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Too Big to Survive: War in Ukraine Ends Slovakia’s Zuzana 2 Howitzer Era
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Slovakia’s state defense company Konštrukta Defence plans to halt production of its 155mm self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2, shifting focus to the more compact Eva system.
According to Dennik N, the decision reflects changing battlefield realities revealed by the war in Ukraine, where lighter and faster artillery systems have proven more practical and cost-effective.
The Zuzana 2, once considered one of Europe’s most advanced wheeled howitzers, failed to adapt to new trends favoring high mobility and automation.
The Slovak Defense Ministry reportedly acknowledged that “the system has lost its competitive edge” as customers increasingly seek smaller, unmanned or semi-automated platforms that reduce crew exposure to danger.
Ukraine’s experience has accelerated this shift. As Defense Express notes, most artillery platforms used in the war—including the French Caesar and Ukraine’s locally built Bohdana—rely on simpler, open-truck designs that can be produced quickly and at lower cost.
Despite its technical sophistication Dennik N noted that Zuzana 2's complex structure and manned turret limited production to small batches. Of the 24 units ordered for Ukraine under a 2022 contract, only eight were delivered from Slovak reserves, with the rest still pending.
Konštrukta Defence now intends to concentrate on the Eva—a lighter, more mobile artillery system also based on a 155mm gun but with greater automation and lower cost.
According to Dennik N, the company has also explored cooperation with Ukraine’s Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant, the manufacturer of the Bohdana howitzer, under the NAUDI industrial group.
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Analysts see the end of Zuzana 2 production as part of a broader realignment in the defense industry, where volume and adaptability increasingly outweigh legacy designs.
Earlier in July 2025, Ukraine patented the Bohdana 6.0 self-propelled howitzer under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, signaling plans for international co-production. Developed by the Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant, the upgraded system features a new chassis integration and semi-automatic rammer, and follows multiple Bohdana variants already in service.
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