Production of British L119 howitzers is set to begin in Ukraine
This was announced by the company’s press office.
The licence agreement means that the company’s Ukrainian partner will receive technical documentation and support to manufacture the first prototype howitzer, after which production is set to be scaled up.
According to the WSJ, the launch of howitzer production will test Ukraine’s ability to act as a manufacturing base for top-class foreign equipment.
The L119 howitzer: what is known about it
The L119 is a 105-mm light towed howitzer, designed for airborne and light infantry units. Its main advantage is its light weight, which means the gun can be quickly transported by road, by helicopter or even airdropped from an aircraft. This makes the L119 indispensable in the context of dynamic warfare.
Key specifications:
- Calibre: 105 mm.
- Firing range: over 10 km with standard shells, and up to 19.5 km with active-reactive ammunition in certain variants.
- Rate of fire: up to 6–8 rounds per minute for short bursts.
- Weight: around 1.9 tonnes, which is significantly less than that of 155 mm howitzers.
The L119 is primarily designed to provide infantry support. It is inferior to 155 mm systems (such as the M777 or FH70) in terms of range and firepower, but has the advantage in mobility, speed of deployment and ease of operation.
Ukraine received the L119 from its Western partners in 2022. They are used for fire support on the front line, particularly where rapid movement and high mobility are essential. In 2023, BAE Systems opened an office in Ukraine.
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