PzH 2000 Self-Propelled Gun (SPG) / Howitzer
Channel: Main Battle Tank
Date: 2023-04-01

In 1987, the German Ministry of Defense began the self-propelled howitzer development program designated as the PzH 2000 (or "Panzerhaubitze 2000"). The roots of the new gun platform stemmed from the SP70 international howitzer project sponsored by West Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy in the late 1960's. All three countries came to the conclusion that improvements had to be made in the indirect fire control system. Five prototypes were ultimately produced but the project was shelved in the 1980's because of funding, technical issues and interest in the American M109 155-mm self-propelled howitzer. The three participating countries from the SP70 program did, however, gain valuable experience in the development of self-propelled platforms and this experience resulted in the British AS90 "Braveheart", the export-minded Italian OTO-Melara Palmaria, and the German PzH-2000 artillery systems. German firm Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and their subcontractor, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, designed the PzH 2000 in 1996 and began production in 1998. The German Army subsequently purchased 185 such units with future plans to buy 53 more examples.