Ukrainian 155 mm Bohdana-B and Marta towed howitzers could become the mainstay of their class throughout Europe. There is a niche in the market for this, but it is not as simple as it seems.
Currently, most European countries lack domestically designed serial equivalents and instead rely on Cold War–era legacy systems or self-propelled artillery of this caliber. However, Bosnia and Herzegovina is moving in this direction and may even have supplied its solution to Ukraine.
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The United Kingdom, which is currently organizing licensed production of American M777s, can be considered an exception. However, it is not currently a member of the EU and is therefore largely bypassed by continental procurement programs such as SAFE.
Therefore, there is an open market niche for the Bohdana-B, as there are currently no local alternatives. At the same time, many countries, such as Greece, Finland, Croatia, Spain, and Romania, still have towed artillery in their arsenals, which they may wish to replace.
However, this market is also contested by a number of international competitors. While Bosnia and Herzegovina has already been mentioned, Turkey with its Panter and India with its ATAGS also deserve attention. These systems are self-propelled rather than towed, which increases the cost per unit but also brings additional capabilities.
This highlights the main issue: at present, most European countries show little interest in towed artillery, relying instead on self-propelled systems. This is due to both the superior mobility and the additional technologies that modern self-propelled artillery can incorporate.
Meanwhile, if sufficient funds are available, the choice tends to fall on highly automated models, like the RCH 155, operated by Germany, Great Britain, and Ukraine. If a more budget-friendly option is required, the French Caesar is available.
This approach aligns well with the requirements of mobile combat operations, which many countries still rely on heavily. However, in situations of trench warfare and the widespread use of drones, such advantages begin to diminish, as evidenced in the russian-Ukrainian war.
This is not the only advantage of towed artillery, as it is generally cheaper and easier to maintain. It can be used for large-scale unit supply and stored in depots as a reserve that can be readily deployed when needed.
It appears that the Bohdana-B does have a potential for further sales to Western countries, though additional improvements are necessary. At the very least, a new gun carriage mount will be needed. Work is already underway, but no serial models have yet been seen. An appropriate loading tray will also be necessary, as discussed earlier in more detail.
Once the system has been refined, it can be promoted as a cheap and mass-produced solution for European countries. The Ukrainian defense industry's capacity to produce large quantities of barrels will also contribute to this effort.
At the same time, the decision will be between the 39-caliber Marta, favored for its lighter weight and higher mobility, and the 52-caliber Bohdana. This means that buyers will be able to select the option that best suits their military's needs.
This remains speculative, but with the potential opening of defense-industry exports, Ukrainian artillery does have a chance to secure its own niche in the market. The only question that remains is how to put this into practice, which is actually very difficult.
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