The Netherlands ordered 6 new 155 mm DITA self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine from Czechia.
This was reported on the website of the Ministry of Defense of The Netherlands.
The ministry stated that the ordered DITA howitzers can fire the standard NATO caliber of 155mm. The Netherlands previously ordered 9 of these systems, which were transferred to Ukraine last summer.
The Dutch Minister of Defense, Ruben Brekelmans, announced new aid for Ukraine during the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.
“Ukraine has an enormous need for weapons and ammunition. Russia is bringing huge numbers of personnel onto the battlefield. We must continue to help Ukraine defend itself,” said the Dutch Minister of Defense, Ruben Brekelmans. “Earlier this year, we reported that we were purchasing €250 million worth of artillery ammunition as part of the Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine. These shells have already been largely delivered to Ukraine in recent months and are being deployed at the front.”
The Netherlands additionally ordered, together with Denmark, new artillery shells for Ukraine from the Czech defense industry.
Minister Brekelmans informed his NATO counterparts during the defense ministers' meeting that the Netherlands is investing €271 million in the matter.
According to the statement, the order of 155mm grenades is intended to help Ukraine with ammunition in 2025.
“The consumption of ammunition at the front is still high and it is therefore of great importance to provide this ammunition in 2025 as well,” the press release stated.
In September 2024, the Dutch Ministry of Defense affirmed that Ukraine is permitted to target military sites within Russian territory using weapons supplied by the Netherlands, including F-16 fighter jets.
