Profile
- Type
- 155 mm towed howitzer
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Origin
- United Kingdom / West Germany / Italy
- Service note
- Cold War NATO artillery in modern Ukrainian service
Artillery
FH70
The FH70 is a jointly developed British-West German-Italian 155 mm L/39 towed howitzer with an auxiliary power unit for limited self-movement. In Ukrainian service it added another NATO-standard tube-artillery option alongside M777 and CAESAR systems, giving Ukrainian artillery units a 155 mm platform documented at the front from 2022.
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Built by
- VSELRheinmetallOTO Melara
- Built in
- United KingdomGermanyItaly
Service History
- In service
- Introduced in the late 1970s; documented in Ukrainian frontline service in 2022
- Used by
- Ukrainian Armed Forces
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Designer
- Vickers, Rheinmetall, and OTO Melara international consortium
- Designed
- Late 1960s to early 1970s
- Built by
- VSELRheinmetallOTO Melara
- Built in
- United KingdomGermanyItaly
- Produced
- 1970s-1980s
- Variants
- FH70
Specifications
- Crew
- 7-8
- Caliber
- 155 mm L/39
- Range
- 24.7 km with standard projectiles; about 31.5 km with base-bleed ammunition
- Rate of fire
- Up to 6 rounds/min normal; 2 rounds/min sustained; 3 rounds in the first 13 seconds
- Weight
- About 9.3 t in travel and firing position
- Mobility
- Towed by a 6x6 tactical truck; auxiliary power unit permits limited autonomous movement
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Ukraine
Ukrainian forces operated FH70 155 mm towed howitzers during the full-scale Russian invasion, with Ukrainian defense reporting identifying FH70, M777, and CAESAR as 155 mm artillery already working at the front in May 2022.
FH70 Images
Related Weapon Systems
AHS Krab155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzerThe AHS Krab is a Polish 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer built by Huta Stalowa Wola around a NATO-standard 52-caliber gun, an armored tracked chassis, and modern fire-control equipment. In Ukrainian service it gives artillery units a mobile Western-caliber gun able to fire standard 155 mm ammunition, displace after missions, and operate in counter-battery-threatened sectors of the Russia-Ukraine War.
M109A6 Paladin155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzerThe M109A6 Paladin is a U.S. 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer that added onboard navigation, automatic fire-control, digital communications, and improved crew protection to the M109 family. In Ukraine, the Paladin represents a U.S.-supplied NATO-standard artillery system for mobile indirect fire, paired in the 2023 aid package with ammunition support vehicles for sustained gun-line operations.
M777155 mm towed howitzerA lightweight 155 mm howitzer supplied by Western partners. It gave Ukrainian artillery units broader access to NATO-standard ammunition and precision-capable fire missions.
AGM-88 HARMAir-to-surface anti-radiation missileThe AGM-88 HARM is a U.S. high-speed anti-radiation missile built to home on radar emissions from enemy air-defense systems. In the Russia-Ukraine War, U.S.-supplied HARMs gave Ukrainian aircraft a suppression-of-enemy-air-defenses weapon for forcing or striking Russian radar systems despite the missile's original integration with Western aircraft.
Archer155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzerArcher is a Swedish 155 mm L52 wheeled self-propelled howitzer built around rapid automated firing and displacement from an armored cab. In Ukrainian service it adds NATO-caliber mobile tube artillery, with Sweden documenting both donated Archer systems and follow-on barrel support after intensive wartime use.
AS-90155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzerThe AS-90 is a British tracked 155 mm self-propelled howitzer built for armored, mobile indirect fire support. In the Russia-Ukraine War it represents a UK-donated NATO-caliber artillery system for Ukrainian forces, combining a protected tracked chassis, 155 mm ammunition compatibility, rapid burst fire, and a conventional range of about 24.7 km.Sources
Three Types of 155 mm Artillery Are Already Working at the FrontPublisher: ArmyInform | Note: Supports direct Russia-Ukraine War use context for FH70 howitzers in Ukrainian frontline service. | Accessed: 2026-06-19Ukraine Army Releases Pictures Showing the Use of FH70 Howitzers Donated by ItalyPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports direct conflict use for Russia-Ukraine War by documenting Ukrainian operation of Italy-donated FH70 howitzers. | Accessed: 2026-06-19New FH-70 Howitzers on the Way from Italy to UkrainePublisher: Defense Express | Note: Supports direct conflict use for Russia-Ukraine War by describing FH70 howitzers moving from Italy to Ukraine and Ukrainian use; also supports consortium background and range details. | Accessed: 2026-06-19155mm FH-70Publisher: Weaponsystems.net | Note: Supports system specifications and general FH70 background. | Accessed: 2026-06-19File: Howitzer FH70 in Ukrainian servicePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports primary image provenance and CC BY 4.0 licensing from ArmyInform. | Accessed: 2026-06-19File: UA 44th Brigade Italian FH70 HowitzersPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and CC BY 4.0 licensing for a Ukrainian military FH70 image. | Accessed: 2026-06-19File: Italian Army FH70 HowitzerPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and CC BY 2.5 licensing from the Italian Army. | Accessed: 2026-06-19