Kyiv and Berlin have agreed to jointly produce Bohdana self-propelled howitzers using Mercedes-Benz Zetros military transport vehicles, strengthening Ukraine’s domestic artillery production capacity.
Ukraine’s defense minister said the €750 million ($879.9 million) project is expected to deliver up to 200 artillery units. Final assembly and integration will be carried out in Ukraine, while the Zetros trucks will be provided through German military aid programs.
The partnership was unveiled by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as part of a wider set of bilateral agreements with Germany worth more than €1.2 billion ($1.4 billion).
The broader cooperation package includes sustained logistical support for Ukraine’s Patriot interceptor systems, the joint manufacture of Linza electronic-warfare-hardened drones with Frontline Robotics and Quantum Systems in Bavaria, and the acquisition of reconnaissance drones valued at €200 million ($234.8 million) for Ukraine’s armed forces.
Both countries also concluded an agreement enabling the exchange of tactical-level electronic warfare technologies between their militaries.
The Bohdana is a NATO-standard 155 mm wheeled artillery system currently fielded by Ukraine and typically mounted on KrAZ-6322 6×6 trucks. It weighs approximately 28 metric tons, is crewed by five operators, delivers a firing rate of up to five rounds per minute, and can engage targets at distances of up to 60 kilometers.
Mercedes-Benz’s Zetros platform is optimized for off-road mobility and strategic airlift aboard C-130 aircraft. Offered in multiple axle configurations, the vehicle features a 510-horsepower Euro V engine, a payload capacity of up to 25 tons, and a maximum speed of 55 mph.
