Source: Public Affairs, 12th. Special Operations Brigade
The Netherlands has provided Ukraine with nine DITA 155mm self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and this is one of them, in service with the Artillery Group, 12th. Special Operations Brigade “Azov”. The DITA (Digital Integrated Targeting Artillery), built by the Czech arms manufacturer Excalibur Army, entered production status in 2023 and it shares a high level of commonality with another Excalibur Army product, the DANA M2 152mm SPH. The key difference is the caliber of the howitzer. The DANA M2 uses a 152.4mm howitzer, a caliber that is mainly unique to artillery from the former Soviet Union, from former Warsaw Pact countries, and currently from the Russian Federation. The DITA, on the other hand, uses a 155mm howitzer which is the standard caliber across most NATO countries and thus is capable of firing any compatible 155mm projectile regardless of the country of manufacture. Both calibers still find widespread use in military forces around the world, to include Ukraine which fields self-propelled guns and towed artillery using both 152mm and 155mm calibers, the latter typically coming via military aid from NATO countries. In addition to the nine, the Netherlands has pledged to provide another six DITA.
The 29-ton DITA uses a Tatra 815 VP31M 8x8 wheeled truck chassis which uses a Tatra T3C-928-90 12-cylinder, air-cooled, turbocharged vee diesel engine that develops 408 horsepower that is mated to a Tatra Norgren 10-TS-210N semi-automatic transmission. The gearbox has 12 speeds: 10 forward, 2 reverse. This provides the DITA with a top road speed of 55 miles per hour and in optimum off-road conditions, the maximum speed is 15 miles per hour. Off-road performance is improved through a central tire inflation system (CTIS). Enough diesel fuel is carried to give the DITA a maximum cruise range of 372 miles.
The main weapon is a 155mm L45 howitzer situated within a centrally mounted turret. The mount permits a maximum howitzer elevation of 70 degrees and 3 degrees of depression. The turret does not provide a full 360 degrees of traverse, offering only a total of 60 degrees of total traverse. The DITA has outriggers to stabilize the vehicle when firing from the halt with hydraulics that can quickly deploy and retract to enable the DITA to be ready for firing fast and move just as fast once the fire mission is complete. The DITA uses much the same electronics from the Czech company Retia that equips the DANA M2. In regards to the howitzer, the ASAP (Automatic Setting of Action Position) system permits the DITA to fully automate firing data calculations which in turn directs the turret to traverse and the gun mount to lay the howitzer at the optimum elevation to engage the target. The ASAP system also selects the appropriate ammunition from the 40 rounds carried in the DITA's 40-round automatic loader. Both the commander and the gunner are provided with a digital fire control system (FCS) that tie into the ASAP system. The DITA can be manually aimed using a ZZ-73 mechanical sight, a PG-1M-D panoramic telescope, a K-1 collimator, and a PAB-2A artillery compass. These are calibrated for the 155mm caliber. For manual direct fire, the gunner would use a OP-5-38D telescopic sight. With the automatic loader, the DITA can fire up to 6 rounds in the first minute with a sustained rate of 5 rounds per minute. It is known that some of the DITAs in Ukrainian service are firing the U.S. made M107 155mm HE (High-Explosive) projectile. The M107,which remains in production despite being introduced in 1959, has a weight of 95 pounds with a M739 fuze of which 14.6 pounds is Composite B explosive. Upon detonating, the M107 can produce almost 2,000 fragments. With a full powder charge, the M107 has a maximum range of 12 miles and if using a base bleed M107 variant, the range can be extended out to 20 miles. Of course, the 155mm L45 howitzer can fire RAP (Rocket Assisted Projectile) shells which can reach a maximum range of 24 miles. Unlike the DANA M2, the DITA is not fitted with a heavy machine-gun for anti-air or local defense. Instead, the DITA has to rely on any small arms carried by the crew.
For armor, the cab is protected to STANAG 4569 Level 1 standard. This is proof up to 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm ball ammunition at 30 meters and against 155mm artillery shell fragments at 100 meters. Against explosives, the armor can protect against hand grenades and small artillery fragmentation submunitions. The turret is not armored as the howitzer can be operated from within the cab. The cab is also NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) protected and crew comfort provided by a heater and air-conditioning system. Speaking of crew, the DITA can be operated with as few as two men though three is the usual compliment.
Other systems mounted on the DITA include 24 volt water-cooled auxiliary power unit (APU) paired to hydraulic pump which permits the vehicle's electrical systems to work and the pump allows the gun controls to function if the engine is turned off or broken down. If even the APU fails, the howitzer has manual controls which can be used to aim, load, and fire the howitzer. The driver is provided with a Retia digital diagnostics system to monitor critical systems as well as a video system to enhance situational awareness while driving. A Retia digital communications suite includes a C2I (Command, Control & Intelligence) function, VHF/UHF tactical radio station, and a intercom system for the crew. A Retia inertial navigation system is backed up by a GPS (Global Positioning System) and this is also tied into the ASAP system.
