The 2S22 Bohdana is a 155 mm NATO-standard caliber, wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed in Ukraine. Its prototype is mounted on the chassis of the Ukrainian six-wheel-drive KrAZ-6322 truck. It has an armoured cabin and storage for 20 shells. The howitzer has an effective range of 42 km (26 mi) with conventional shells and 60 km (37 mi) with rocket-assisted projectiles according to the manufacturer manuals. It can fire several types of shells including the extended-range M982 Excalibur at a rate of five rounds per minute.
History
The howitzer underwent live fire tests in 2018. Its first public display was in the Kyiv Independence Day Parade on 24 August 2018. Development was nearly halted in 2020 due difficulties obtaining 155 mm shells at the time, legal disputes between the government and manufacturer, temporary cancellation of the program funding, and excessive recoil that would be eventually solved with the introduction of an improved muzzle brake. Test firings were conducted at the Shyrokyi Lan training ground in May 2021. Further test firings were carried out at a range in Odesa Oblast in December 2021 and January 2022, where 450 shots were fired at a range of 42 km, greater than the manufacturer's specification of 40 km (25 mi).
According to then Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, the 2S22 entered full production in January 2023 and the first units were scheduled for delivery over the following months.
In December 2023, it was reported by Eсonomichna Pravda that the Ukrainian Ground Forces already received around 30 Bohdanas, and that a towed version was under development.
Russo-Ukrainian War
On 25 February 2022, at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Bohdana's manufacturers were ordered to destroy the sole prototype, to prevent the Russians from capturing it. However, it was able to be moved away from the Russians and handed to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On 7 May 2022 Forbes reported that the prototype had been deployed at the front and was firing at Russian targets.
In June 2022 Ukrainian forces on the mainland of Ukraine reportedly used the 2S22 Bohdana to shell Russian forces on Snake Island, which is 35 km from the mainland. This along with strikes from other artillery systems as well as drones led to the withdrawal of Russian forces from the island on 30 June.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said at the beginning of 2023 that serial mass production of an improved Bohdana had started. The improved version includes the replacement of the KrAZ-6322 chassis with a KrAZ or MAN 6x6 chassis, or a Tatra 817 8x8 chassis. In July 2023, a video showing the 57th Motorized Brigade operating at least two pre-production Bohdanas mounted on the Bogdan-6317 chassis (localized version of MAZ-6317 with the Chinese-produced engine and transmission, and Turkish-produced clutch replacing original Russian components) was published. The 2S22 Bohdana was officially adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on 21 July 2023. Two days later, an improved Bohdana mounted on the Tatra 815-7 8x8 chassis was reported as being in service with the 1st Special Purpose Brigade. Militarnyi reported that the Tatra 815-7 trucks had likely been bought to be used as chassis for the Burevyi multiple rocket launcher, which ran out of ammunition during the first year of the Russian invasion.
Early production versions of the Bohadana lacked some features such as autoloaders and ballistic radars, which were eventually incorporated into the newest models.
According to the Oryx blog, 22 Bohadanas were visually confirmed as destroyed or damaged as of 5 April 2025.
Production
As of April 2024, ten Bohdanas were produced monthly, and the rate of production was expected to increase in May 2024.
On 10 July 2024, Denmark signed an agreement with Ukraine to provide funding for the production and delivery of 18 2S22 Bohdana to Ukraine within the coming months. As of 15 September 2024, the 18 2S22 Bohdana have been completed and delivered.
On 2 October 2024, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that rate of production reached a peak of 20 Bohdanas per month.
On 3 October 2024, a prototype of a towed Bohdana, mounted on the carriage of a 2A36 Giatsint-B, was seen for the first time. On 24 March 2025, the press service of the 47th Separate Artillery Brigade released photos showing crews deploying and firing the towed howitzer.
Ukraine manufactured a total of 154 artillery systems in 2024, according to President Zelenskyy. While he did not specify exact types, military analysts suggest that the 2S22 Bohdana is probably included.
Variants
- Bohdana/Bohdana 1.0
Original production version. Mounted on KrAZ-63221 6×6 truck chassis
- Bohdana 2.0
Mounted on MAZ chassis. Improved variant with redesigned armored cabin and other improvement including the ability to fire American Excalibur shell.
- Bohdana 3.0
Mounted on Tatra 815-7 chassis, equipped with Czech Puma armored cabin.
- Bohdana 4.0
Latest production version, mounted on Tatra 158 Phoenix 8×8 chassis, equipped with locally designed armored cabin designed by local company Ukrarmor and featuring semi automatic loading system.
- 2P22 Bohdana
A family of towed howitzers using the same barrel as the 2S22.
See also
- Archer – Swedish 155 mm self-propelled howitzerPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
- ATMOS 2000 – Israeli 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
- A-222 Bereg – Russian self-propelled coastal defense gunPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
- CAESAR – French 155 mm artillery
- 152 mm SpGH DANA – Czechoslovak self-propelled howitzer
- G6 Rhino – South African 155 mm self-propelled artilleryPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
- AHS Kryl – Polish 155 mm self-propelled wheeled gun-howitzer
- 2S43 Malva – Russian 152 mm self-propelled howitzer
- Nora B-52 – Serbian 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
- PCL-09 – Chinese 122 mm self-propelled howitzer
- PCL-161 – Chinese 122 mm self-propelled howitzer
- PCL-181 – Chinese 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
- PLL-09 – (China) – 122 mm or 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
- RCH 155 - German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
- Type 19 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer – Japanese artillery
- 155 mm SpGH Zuzana – Slovak 155mm self-propelled gun-howitzer
References
