Slovak Ground Forces brought their new ZUZANA 2 155mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzers outside of Slovakia for the first time to Poland. Slovak Zuzana 2 systems through Poland to reinforce the NATO Battalion Battle Group in Latvia. On November 30, the howitzers participated in an exercise at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, joining Polish artillerymen and elements of the US-led Battalion Group. Periodic and rotational reinforcement of the NATO battalion battle groups, involving support elements, such as artillery or air defence, is nothing new. Similar steps are being taken by the Germans, with PzH 2000 systems reinforcing the NATO elements in Lithuania.
Slovak Ground Forces gunners took over eight new ZUZANA 2 155mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzers (SpGH) at an official handover ceremony held at 11 Mechanised Battalion Michalovce. The first deliveries took place in the summer of 2021. A total of 25 ZUZANA 2 155mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzers along with accessories, a simulator, sets of spare parts and munitions will be delivered to the SVK Army under the contract. They are destined for the Self-propelled Artillery Battalion Michalovce to boost the Indirect Fire Support (IFS) capabilities of the Slovak Ground Forces’s manoeuvre forces.
The new howitzer platforms will form part of the Slovak Ground Forces Integrated Artillery Fire System and will be employed in a wide spectrum of operations in support of mechanised and motorised battalions at home and on NATO and EU operations. Alongside the new ZUZANA 2 155mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzers, the SVK Army is also equipped with 16 pieces of the Series 2000 ZUZANA Self-propelled Gun Howitzer in service with the Self-propelled Artillery Battalion Michalovce. Some of them are currently deployed with the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) BG Latvia, while others are used for training at home.
Zuzana 2 155 mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzer is a Slovak artillery system with a 45-caliber gun and automatic loader for loading of both projectile and charge. It is an evolution of the 152mm SpGH DANA self-propelled howitzer. This is the latest development of the Zuzana. This model is fitted with a 155/52 ordnance and has other improvements such as a reworked turret and a different engine: the Tatra T3B-928.70 of 330 kW. It has passed Slovak Army trials in December 2009. The new version is claimed to possess Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) capability. Design of the gun enables to use any NATO standard 155mm ammunition available on the market.
