of the Dana-M2 ACS in the Czech Republic. Photo credits: SE Ukrspetsexport

Since May 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been operating ShKH vz.

77 DANA howitzers.

The Defense Forces also received a 155mm weapon version from Slovakia - Zuzana and Zuzana 2.