Defense manufacturers PK MIL (a joint venture controlled by Poland’s PONAR Wadowice group) and SZCZĘŚNIAK Pojazdy Specjalne signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 3, 2026, to jointly integrate and adapt tactical wheeled chassis for Polish-built 155mm self-propelled howitzers.
The primary goal of the industrial partnership is the licensed manufacturing, assembly, and long-term lifecycle support of the Ukrainian-designed 2S22 Bohdana 155mm/52-caliber wheeled self-propelled artillery system in Poland. Established as a 51/49 joint venture between PONAR Wadowice and Ukraine’s Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant (KZTS), PK MIL will oversee the production of the 155mm artillery assembly and the towed Bohdana-BG variant, while SZCZĘŚNIAK brings specialized automotive integration capabilities to customize the wheeled platform for export customers and European defense forces.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: POLISH-BUILT 2S22 BOHDANA 155mm ARTILLERY ARCHITECTURE
System Governance, Industrial Integration & Platform Baseline
⚡ Industrial Partners: PK MIL S.A. (51% PONAR Wadowice / 49% Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant) & SZCZĘŚNIAK Pojazdy Specjalne S.A.
⚡ License Origin: Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant (KZTS / Ukraine)
⚡ Product Lineup: 2S22 Bohdana 155mm/52-caliber Wheeled Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) & Bohdana-BG Towed Howitzer
⚡ Chassis Integration Flexibility: Multi-chassis modular adapter design supporting 6×6 or 8×8 tactical trucks (e.g., MAN, Scania, SISU, Tatra, or JELCZ) to align with end-user maintenance infrastructure
⚡ Mission Scope: Series production in Poland to shield manufacturing capacity from Russian long-range strike risks, supplying the Polish Armed Forces, Ukraine’s Defense Forces, and international export clients 
Ordnance Engineering, Fire Kinematics & Ammunition Matrix
💥 Main Ordnance Barrel: 155mm / 52-caliber NATO-standard monobloc steel barrel manufactured with advanced chrome plating for extended barrel life
💥 Firing Kinetics & Range Profile: Maximum Range: Up to 40–42 km (standard HE/FB projectiles) | Up to 50–60 km (Base-Bleed / Rocket-Assisted Projectiles – RAP)
💥 Rate of Fire & Loading Automation: Configured with semi-automatic hydraulic ramming or full-auto loading mechanism; sustained rate of fire: 5 to 6 rounds per minute
💥 Fire Control & Sensor Suite: Digital Fire Control System (FCS) featuring ballistic computer, GPS/INS autonomous positioning, muzzle velocity radar, and day/night direct-fire thermal optics
💥 Emplacement Efficiency: Automated hydraulic spade stabilizers allow shoot-and-scoot deployment (into action in <90 seconds; out of action in <60 seconds) to defeat counter-battery radar tracking
TIMES OF DEFENCE ASSESSMENT
The partnership between PK MIL and SZCZĘŚNIAK to build the 2S22 Bohdana in Poland represents an important evolution in Central European defense-industrial integration.
From an artillery engineering and regional security perspective, this initiative offers three key strategic insights:
1. **Sanctuary Production Away from Frontline Fire**: KZTS facilities in Kramatorsk sit near active combat zones, exposing production lines to artillery and missile attacks. Establishing series manufacturing in Poland provides a secure production environment, protecting supply chains while scaling output beyond 30 units per month.
2. **Chassis Agnosticism as an Export Enabler**: Unlike traditional self-propelled howitzers locked to a single automotive base, the Bohdana system has been deployed across multiple platforms (including KrAZ, Tatra, and Mercedes-Benz Zetros/Marta configurations). SZCZĘŚNIAK’s experience with MAN, Scania, and SISU chassis allows PK MIL to tailor export howitzers to match an international buyer’s existing logistics fleet.
3. **Addressing the Global 155mm Wheeled Artillery Shortage**: High-intensity artillery usage in Ukraine has highlighted the need for affordable, mobile 155mm firepower. Wheeled 155mm howitzers offer lower operating costs and faster road mobility than heavy tracked systems (like the Krab or PzH 2000). Polish production of the battle-proven Bohdana positions the joint venture to target global defense contracts.
