Fully automatic loading system enables both projectiles and cartridges to be loaded automatically in whole range of azimuth and elevation, without help from crew.

Combat use: ZUZANA 155 mm SPGH is a weapon with long firing range, high precision and high rate of fire, short time needed to engage the firing position and excellent vehicle manoeuvrability.

Firing power: The main advantage of ZUZANA SPGH is its superior firing power. This is a result of full automatic rammer loading system both for projectiles and charges. In the automatic laying mode, the barrel is automatically pointed in the direction calculated by the on board computer.

Accurancy: The first but not last most important feature is an accurate hit of the target by the first shot. Excellent stability of the weapon both on wheeled and tracked chassis leads to maximum possible accurate repeatability.

Range of fire: The weapon system is fully automated and enables efficient fire up to the range of 39,6 km depending on used ammunition.

Universal turret: Very useful feature of ZUZANA SPGH is possibility to mount nearly identical turret on either on heavy wheeled armoured chassis or on main battle tank chassis. This is secured by fully autonomous mode of work and light construction of the turret.

Autonomy: Other advantage of the ZUZANA SPGH is its autonomy in the battlefield. On board navigation system and fire control computer make ZUZANA an autonomous and highly flexible weapon system.

Automation: The high degree of automation permits very short reaction time. Combined with high rate of fire and in the same time reduction of the manpower (two men are required to complete the whole mission) a modern self-propelled howitzer of the future was developed.

Servocontrol: Both azimuth and elevation are servodriven. Azimuth and elevation positioning can be controlled by fire control system based on in-terrain navigation, auto navigation system and fire parameters.

Ammunition: The weapon construction provides the possibility to use NATO standard ammunition or any other compatible 155 mm ammunition including base bleed type ammunition. Complete ammunition stock carried in the ZUZANA 155 mm SPGH is 40 rounds.

Ambient limits: The firing is possible in any climate conditions in temperature range from - 40° up to + 55° C from prepared or not prepared positions having different surfaces with a slope up to +/-5°.

Rate of fire: The efficient intensity of fire using full automatic shells and charges loading system is 5 to 6 rds in first minute. A sustained rate of 30 rds. per 6 minutes is possible in automatic mode of loading.

Tradition: ZUZANA weapon system mounted on high mobility TATRA 8x8 chassis is the essential modification having its predecessors in DANA and ONDAVA 152 mm SPGH.

Alternation: Universal turret has been successfully mounted on T-72 MBT chassis. The mobility of the tracked version is significantly increased by implementation of 1000 HP engine and new transmission into T-72 chassis.

SpGH Zuzana A1 is based on a modified Tatra 815 8 × 8 chassis, with the driver seated in the fully armoured compartment at the front. The fully enclosed turret is in the centre with the new armour protected power pack at the rear.

Main armament comprises a 155 mm/52 calibre ordnance fitted with a double-baffle muzzle brake, which is externally-mounted between the two elements of the turret system.

According to ZTS, the 155 mm/52 calibre ordnance with a 23 litre chamber meets the NATO Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding (JBMoU).

Maximum rate of fire is quoted as eight rounds in the first minute and 22 rounds in three minutes. The right part of the turret accommodates a conveyor for 40 projectiles in the vertical position with the left part of the turret containing the conveyor for a similar number of charges.

A 155 mm modular charge system comprising three different modules is said to already be in production.

The weapon can be loaded with 155 mm projectiles and charges at all angles of elevation and the fuzes can also be set automatically. Maximum range depends on charge/projectile combination but when firing Extended Range Full Bore - Base Bleed (ERFB-BB) projectiles it is 41.5 km.

Both parts of the turret have air conditioning and an NBC system and the complete turret has its own auxiliary power unit (APU), which allows it to be operated with the main diesel engine switched off. Turret traverse is 360°, with the firing envelope 60° left and right.

It has a direct-fire sight with laser range-finder and mounted above the ordnance is a muzzle-velocity radar that feeds information into the fire-control system, which is connected to the digital map system.

The Zuzana A1 can carry out Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) fire missions in which all of the projectiles land on the turret at the same time.

For this application the Tatra 815 chassis has been upgraded and the power pack now consists of a MAN D28 76 LF diesel engine developing 338 kW coupled to an Allison HD 4560 PR automatic transmission. The 8 × 8 chassis has been developed by Tatra Sipox.

To provide a more stable firing platform, hydraulic stabilisers can be lowered to the ground to provide a more stable firing platform. These are positioned one either side between the second and third road wheel stations, and one either side at the rear. Standard equipment includes a central tyre-pressure system, powered steering on front four wheels and a roof-mounted 12.7 mm NSV machine gun.

This system is a further development of the 155 mm/45 calibre Zuzana. The Slovak Republic was the launch customer, taking delivery of a total of 16 systems in two batches of eight. Details are given in a separate entry.

The first export customer for the 155 mm/45 calibre Zuzana is Cyprus, who has taken delivery of at least 12 units under the designation of the Zuzana 2000G.

Zuzana Quantities: Country Quantity CYPRUS 12 SLOVAKIA 16 Total: 28