Slovakia delivers four Zuzana 2 NATO-standard howitzers to Ukraine and prepares to donate MiG-29s
Two of the first four Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers donated by Slovakia to Ukraine, pictured en route to their final destination. (Photo: Slovakian MoD)
Slovakia continues to provide military aid to Ukraine that is far out of proportion to its size.
Slovakian Minister of Defence Jaroslav Naď revealed on 13 August that his country has delivered the first four of eight Zuzana 2 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) to Ukraine.
Slovakia and Ukraine in late May signed a commercial agreement to deliver the SPHs. They will join the M777, FH70, Caesar, M109, Krab and PzH 2000 as NATO-standard 155mm artillery systems operated by Kyiv in its ongoing resistance against the Russian invasion.
The 155mm/52cal Zuzana 2 is the latest development of the 155mm/45cal Zuzana 2000, itself based on the Cold War-era 152mm Dana.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the 155mm SPH can hit targets up to 41.5km away when firing extended-range base bleed ammunition.
Slovakia has provided military aid to Ukraine that is far out of proportion to its size. Examples include four Mi-17 helicopters and a single Mi-2, plus ammunition for the BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system.
Naď also pledged that Slovakia would repair and overhaul Ukrainian military equipment, and Bratislava is also willing to transfer its 11 MiG-29 multirole fighters.
The Ukrainian MoD reported on 13 August that the Slovakian Air Force could take its MiG-29s out of service at the end of the month, paving the way for the EU to fund the transfer of the aircraft.
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