Initially, the Ukrainian Defense Forces were expected to receive 15 Czech-made DITA howitzers under contracts funded by the Netherlands. However, new details indicate the actual figure could be higher. At the BEDEX 2026 defense exhibition in Belgium, representatives of the manufacturer, CSG, disclosed to observer Jeff21461 that production has reached a “high double-digit number.”
This implies that dozens of DITA systems have already been produced, though the total likely remains below one hundred. Such a volume raises the possibility that Ukraine’s share is larger than the 15 units officially announced.
However, Ukraine is not the only customer, Azerbaijan has also placed a significant order. While the 2024 deal’s official details remain undisclosed, reports suggest it may involve up to 70 systems.
The first DITA self-propelled howitzers in service with the National Guard of Ukraine, November 2024 / Photo credit: Telegram channel of NGU Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko
Combined, the confirmed orders for Ukraine and Azerbaijan total
approximately 85 units, with deliveries scheduled from 2024 onward.
Interestingly, the first units reached Ukraine just nine months after
the contract was signed, possibly due to an early production start or
shifted delivery priorities.
155 mm DITA self-propelled howitzer in service with the Azov Brigade / Photo credit: Azov
For Ukraine, the Netherlands funded the first nine systems in February 2024, with an additional six ordered in October 2024. No further public
announcements regarding additional purchases have followed.
Despite
this, DITA systems have been confirmed in service with multiple
formations: the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov (National Guard), the
4th Rapid Reaction Brigade Rubizh, and the State Border Guard Service,
which recently published footage of at least two systems in operation.
Such widespread distribution across different corps and agencies
suggests a larger fleet than initially reported, although it is also
possible that a small number of systems are being redistributed for
evaluation or specialized tasks.
Technically, the DITA is a
formidable asset. It features a 155 mm/45-caliber gun with a firing
range of up to 39 km. Its standout feature is the fully automated
unmanned turret, which reduces the crew to just two personnel. The
system boasts a rate of fire of five rounds per minute and a
displacement (shoot-and-scoot) time of just 45 seconds.
At present, it is difficult to confirm if additional orders for Ukraine are underway. Nevertheless, producing dozens of automated SPHs within two years is a significant milestone, even if the volume trails behind simpler systems such as the French CAESAR or the Ukrainian Bohdana.
Read more: ​Ukrainian Border Guards Train on Advanced Czech DITA Self-Propelled Howitzer