BAE Systems to produce L119 howitzers in Ukraine

Ukraine and the BAE Systems international defense, aerospace and security company have signed an agreement on the production of 105-mm L119 howitzers.

The news was published on the website of the President of Ukraine.

BAE Systems has opened an office in Ukraine, which will allow the company to establish weapons production and repair facilities. The intention to open the office was first announced at the end of May this year.

“Cooperation of this level is a very powerful signal. Despite daily enemy missile attacks and full-scale military operations, BAE Systems is ready to work here, side by side with us. Such cooperation is a one hundred percent win-win story,” said Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and BAE Systems signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the supply of spare parts, repair and production of new L119 light guns.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has received about 50 units of these howitzers from its allies, which are now being actively used by the Defense Forces.

The howitzers have proven to be an accurate and powerful tool of artillery brigades. In fact, they can gradually replace the already heavily worn-out Soviet-era 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

The L119 fires all standard NATO 105mm semi-fixed ammunition along with the special missiles. The maximum range of the shot, depending on the ammunition, can vary between 11,500 and 19,000 meters.

The howitzer is manually loaded and capable of effectively destroying lightly armored vehicles and infantry. It can be moved quickly and used to provide maximum firepower.

The L119 howitzer can be towed by the M1097 or M1152 military off-road vehicles (HMMWV).

Previously, Militarnyi published reviews of the Ukrainian military, which had been using these howitzers on the front line for a long time. One of their main tasks in Ukraine is to cover the infantry in the offensive, which enters the gray zone, as well as to destroy the arriving enemy reserves.

You can read more about this howitzer in our article “British classics in the steppes of Ukraine: the L118/119 howitzer“.