Ponar Wadowice of Poland and Ukraine’s Kramatorsk Machine-Building Plant (NKMZ) have launched a joint venture to produce the Bohdana 155mm self-propelled howitzer and its towed variant in Poland. The collaboration is aimed at supplying the artillery system to the Polish armed forces and international buyers, especially as Ukraine’s ability to export defense equipment remains limited due to the ongoing war.
Poland still operates the Soviet-designed Dana 152mm self-propelled howitzer, while plans to replace it under the Kryl artillery program have been temporarily suspended. The new production arrangement could also appeal to NATO countries on the eastern flank that are looking to procure modern 155mm artillery systems compatible with alliance standards.
The Bohdana prototype was first deployed in May 2022 and gained attention after supporting Ukrainian forces in pushing Russian troops out of Snake Island. Serial production began in January 2023, and by the end of that year, around 30 units had been delivered to Ukraine’s military.
The wheeled howitzer has since become one of the key artillery platforms used by Ukrainian forces. Continuous improvements driven by frontline experience have resulted in new variants being introduced approximately every six months. In total, about 600 units across all versions have been produced, with production expected to reach a monthly rate of 40 systems in 2025.
Designed by NKMZ, the Bohdana is operated by a five-member crew and uses NATO-standard 155mm ammunition, replacing the older 152mm caliber common in Soviet-era systems. The howitzer can hit targets up to 42 kilometers away with standard shells and up to 50 kilometers using rocket-assisted munitions, with a firing rate of roughly five rounds per minute.
The system is mounted on an eight-wheeled chassis weighing approximately 28 tons and features an armored crew cabin along with onboard storage capable of carrying about 20 rounds of ammunition.
