Ukrainian social media community No Mercy for the Enemy (NMFTE) has shown media depicting a 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled artillery system shooting M982 Excalibur at an unspecified location in Ukraine. It is not clear whether it is test shooting or combat, we can only assume that given how costly each Excalibur smart projectile is, it might well be a "trial by combat."
Notable is the fact this is an improved version of this howitzer which differs from the earlier iteration by the chassis. The community authors also say this system will soon receive a "modular rammer", apparently referring to an automatic or semi-automatic loading system, and note that the cabin was made by Ukrainska Bronetekhnika (Ukrainian Armored Vehicles) manufacturer.
Read more: Photos of the Production of Ukrainian 2S22 Bohdana Self-propelled Howitzer Appeared Online
This photo is also significant in light of the fact that the last time Bohdana was seen in action was during the battle for Zmiinyi (Snake) Island in summer 2022. The howitzer was shelling the russian garrison on this small but important piece of land in the northwestern Black Sea and had a great impact on the outcome of the battle for the island.
All the photos from that time feature the 2S22 Bohdana howitzer placed on its base variant chassis from the KrAZ automobile plant. Although as we remember, there was only one prototype that was created for pre-production testing and which was engaged in the shelling of Zmiinyi. Now we have the first indication of the next generation of Bohdana howitzers appearing or soon to appear on the frontlines.
As a reminder, the plans to upgrade the chassis for Bohdana were revealed by Ukraine's defense minister Oleksii Reznikov in January 2023, he also said the new version would be produced in series and delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Shortly after, Ukrainian machine tool manufacturer KZTS presented the upgraded howitzer that comes with three different wheeled chassis options: Tatra, KrAZ or MAN. The Tatra variant comes in the wheel formula 8x8 with an armored cabin from the mentioned Ukrainska Bronetekhnika, the KrAZ is a standard 6x6 (though the photo suggests this one received a new cabin, too), and the MAN alternative which has not been seen so far.
The enhanced Bohdana howitzer has the following declared specifications: weight 28 tons, ammunition stock 20 shells, rate of fire up to 5 rounds per minute, crew 5 people. The upgrade includes a new computerized system of automatic targeting and tracking of the target, as well as an adaptable system of rapid deployment for firing on all types of terrain.
In his February 2023 interview, minister Reznikov stated the Ukrainian Army would get "first divisions" (the standard number is 18 howitzers in a division) within months. It means we should see more of them by now, and it already happens with brand-new Bohdanas spotted here and there already over the recent weeks.
Read more: About Naivety Over the Years Before the russian Invasion: Could Ukraine’s Defense Industry Fulfill Its Main Task
