Slovakia will build and deliver an additional 16 Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine with funding from several European countries.
Slovakia’s defense minister Jaroslav Naď signed the agreement for the financing of the systems in Denmark on Sunday, October 2.
The construction of the howitzers by Slovak joint-stock company Konstrukta will be financed jointly by Denmark, Germany and Norway, which have allocated 92 million euros for this purpose.
“Ukraine needs our help in defending its country and people’s lives, that’s why we are also trying to find all the possibilities at the international level to support it efficiently and effectively,” Naď said following a meeting in Copenhagen with his Danish counterpart Morten Bødskov.
“In the course of the coming months, 16 units of the 155mm Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzer will be produced for Ukraine under the contract, and we expect their gradual deliveries from the second half of 2023,” the defense minister added.
Slovakia has already delivered four out of a total of eight Zuzana 2 howitzers that were ordered by Ukraine in June of this year.
The Zuzana 2 155 mm howitzer is an artillery system integrated on a wheeled 8 x 8 chassis, with an external weapon mount outside the operator’s area, equipped with a fully automatic loading system and fire control system. The guns can fire six shells in a minute at distances of 40 kilometers.
Earlier this week, reports from France indicated that Ukraine was also close to receiving additional French-built Caesar 8×8 self-propelled howitzers that were initially destined for Denmark.
