In November 2019, a PzH 2000 L52 gun fired a shell a distance of almost 67 km (42 mi).[4] Rheinmetall started testing a prototype L52 gun barrel with a new charge for a range of at least 75 km (47 mi) since 2020.[5] In May 2024, Rheinmetall announced that it would supply "a three-digit number" of L52 gun barrel systems for the Panzerhaubitze 2000 for "a European customer country".[6]
In 1986, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany agreed to terminate their existing development of the PzH 155-1 (SP70) programme, which had run into reliability problems and had design defects, notably being mounted on a modified tank chassis. German industry was asked for proposals to build a new design with a gun conforming to the JBMOU. Of the proposed designs, Wegmann's was selected.
Rheinmetall designed the 155 mm 52-calibre JBMOU compliant rifled gun (60-rifles, right-hand spiral), which ischromium-lined over its entire 8 m length and includes amuzzle brake on the end. The gun uses a new modular charge system with six charges (five identical), which can be combined to provide the optimal total charge for the range to the target, as well as the conventionalbagged charge systems. Primer is loaded separately via a conveyor belt, and the entire loading, laying and clearing are completely automated.
The maximum range of the gun with standard issue DM92 propellant charges is 30 km with the standard DM121 boattail round, 40 km withbase bleed rounds, and 54 km with M2005 V-LAProcket-assisted projectile.[7] With Rheinmetall's ERC (Extender Range Charge, previously known as the Top Charge) high pressure unitary charge, the range is 36 km with DM121 BT round, 47 km with M0121 BB round and 67 km with the M2005 V-LAP RAP.[8][9] The gun can also fire theSMArt 155 artillery round used by Germany and Greece.
Wegmann supplied both the chassis, sharing some components with theLeopard 2, and the turret for the gun. The system has superb cross-country performance because of its use of continuous tracks and considerable protection in the case of counter-fire. The turret includes aphased arrayradar on the front glacis for measuring the muzzle velocity of each round fired. Laying data can be automatically provided via encrypted radio from the battery fire direction centre.
A lighter, more air-portable version developed by KMW and called theArtillery Gun Module uses the gun in a module fitted to a lighter chassis.
In December 2013,Raytheon and the German Army completed compatibility testing for theM982 Excalibur extended range guided artillery shell with the PzH 2000. Ten Excaliburs were fired at ranges from 9 to 48 km. Shells hit within 3 m of their targets, with an average miss distance of 1 m at 48 km.[10]
The first PzH 2000 in that variant was rolled out in November 2025. It is a newly produced gun, one that replaces the guns supplied to Ukraine for the German Army.[13]
In 2021, Germany and the Netherlands agreed to jointly define & execute a Mid-Life Update to the operational Pzh2000 in their inventories and ensure standardisation and availability.
The MLU variant is the PzH 2000 A5, it is designed for all customers, with core common elements, and optional elements, it is expected to be ready by 2028.[13]
The PzH 2000 was used for the first time in combat by theFire Support Command of theRoyal Netherlands Army in August 2006 againstTaliban targets inKandahar Province,Afghanistan, in support ofOperation Medusa.[14] It was then used regularly in support of coalition troops inUruzgan province. The PzH 2000 was also used extensively during theBattle of Chora in June 2007. It was known as "the long arm ofISAF" and proved to be accurate and effective. However, the gun was criticised by the Dutch in Uruzgan province as theNBC system, designed for use in Europe, could not cope with the high level of dust in Afghanistan.
The guns have been modified with additional armor being fitted to the roof to protect against mortar rounds. There have been reports of other problems, including the need to keep it in the shade unless actually firing, the damage done when traveling on poorly built roads, and a significant 'cold gun' effect[clarification needed] necessitating the use of 'warmers'.
Starting in June 2010 as a result of theGood Friday Battle, German ISAF troops at PRTKunduz had three PzH 2000s at their disposal. They were first used on 10 July 2010 to provide support for the recovery of a damaged vehicle. This was the first time in its history that theBundeswehr has used heavy artillery in combat.[15] The PzH 2000 also played a key role duringOperation Halmazag in November 2010, when the villages of Isa Khel and Quatliam were retaken from the Taliban by German paratroopers.[16]
On 21 June 2022, twelve PzH 2000s were deployed to Ukraine; seven came from Germany and five from the Netherlands.[17] After a couple of weeks of intensive use, the guns required repairs, and error messages were being displayed as they are designed and built to fire no more than 100 shots a day.[18] Germany considers 100 shots per day "a high-intensity mission". Ukraine has consistently exceeded this number, placing stress on the loading mechanism. Ukraine also fired "special ammunition at too great a distance." The Bundeswehr sent spare parts and a repair facility inLithuania was chosen to repair the weapons.[19] This came as Ukraine and KMW entered into a 1.7 billion euro deal to purchase 100 PzH 2000s.[20]
Russian state news agencyTASS reported that a PzH 2000 was destroyed by Russian forces inKherson Oblast on 30 October 2022.[21]
The open-source intelligence siteOryx reported one visually confirmed destroyed and one damaged Ukrainian PzH 2000 based on publicly available footage.[22]
Due to the intensity of artillery fire on the battlefield, Lithuania undertook to repair twelve of the howitzers,[23] finishing repair work on six by December 2022. By this time, the number of PzH 2000s sent to Ukraine rose to twenty-two; fourteen from Germany and eight from the Netherlands.[24] As of February 2023, fifteen of the howitzers were waiting to be repaired inSlovakia, but were being held up at the border for several weeks due to legal issues.[25][26]
According to the Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger the barrels of the PzH 2000 had an expected lifetime of around 4,500 shots, but to the surprise of the manufacturer they have achieved up to 20,000 in Ukraine.[27]
16 ordered (second-hand from Germany);[29] 12 to be modernized and overhauled, 3 for spare parts, 1 for training. Total value of the contract was 55 millioneuros.[30] The first PzH 2000 was delivered on 29 July 2015.[31] Agreement for the procurement was signed in 2014, deliveries were to take place between 2015 and 2016, howitzers to be introduced in service by 2019.[32]
57 ordered in 2002. Replaced theM109.[49] Prior to the war in Ukraine, 33 were in storage, 18 in active service, and 6 used for training. Now, 46 to be modernised by 2024.[50][51] In 2022, 5+3 were sent to Ukraine.
24 ordered in 2013,[52] first three delivered in 2015.[53] In September 2024 12 were returned to Germany to be provided to Ukraine in aRingtausch arrangement in exchange for replacement with 12RCH-155.[54]
28 delivered.[55] During theRussian invasion of Ukraine, it was announced on 20 April 2022 that five Dutch PzH 2000s would be transferred to Ukraine, with ammunition and training to be provided by Germany.[56] On 6 May, it was announced that Ukraine would receive seven units from German army stocks which were undergoing maintenance.[57] On 7 May, ChancellorOlaf Scholz agreed to supply the ammunition required, straight from industry to Ukrainian forces, without having to go through the German government for approval in the future.[58] Training of Ukrainian artillery crews started on 11 May 2022 at the Bundeswehr's artillery school inIdar-Oberstein.[59] On 21 June, UkrainianMinister of DefenceOleksii Reznikov announced that the first PzH 2000s had entered Ukrainian service.[60]Der Spiegel reported on 27 July that Germany had agreed to sell 100 more PzH 2000s to Ukraine.[61] By this time, many PzH 2000 ammo loading mechanisms had broken down due to considerable strain: while the PzH 2000 is designed to fire 100 shells per day, the Ukrainians likely fired the gun much more often. In addition to shipping necessary spare parts to Ukraine, the German government was negotiating the creation of a repair center for its equipment in Poland.[62] In October 2022, the howitzers were sent to Lithuania because Poland denied the German request for exclusive access to theHuta Stalowa Wola facilities, as it would halt all production in the factory (HSW manufactures and servicesKrab SPGs for Poland and Ukraine, among other weapon systems).[63] Eventually, a planned repair center in Slovakia will shorten the route to and from the war zone in Ukraine. In late 2023, it emerged that Ukraine did not sign the purchase agreement for the delivery of 100 PzH 2000.[64]
In February 2024, Germany announced supporting Ukraine with 18 additional PzH 2000 and 18 moreRCH-155.[65][66]
The PzH 2000 was a contender for Phase 1C of Australia's Land 17 Artillery Replacement Programme, until that phase of the project was cancelled in May 2012.[67]
Finland tested a PzH 2000 alongside the155mm SpGH ZUZANA andAS-90 "Braveheart". Tests ended in 1998; more of the cheaper155 K 98 field guns were bought instead of self-propelled systems.[68]
TheGerman Navy evaluated a modified system known asMONARC for installation onboardfrigates; while the system performed well, components were difficult to protect against corrosion. Sweden evaluated a slightly modified version, but selected theArcher Artillery System instead.
The PzH 2000 participated in the Romanian tracked self-propelled artillery system competition against the KoreanK9 Thunder and the TurkishT-155 Fırtına II which included 54 howitzers in total.[69][70] The Korean offer was the only one to progress in the contract bid, and negotiations between South Korea and Romania were finished in April 2024,[71] with the contract signed in June 2024.[72]
In 1999, despite showing interest in K9 Thunder, there was no business deals made as Turkey was planning to produce German Panzerhaubitze 2000 at that time. Another meeting was held on 4 October, regarding K9 production in Turkey and solution for import restriction on MTU Friedrichshafen engines by German government. As Turkey's plan to build PzH2000 eventually became halted by Germany, South Korea and Turkey signed MOU forT-155 Fırtına.[73]
The PzH 2000 was considered for theUS Army'sCrusader concept system, but several requirements of the Crusader made it unsuitable. The Crusader specifications placed the crew and gun in separate compartments, allowing a single highly armoured crew compartment to control the firing of an entire battery of guns through intervehicle links. In addition, the Crusader included an automated ammunition tender, and an active cooled barrel.[74]
^"PzH Howitzer test firing" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Croatia. 28 June 2017.Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved29 June 2017.
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German Army
Croatian Army
Hellenic Army
Hungarian Army
Italian Army
Lithuanian Army
Dutch Army
Qatari Army
Ukrainian Ground Forces
Australia
Finland
Romania (54)
Turkey
United States
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