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Germany to Fund 200 Marta 155mm Howitzers, a New Variant of Ukraine’s Bohdana
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Ukraine has unveiled new details about a German-funded variant of its domestically developed 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer, designated “Marta,” during the Eurosatory 2026 defense exhibition in Paris.
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According to Defence Blog on June 16, a representative of Ukrainian Armoured Vehicles confirmed that the new system will be mounted on a Mercedes-Benz Zetros chassis and equipped with a 155 mm L39 barrel.
The disclosure provides the first publicly confirmed technical details about the artillery system included in Germany’s previously announced funding package for 200 Ukrainian-made self-propelled howitzers.
The project forms part of defense agreements signed between Ukraine and Germany in December 2025. Under the deal, Berlin committed approximately €750 million ($870 million) to finance the production of 200 Bohdana artillery systems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Defence Blog reported.
The 2S22 Bohdana is Ukraine’s first domestically developed wheeled self-propelled artillery system chambered for NATO-standard 155 mm ammunition. Previous versions of the system have been integrated onto several chassis, including KrAZ, MAZ, and Tatra platforms.
The newly announced Marta configuration will use the German-made Mercedes-Benz Zetros truck, a platform already operated by several European militaries.
According to Defence Blog, the choice of the Zetros chassis is expected to improve maintenance and logistics compatibility with existing NATO support networks, benefiting from an established supply chain and spare parts infrastructure.
The L39 designation indicates a barrel length equal to 39 times the weapon’s 155 mm caliber, resulting in a barrel approximately six meters long. While shorter than the L52 barrels used by systems such as Germany’s PzH 2000 and France’s CAESAR, Ukrainian officials have not disclosed the Marta’s maximum firing range or other performance characteristics.
The report follows earlier announcements regarding the expansion of Bohdana production. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in October 2025 that domestic production of the artillery system had reached roughly 40 units per month.
The Marta project represents another step in the continued development of Ukraine’s artillery industry, combining a Ukrainian-designed weapon system with a chassis and support ecosystem widely used across NATO countries.
Earlier, Ukraine deployed the Bohdana-BG, a towed 155mm variant of its domestically developed Bohdana artillery system. The howitzer has been operating with frontline units for at least a year and was designed to improve survivability and ease of maintenance in a battlefield increasingly dominated by drones.
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