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Ukraine Rolls Out New Howitzer Designed for Survival in Drone-Dominated War

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Photo of Ivan Khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
News Writer
Ukrainian artilleryman guides the Bohdana-BG howitzer into position at a frontline firing site. (Source: Oboronka / 147th Separate Artillery Brigade)
Ukrainian artilleryman guides the Bohdana-BG howitzer into position at a frontline firing site. (Source: Oboronka / 147th Separate Artillery Brigade)

Ukraine has deployed a towed version of its domestically produced 155mm artillery system, the Bohdana-BG, with the platform operating in frontline units for at least a year, according to Oboronka on March 19.

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The system is currently used by the 147th Separate Artillery Brigade of the Air Assault Forces in eastern Ukraine, reflecting a broader shift in artillery tactics as drone threats continue to reshape the battlefield.

According to Oboronka, Ukrainian artillery officers describe the system as highly precise in combat conditions. A divisional chief of staff with the call sign “John” said: “This gun is a sniper rifle. Its accuracy is very good.”

Truck-mounted tractor delivers the Bohdana-BG howitzer to a prepared firing position. (Source: Oboronka / 147th Separate Artillery Brigade)
Truck-mounted tractor delivers the Bohdana-BG howitzer to a prepared firing position. (Source: Oboronka / 147th Separate Artillery Brigade)

Brigade commander Col. Viktor Dovhal also pointed to the system’s durability, stating that one unit remained operational after multiple drone strikes and was restored within days.

The Bohdana-BG is a towed 155mm howitzer developed by the Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Building Plant, based on the barrel technology of the original Bohdana self-propelled system. It features a 52-caliber barrel, comparable to Western systems such as the French CAESAR and longer than the 39-caliber barrel of the US-supplied M777.

According to Oboronka, the system has a maximum firing range of up to 41 kilometers and a minimum range of 4.7 kilometers, with a total length of 13.5 meters in transport configuration. It is primarily towed by KrAZ-6322 trucks, while tracked MT-LB vehicles are also used in some cases.

After several accurate strikes, a Russian-occupied dugout is destroyed. (Source: Oboronka / 147th Separate Artillery Brigade)
After several accurate strikes, a Russian-occupied dugout is destroyed. (Source: Oboronka / 147th Separate Artillery Brigade)

Ukrainian crews typically require around six minutes from receiving target coordinates to firing the first round. While the system is capable of firing up to six rounds per minute, operators prioritize accuracy, usually maintaining a rate of one to two rounds per minute with continuous drone-based corrections.

The howitzer is operated by a four-person crew and uses bagged propellant charges instead of metallic cartridges. Unit personnel note that environmental factors such as air and propellant temperature directly affect firing accuracy, with overheating occurring after five to seven rounds in warm conditions, while colder weather allows for up to ten accurate shots.

The Bohdana-BG is mounted on the carriage of the Soviet-era 2A36 “Giatsint-B,” a configuration that Ukrainian forces describe as durable and practical. According to Oboronka, the system’s mechanical design—without onboard fuel systems or complex electronics—improves survivability and allows repairs to be conducted even near frontline positions.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Bohdana 155mm self-propelled howitzer was set for joint production in Poland, as a Polish-Ukrainian company prepared to launch manufacturing for both domestic use and export markets.

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