TOPSHOT - The self-propelled howitzer 2000 tank (Panzerhaubitze 2000 or PzH 2000) of the German army (Bundeswehr) fires during exercise at the 'Dynamic Front 22', the US Army led NATO and Partner integrated annual artillery exercise in Europe, in Grafenwoehr, near Eschenbach, southern Germany, on July 20, 2022. - The 'Dynamic Front 22' exercise, led by 56th Artillery Command, is the premier US led NATO and Partner integrated artillery exercise in Europe and includes more than 3000 participants from 19 nations. Allied artillery and supporting units practice integrating joint fires and test interoperability in a multi-national enviroment until 24 July, 2022. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP)

The federal government has apparently approved the sale of 100 modern self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine. This is reported by the “Spiegel”. As early as July 13, the responsible Federal Ministry of Economics is said to have granted the German armaments manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) a manufacturing license for the “Panzerhaubitze2000” type systems

As early as April, Ukraine is said to have asked the armaments manufacturer whether the howitzers could be purchased directly from the manufacturer. As a result, KMW submitted a corresponding offer on April 11 and received approval for it two days later.

The budget for the 100 self-propelled howitzers is estimated at 1.7 billion euros. This volume would exceed the previous arms deliveries worth around 600 million euros many times over.

At KMW, production of the weapon systems is to begin immediately. It is still unclear when the first howitzers will go to Ukraine. The production of all howitzers is likely to last for several years.

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