Finland Patria is ready to restore the production of 155 mm howitzers because of the war in Ukraine

Last month, Finland announced the development of the first wheel SAU on the basis of 155 K98. The manufacturer stated that they can restore the production of howitzers in a short time. Patria, known for the production of armored vehicles, declared its readiness to restore the production of 155-mm howitzers against the background of war in Ukraine. It is reported by Defense Blog. Traditional artillery remains a significant force on the battlefield.

A striking example is Ukraine, which now reflects the Russian invasion. Patria has many years of experience in the development and production of weapons. In particular, howitzer 155 K98 was the cornerstone of the Finnish defense forces since its creation in 1998. The gun range is 40 km, and has been developed on the basis of experience since the 1950s.

"It all started in the early 1950s, when the defense forces were asked to develop a general-purpose gun, which is suitable for various applications,"-said Vesa Tovonen, Patria system testing manager, gun evolution from 122 K60 to 155 K98. Almost 200 K98 guns have been made throughout the years, which have undergone a number of modernizations. The last howitzers were set in 2005, and subsequently the production closed. Patria continued to serve guns and maintain their readiness.

So now Patria is ready to return to the development of howitzers, but on the wheelbase to increase the chances of survival in modern fighting. "Instead of masking, the key to ensuring the survival of artillery in this complex environment is to ensure the speed of moving the gun to a firing position, firing and changing the position," said Pekka Rueut, Vice President Patria. He also added that, if necessary, they are ready to restore the 155 K98 production in a relatively short time.