Rheinmetall wins $145 million contract for subsystems to replace howitzers sent to Ukraine
Germany committed to sending PzH 2000 SPH to Ukraine shortly after Russia’s invasion of the East European country. (Photo: Bundeswehr)
The Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) was developed in the mid-1980s to meet a German Army requirement to replace its M109 SPHs and 185 were delivered. Export orders from Greece (24), Italy (70, of which 68 were produced locally) and the Netherlands (57) increased production to more than 330 systems.
Germany’s Rheinmetall will supply components for 22 PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers (SPH) to prime contractor KNDS (KMW+NEXTER Defense Systems) as part of an effort to replace Bundeswehr (German Army) weapons which have been sent for service with the Ukraine Army.
The deal will entail a total contract volume of around €135 million (US$145 million) for Rheinmetall of which the first artillery systems will be delivered to the Bundeswehr in mid-2025. Rheinmetall will also supply L52 155mm weapon systems and undercarriages.
As of end-March 2024, the German government said it had supplied 14 PzH 2000 as part of its joint contribution with the Netherlands and 18 as part of a sole contribution.
Germany has also provided second-hand PzH 2000 to Lithuania with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) announcing in March 2022 that it had delivered the last refurbished system.
As well as manufacturing new systems, company subsidiary Rheinmetall Waffe Munition has been developing new 155mm Extended Range Charge (ERC).
Under plans outlined in 2022, the new ERCs can be used with any standard 155mm projectile, as well as the Rheinmetall Denel Munitions velocity-enhanced artillery projectile or BB/rocket-assisted projectiles that extend range to 60km.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Eurosatory 2026 roundup: uncrewed, counter-uncrewed and new vehicles define direction]()
Eurosatory 2026 roundup: uncrewed, counter-uncrewed and new vehicles define direction
Uncrewed and counter-uncrewed systems were a major feature of this edition of Eurosatory 2026 along with programme updates and first sight of new main battle tanks.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: As MGCS stalls, has Europe’s new MBT been unveiled?]()
Eurosatory 2026: As MGCS stalls, has Europe’s new MBT been unveiled?
Eurosatory 2026 saw a number of main battle tanks on display, including two new platforms which could be the future of European tanks.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: MARSS and parent company EOS expand air defence capability]()
Eurosatory 2026: MARSS and parent company EOS expand air defence capability
MARSS became part of EOS Defence earlier this year, bringing together the former’s C2 NiDAR and Nation Shield air defence products with the latter’s suite of effectors and sensors.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Pearson Engineering to send AI mine detecting systems into Ukraine]()
Eurosatory 2026: Pearson Engineering to send AI mine detecting systems into Ukraine
Pearson Engineering’s Threat-Sense system is designed to use imaging from drones to geolocate scattered mines and support uncrewed systems in defeating the threats.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Milrem expands partnerships as it outlines NATO eastern flank defence plans]()
Eurosatory 2026: Milrem expands partnerships as it outlines NATO eastern flank defence plans
In the past three months Milrem Robotics has signed cooperation agreements with Hanwha, EOS Defence Systems and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and at Eurosatory 2026 with CNIM Systèmes Industriels and Frankenburg Technologies. The deals come as the company develops its Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative.
