Ukrainian PzH 2000 sets a new record

Rheinmetall, the German defence company that developed the PzH 2000, has received “compliments” from Ukrainian soldiers operating the vehicles, CEO Armin Papperger said.

He said that Ukrainian artillerymen highly appreciate the German military equipment they use every day in the fight against the Russians at the front.

Ukraine’s PzH 2000 has achieved a significant level of technical durability, firing a total of 20,000 rounds during its active service life. This is a new record for both the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the manufacturer.

Papperger emphasised the exceptional performance of the PzH 2000, noting that the guns have been under enormous stress in Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion. But despite the heavy workload, the Ukrainians have managed to extract the maximum potential from this modern 155mm artillery system.

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The PzH 2000 barrel can normally withstand up to 4,500 rounds before needing to be replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. However, these German-designed howitzers in Ukraine have demonstrated extraordinary durability, with a single barrel surviving 20,000 rounds.

While this is not common, it is still an impressive record for any artillery system.

Armin Papperger noted that the organisation of the repair of this artillery system had previously caused many problems. These problems were known since last year, as the howitzers were heavily used on the battlefield. This led to the fact that 50% of the PzH 2000 fleet was in constant need of repair.

However, most of these problems were resolved through cooperation with other NATO countries.

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