- A Polish-Ukrainian joint venture PK MIL SA is preparing to launch production of the Ukrainian-designed Bogdana 155mm self-propelled howitzer in Poland.
- Producing the system in Poland could enable exports and potential sales to the Polish military and other international customers.
A Polish-Ukrainian defense joint venture is preparing to launch production of the Ukrainian-designed Bogdana 155mm self-propelled howitzer in Poland, according to a report by the Polish business newspaper Puls Biznesu.
The company PK MIL SA, established by Ponar Wadowice and the Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Building Plant, is currently completing the formal procedures required to begin manufacturing. Moving production to Poland could also enable export opportunities that are difficult to pursue when systems are manufactured inside Ukraine during wartime.
PK MIL SA was established in October of last year as a joint venture between the Polish industrial firm Ponar Wadowice and the Ukrainian Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Building Plant. According to Puls Biznesu, the company is preparing to begin manufacturing the Bogdana self-propelled artillery system once regulatory and industrial preparations are completed.
Jacek Zygmunt, an adviser to the management board of Ponar Wadowice, said the process of launching defense production takes time due to regulatory requirements typical for the military sector.
The Bogdana howitzer is a Ukrainian-designed artillery system chambered for 155mm NATO-standard ammunition. The system was developed in Ukraine as part of an effort to modernize artillery capabilities and transition away from Soviet-caliber systems.
According to Puls Biznesu, the system gained recognition during combat operations in Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Production of the artillery system increased following the start of the war.
More than 600 Bogdana howitzers have been produced since the beginning of the conflict, and the systems have fired more than 800,000 rounds during combat operations, according to the report.
The Bogdana is a wheeled self-propelled howitzer designed to deliver long-range artillery fire while maintaining high mobility on roads and prepared surfaces. Like other modern NATO-caliber artillery systems, it uses 155mm ammunition that is widely used across Western armed forces.
Deploying NATO-standard artillery allows Ukrainian forces to integrate Western ammunition supplies and logistics systems. The transition from Soviet 152mm artillery systems to NATO 155mm systems has been one of the key modernization steps undertaken by Ukraine’s military since 2022.
According to Puls Biznesu, producing the Bogdana in Poland would allow the system to be marketed more easily to international customers. Defense equipment manufactured in Ukraine faces limitations related to wartime production conditions and export logistics.
Ponar Wadowice is expected to manufacture key components for the artillery system. The Polish company has experience supplying defense components, including hydraulic systems used in the Polish Krab self-propelled howitzer and the Borsuk infantry fighting vehicle.
PK MIL SA hopes to sell the Bogdana howitzer both to the Polish armed forces and to customers in other countries. According to the report, the system could potentially compete for future artillery procurement programs.
Poland currently operates Soviet-designed Dana self-propelled howitzers chambered for 152mm ammunition. These systems were expected to be replaced under the Kryl artillery program, which envisioned the acquisition of modern wheeled artillery systems compatible with NATO ammunition standards.
However, the Kryl program was later suspended, creating uncertainty around the future replacement of Poland’s Dana artillery systems.
Zygmunt said the Bogdana system could serve as a potential successor.
“Bogdana is an ideal candidate as a successor to this equipment. It is much cheaper than competing systems and at the same time meets NATO requirements,” Zygmunt said, according to Puls Biznesu.
The joint venture believes that optimized production costs and experience from Ukrainian partners could allow the system to be offered at a competitive price on international markets.
“Our system is attracting interest in different regions of the world, including Europe, especially on NATO’s eastern flank,” Zygmunt said.