The Netherlands has reached a purchase agreement with the Czech Republic to supply Ukraine with advanced self-propelled artillery systems known as Dita. This contract stipulates that the Dutch Ministry of Defense will order nine Dita-wheeled self-propelled howitzers for the Ukrainian armed forces.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Dita is a self-propelled howitzer firing standard NATO 155 mm ammunition (Picture source: Excalibur Army)
The Dita is a self-propelled howitzer using standard NATO 155 mm ammunition. It continues the original Czech concept of Tatra truck-mounted howitzers but significantly improves operational autonomy. This artillery system stands out for its rate of fire, requiring only two crew members to operate: the driver and the commander. It is equipped with a modern Onboard Control System, allowing for impressive speed in taking up and leaving firing positions, high firing accuracy, and excellent cross-country capability in difficult terrain.
The Dita was designed around a fully autonomous superstructure, allowing it to be mounted on a tracked chassis. The Dita program reached a significant milestone with the completion of a functional prototype in January 2021, and since then, it has undergone a series of successful tests and trials over the following years.
Regarding technical characteristics, the Dita weighs 29 tons and has significant dimensions, with a length of 13.02 m, a width of 3.085 m, and a height of 3.122 m. It is powered by a Tatra T3C-928-90 engine with 300 kW output, giving it a maximum speed of 90 km/h on roads and 25 km/h off-road, with a range of 600 kilometers.
The main armament consists of a 155 mm cannon capable of reaching a firing range of 39 kilometers, with fully automatic, manual, or emergency guidance options, and an automatic loading system. It can initially fire six shots per minute and then maintain a rate of fire of five shots per minute while carrying 40 rounds of ammunition in its conveyors. Fire control is managed by an Onboard Control System equipped with a ballistic computer.
The Dita is based on a special Tatra 8x8 chassis, known for its exceptional driving capabilities, especially in terms of off-road mobility and constant payload capacity, regardless of operating conditions. The vehicle is equipped with R20 14.00 tires with a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS), and can ford depths of 1.2 meters without preparation, climb gradients of 30°, cross trenches of 470 mm, and overcome vertical obstacles up to 2 meters.
These preliminary characteristics highlight the versatility and power of the Dita as a leading-edge artillery system, designed to meet the demands of modern military operations while remaining flexible for integration on different types of chassis. It is thus a very interesting acquisition for the Ukrainian forces, and it will be curious to see the performance of these 9 Ditas on the battlefield.
