Dita Howitzer.

Technical Data

• Armament

  The Dita is armed with a 155mm / 45 caliber howitzer, capable of firing standard NATO 155mm ammunition, providing extensive operational flexibility. The howitzer can fire a variety of shells, including high-explosive (HE), precision-guided munitions (PGM), and smoke rounds, giving it the ability to perform multiple roles on the battlefield, from bombardment to precision strike. The gun can rotate through a -3° to 70° elevation angle and traverse through ±60°, providing a wide field of fire. Its automatic loading system significantly enhances its rate of fire, enabling it to achieve a firing rate of 6 rounds per minute during the first minute and 5 rounds per minute for sustained operations. The Dita’s maximum firing range reaches up to 39 kilometers, making it a powerful artillery asset. The artillery system can carry up to 40 rounds of ammunition in conveyors within the turret, ensuring sustained operations without frequent resupply. In addition to its main weapon, the Dita is fitted with a machine gun for close defense, offering protection against infantry or low-flying aerial threats. It is also equipped with smoke grenade launchers, which can provide concealment for the vehicle during combat operations..

• Design and protection

  The design of the Dita self-propelled howitzer consists of three main parts: the crew cabin at the front, the weapon system with the 155mm howitzer and automatic loading system in the middle, and the powerpack at the rear. The Dita’s cabin is protected by ballistic armor up to Level 1 according to STANAG 4569, providing protection against small arms fire and shrapnel. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with anti-mine protection, classified as Level 1a/1b under STANAG 4569, enhancing its survivability in explosive environments. The vehicle’s design is highly ergonomic, allowing both the driver and commander to easily control the vehicle, fire control systems (FCS), and communications. The cabin also ensures crew comfort with high-performance heating, air-conditioning, and a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) filtration system. This comprehensive protection system guarantees that the crew can operate safely and effectively, even in the most hostile environments.
  
  View of the driver position

• Mobility

  The Dita howitzer is based on a specially designed 8x8 TATRA chassis, which provides it with outstanding off-road capabilities and excellent payload capacity. The chassis allows the howitzer to maintain full mobility regardless of terrain, whether on paved roads or in challenging off-road conditions. The Dita will be powered by a Tatra T3C-928-90 engine, delivering 300 kW of output. The power-plant will ensure a road speed of 90 km/h and an off-road speed of 25 km/h, providing rapid mobility across various environments. The vehicle has a cruising range of 600 km, allowing it to operate for extended periods without the need for frequent refueling. It is equipped with R20 14.00 tires and a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS), optimizing traction across various terrains. The Dita can ascend gradients of up to 30° and side slopes of 15°, demonstrating excellent off-road capability. The vehicle can also negotiate vertical obstacles up to 470 mm high and cross trenches up to 2 m wide. The Dita can ford water up to 1.2 m deep, enhancing its operational versatility in varied battlefield conditions.

• Combat Equipment

  The Dita howitzer features a state-of-the-art onboard control system (OCS), which integrates several key subsystems, including diagnostics, navigation, automatic gun guiding, and autonomous calculation of shooting elements. This system is designed to ensure that the howitzer can quickly reach a firing position, complete its mission, and depart the position with minimal time spent in vulnerable locations. The OCS also includes an ammunition management subsystem that selects the optimal type of shell based on the mission. In the event of a navigation system failure, an optical sight can be used to aim the gun manually. The automatic gun guidance system allows for fast, fully automatic adjustment of the weapon into its firing position, ensuring the Dita can operate rapidly and with high accuracy. The M4 control panel, a digital device, enables the control of both the OCS and automatic loading system. It provides detailed diagnostics data related to the condition of the gun and chassis, ensuring that the crew is always aware of the system's status. The portable system also allows for turret control outside the cab, providing flexibility in battlefield operations.