Rheinmetall to Produce ‘Three-Digit Number’ of Barrels for PzH 2000

An unnamed customer has ordered a large batch of barrels for PzH 2000 artillery systems from Rheinmetall.

The German company said that the classified European country ordered a “three-digit number” of barrels.

The first L52 barrels for the Panzerhaubitze 2000 (RzH 2000) self-propelled howitzer will be delivered to the customer this year.

“Gun barrels will be delivered in the period 2024-2029,” the company said.

This delivery is part of a massive production growth program implemented by Rheinmetall to meet growing demand.

Rheinmetall is a world leader in the production of gun barrels and ammunition for them.

This order is probably related to Ukraine, which actively operates PzH 2000 155mm SPG.

The Ukrainian army successfully operates a battalion of such artillery systems, which were transferred jointly by Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.

They were developed in the second half of the 1990s by the Munich concern Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

Ukraine applied to Germany for the purchase of PzH 2000 in April 2023 and received approval from the German government for the potential sale of 100 self-propelled guns in July 2023.

The cost of a potential deal for 100 Panzerhaubitze 2000 was estimated by KMW representatives at €1.7 billion.

It is not unlikely that the manufacture of a “three-digit number” of barrels may be related to this potential agreement. However, there is no information yet about the signing of the agreement.