Zuzana retires. Eva arrives. Slovak firm Konštrukta Defence closes the chapter on the Zuzana 2 howitzer and launches mass production of a new self-propelled artillery system, Eva — a direct response to lessons learned on the battlefields of Ukraine.

Slovak firm Konštrukta Defence has made a decision that closes a chapter in the history of European artillery. The Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzer — for years the flagship export product of the Slovak defence industry — is leaving the production line. The reason is not a question of quality, but simple market arithmetic: customers simply ran out.

The manufacturer cites the experience of the ongoing war in Ukraine directly as the driving force behind the decision. Observing real-world combat revealed shifts in the strategic priorities of armies worldwide — and forced designers to fundamentally rethink their philosophy of artillery development.

„Instead of enquiries about more Zuzana 2s, interest emerged in other, more mobile and more modern artillery systems.”

From Prototype to Serial Production

The history of the Eva self-propelled howitzer dates back to 2014, when the first prototypes were built. However, those early versions are not what will enter mass production. The decisive variant is designated M2, unveiled at the MSPO 2025 defence expo in Kielce, Poland, and tested throughout 2024–2025. It is this version — significantly redesigned and incorporating concrete lessons from the Ukrainian theatre of operations — that will now be manufactured at scale.

The first batch is set to number 16 units. During production, Konštrukta Defence will be assisted by Koval Systems, supplying selected components. The launch of production has been confirmed by Slovak defence outlet Future Army.

What Did Ukraine Change?

One of the most important lessons of the war in Ukraine is the dominance of drones over the battlefield. This observation directly shaped Eva’s architecture. In the new howitzer, the gun and ammunition supply are housed in an automated turret, while the crew of three to five soldiers occupies a fully separate, armoured cabin. This radically improves crew survivability: even if the weapon module takes a direct hit, the cabin remains a protective enclave.

Mobility proved equally critical. Eva is mounted on a six-wheel TATRA chassis, with a combat weight of 25 tonnes — 7 tonnes less than the Zuzana 2. A key design requirement was fitting the howitzer inside the cargo hold of a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, opening the door to rapid deployment to distant theatres of operation.

Range performance — Eva howitzer, 155 mm / 52-calibre barrel:

• Standard rounds: ~31 km
• Base-bleed (BB) rounds: ~41 km
• Rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP): >50 km

How Does Eva Differ from Zuzana 2?

Both howitzers share a 155 mm, 52-calibre barrel and Slovak origins. Beyond that, the similarities largely end. Eva is lighter, faster to deploy, and designed around a new crew-protection philosophy. It carries up to 20 rounds at a time and can be operated by as few as three personnel.

The shift in approach to Slovak artillery exports reflects a broader trend in the European defence industry: a move away from heavy, classical platforms toward lighter, more mobile systems capable of rapid relocation in response to enemy reconnaissance and precision strike threats.

Eva is not the only example of this turn — similar projects are being pursued by France (Caesar NG), Germany (RCH 155), and the Czech Republic. The Slovaks, however, chose to develop their own answer rather than replicate proven solutions.

Tags: Konštrukta Defence · Artillery · Ukraine · NATO Sources: Future Army (SK), kotadef.sk, MSPO 2025 Kielce

Technical Specifications — Eva

Eva vs Zuzana 2 — Quick Comparison