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2S22 Bohdana, also referred to as Bogdan or Bogdana, is a 155mm wheeled, self-propelled howitzer developed by Kharkiv Tractor Plant (KhTZ), a tractor manufacturing company based in Ukraine.
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The howitzer is designed to destroy artillery batteries, command and communication posts, armoured and mechanised units, and field fortifications.
The first prototype of 2S22 Bohdana was showcased to the public as part of Ukraine’s 27th Independence Day parade, which was held in Kyiv in August 2018.
Testing details of the 2S22 Bohdana howitzer
Firing tests of 2S22 Bohdana were conducted at the Shiroky Lan test site in May 2021 as part of factory tests.
The howitzer shot 155mm projectiles, including long-range high-explosive projectiles with improved aerodynamics, and high explosive, extended range full bore base bleed (HE ERFB-BB) lead belt during the testing.
The 155mm ammunition used in testing was delivered to Ukraine by Excalibur Army, a Czech military vehicles and equipment company, in 2020.
In January 2022, preliminary firing tests of 2S22 Bohdana were completed with the successful firing of 450 shots with a 155mm calibre cannon at a range of 42km at the Alibey State testing ground of the Ukrainian armed forces in Odesa Oblast, Ukraine.
Deployment of the Bogdana howitzer
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine ordered the developer to destroy the experimental Bohdana to avoid its seizure by the Russian Army during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine, however, managed to protect the 2S22 Bohdana and deploy it to destroy the military units, positions, and personnel of the Russian armed forces in the war.
2S22 Bohdana howitzer design and features
Bohdana is a new North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) standard mobile artillery system based on a KrAZ 63221 6×6 high-mobility truck chassis manufactured by AutoKrAZ, a Ukrainian vehicle manufacturing company.
The 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer is made from Ukrainian steel and characterised by high mobility, precision, improved range and firing speed. It has a length of 8.5m, width of 2.7m, a height of 4m, and an overall combat weight of 25t.
The howitzer system features an armoured cabin and can accommodate up to five crew members. It has sufficient storage space to carry around 20 shells.
Armament aboard 2S22 Bohdana
The 2S22 Bohdana is equipped with a 155mm calibre cannon mounted at the rear of the truck chassis. The 155mm calibre cannon can rotate at elevation angles of between 5° and 65°. The howitzer can fire all standard NATO 155mm ammunition. It has a minimum range of 780m and can fire high-explosive incendiary/armour-piercing (HEIAP) ammunition to a range of up to 42km, and rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) to a range of 50km.
The artillery system has a maximum rate of fire of six shells a minute.
Fire control
Bohdana has a computerised fire control system. It is equipped with main gun stabilisation, a ballistic calculator, an automatic gun laying system and a navigation system.
The gun laying system is powered by Siemens SIPLUS automated data driver. The howitzer’s navigation system allows the vehicle to establish its own location and engage targets more quickly.
Engine and mobility
The 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled system is powered by a diesel engine. It can achieve a speed of 80km/h and a maximum operational range of 1,000km.
The howitzer can cross vertical steps of 0.7m and trenches of 1m, as well as negotiate grades of 60% and side slopes of 30%. It is capable of fording a maximum depth of 1.2m.
