DITA self-propelled gun-howitzer
The DITA self-propelled gun-howitzer vehicle is a new modern artillery weapon using a NATO 155 mm standard ammunition. It derives from the original Czechoslovak concept of Tatra truck-mounted howitzers, but it takes the autonomy of operation to the next level. DITA offers an unprecended rate of fire with only 2 members of the crew required – the driver and the commander. It features a modern Onboard Control System with high speed in taking up and leaving the firing position, great accuracy and excellent hard terrain crossability.
The DITA howitzer employs a special 8x8 TATRA chassis, which features outstanding driving capabilities, primarily off-road mobility, and constant payload capacity independent on the character of operating conditions (paved roads – off road conditions). The vehicle is equipped with R20 14.00 tyres with CTIS.
The concept utilizes a fully autonomous superstructure so it is possible for the weapon to be mounted on a tracked chassis. DITA howitzer concept is an independent superstructure based on TATRA 8×8 chassis. It is however capable of fully autonomous operation so the crew can operate the gun even in case of undercarriage failure or its deliberate shut down. Due to this feature the superstructre can also be placed on a different – e.g. tracked – vehicle.
DITA uses a standard 155 mm caliber ammunition which is easily available and provides an extensive range of up to 39 km with HE BB shells. The DITA howitzer is equipped with a special Automatic Setting of Action Position (A.S.A.P.), ammunition management and inertial navigation system which greatly enhance the speed of task execution and overall effectivity of the weapon. Thanks to full automation of the system, the vehicle is operated by a crew of only 2 - driver and commander. Comfort and protection of the crew is ensured by a ballistic, low-type, overpressured cab featuring Level 1 protection according to STANAG 4569. The superstructure offers an emergency operation workplace that can also be used to transport a third crew member according to user preference.
The DITA howitzer is equipped with a powerful Onboard Control System which contains subsystems of diagnostics, navigation, automatic gun guiding, autonomous calculation of shooting elements and ammunition management. The howitzer is equipped with an automatic guiding system that allows fast and fully-automatic weapon adjustment into fire position. The OCS ensures reliable, fast and accurate gun guiding at requested direction - automatically after selection of traverse and elevation data. Also both OCS and automatic loading device are controlled through the M4 control panel.
The OCS has been designed to ensure the weapon is able to take up firing position as fast as possible, complete the mission acquiring the requested effect on target and leave position. Main advantage provides that gun is controlled from the cab by two operators only. In case of navigation system failure emergency gun aiming is provided through optical sight. Control panel is an electronic device to control the Onboard Control System. It indicates all diagnostics data related to the gun and chassis condition. M4 panel is portable providing control of the turret outside the cab.
First unveiled at IDEX in the UAE in February 2021, in January 2021 the DITA program had reached a functional prototype readiness milestone with a series of tests and trials scheduled ahead. While the Dita is under contract ad already in production, Excalibur Army is proposing the fully independent artillery module for installation on other platforms, either wheeled or tracked.
As reported by Defense Express 06 May 2022 with reference to its own sources, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine conducted negotiations on the purchase for the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the private company Excalibur Army of the latest DITA self-propelled guns with a "NATO" caliber of 155 mm. The details of such negotiations and the intentions of the military-political leadership regarding the purchase of DITA self-propelled guns were not disclosed. As of Mrch 2023, no further details of this transaction were forthcoming.
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