SVK Army gunners take over new ZUZANA 2 Self-propelled Gun Howitzers at official handover ceremony

Today (22 July 2021), SVK Army gunners took over eight new ZUZANA 2 155mm Self-propelled Gun Howitzers (SpGH) at an official handover ceremony held at 11 Mechanised Battalion Michalovce. They are destined for the Self-propelled Artillery Battalion Michalovce to boost the Indirect Fire Support (IFS) capabilities of the SVK Army's manoeuvre forces.

The new howitzer platforms will form part of the SVK Army's 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. 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.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The availability of modern and reliable equipment for use by armed forces is an inevitable condition for our military to perform to the highest standards, on which hinges the defence and security of our country and the collective defence of the wider Allied community in the event of potential operational deployments. Therefore, the programme delivery of the self-propelled gun howitzers of Slovak provenance is another plus in stabilising the state of equipment in service with the Slovak Armed Forces and security as such.” He added that an additional 8 SpGHs will enter into service by the end of 2021, with the last delivery of 9 SpGHs scheduled by the end of next year.

Commander of the Strategic Crisis Management Centre (SVK Defence Staff) Brig Tibor Králik highlighted the vital role of artillery for the SVK Army, saying: ”The other conflicts in the near and distant geopolitical regions provide the justification for the need of classic gunnery systems by artillery units. Their modern self-propelled variants, equipped with all necessary support systems, are the condition for the Army's successful operations on the contemporary battlefield.”

On the state of equipment in use with the SVK Armed Forces, Minister Naď added that the MOD remains committed to driving forward modernisation in the Services, while working hard on several programmes. “The state of the vast majority of equipment does not correspond to the idea of a modern armed forces. So, we are approaching modernisation with urgency and with focus on systematicity, transparency, efficiency and delivery of soldiers' requirements,” he emphasised.