Poland is showing interest in acquiring wheeled self-propelled artillery systems for its armed forces. With Ukrainian defense industry products now included in the European Union's SAFE initiative, the 2S22 Bohdana emerges as a strong candidate, Defense Express reports.
The following assessment is inspired by recent negotiations between Ukrainian and Polish delegations at the MSPO 2025 arms exhibition. The talks covered future bilateral defense projects as well as opportunities under the SAFE loan program, without specification.
Read more: Bohdana Howitzer to Get a Barrel Trim to 39 Calibers — Will It Replace M777, M109, 2S3 Akatsiya in Ukrainian Army?
The Polish Army already fields the domestically produced AHS Krab 155mm tracked howitzer and is purchasing additional K9 units from South Korea. While tracked platforms excel in off-road performance, wheeled systems offer faster road mobility and lower operating costs.
Poland previously attempted to develop its own wheeled solution called the Kryl, ordered in 2011. The first prototype was shown in 2015, but development dragged on until 2021, and in 2022 the concept was abandoned altogether.
Warsaw then leaned toward relying solely on tracked systems. However, by October 2024 interest in wheeled artillery resurfaced, with tests conducted on the French Caesar. No purchase followed, though.
With the big purchases of Krab and K9 underway, Poland may not have the resources to purchase another platform. Yet under the SAFE mechanism, financing a wheeled system that meets the required "European content" threshold becomes a realistic option.
One candidate that fits the bill is CAESAR, offering competitive pricing, high production capacity, and good overall performance. Both its 6x6 and 8x8 variants are mass-produced.
Still, the system has recently faced difficulties: according to the Czech Ministry of Defense, Caesar failed to meet declared specifications in national trials. Prague has since threatened to break its contract, forcing the manufacturer to stop production until a solution is found.
On the other hand, there is the Ukrainian 2S22 Bohdana. Although less sophisticated than Caesar, Bohdana boasts a remarkable production tempo — officially 30 units per month, possibly more — and delivers firing ranges on par with Western howitzers.
A key advantage is flexibility: its developer, PJSC Kramatorsk Heavy Duty Machine Tool Building Plant (part of the NAUDI association), has patented the Bohdana as a modular artillery turret that can be mounted on virtually any chassis. This allows customers to choose platforms that best suit their needs.
Geography also works in its favor. Production next door in Ukraine can come in handy when quick maintenance or barrel replacement are needed. It could even open opportunities for Polish-Ukrainian joint projects.
The Bohdana-BG towed variant could also appeal to Warsaw, given the rising demand for towed artillery and its compatibility with the self-propelled version. A potential 39-caliber barrel modification adds another layer of flexibility in a shorter-range niche.
Ultimately, whether Poland commits to wheeled artillery or sticks to its current track-only approach will depend on budget, priorities, and long-term planning. For now, both Caesar and Bohdana remain viable contenders.
Read more: For the First Time Since 2021, Krab Howitzers Go to Poland, Not Ukraine
