The Netherlands has ordered an additional batch of six DITA self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine from the Czech Republic.
A previous batch of nine DITA guns has already been transferred to Kyiv in the summer, the Dutch Ministry of Defence announced in a press release.
The Excalibur Army-manufactured gun can fire standard NATO caliber 155mm shells up to a range of 39 kilometers (24 miles).
It is an upgrade on the 152mm DANA self-propelled howitzer, featuring greater automation and twice the range.
Unveiled in 2021, the wheeled DITA requires a crew of two, compared to five with its predecessor.
Artillery Shells
Additionally, the Netherlands, in collaboration with Denmark, has ordered 155mm artillery shells for Ukraine for 271 million euros ($294 million).
The procurement will be from the Czech defense industry as part of an effort to strengthen the capacity of the entire European defense industry, the Dutch Ministry of Defence stated.
Delivery is expected in 2025.
Meanwhile, Amsterdam is also procuring 152mm artillery shells for Ukraine’s Soviet-era guns as part of a previously announced initiative.
“We must continue all current initiatives unabated. It is in everyone’s interest that Ukraine is able to maintain its defensive lines and that Russian aggression does not advance any further,” Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans said.
