Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, the prime contractor to the new German self-propelled howitzer 155 mm - Panzerhaubitze PzH 2000 - has passed an important milestone of the first lot production contract for the German Army:
On December 18, 2000, KMW delivered PzH 2000 number 100 to the observer artillery battalion 71 in Dülmen.
Since the roll-out of the first PzH 2000 on July 1st, 1998 all howitzers have been delivered fully in time according to the contractual time schedule.
High acceptance is given to the new weapon system by the military users due to high reliability, availability and operational performance.
Based on the high level of acceptance and satisfaction with PzH 2000 by all German Army users, other European countries are increasingly interested in this modern weapon system for future artillery. Thus Italy and The Netherlands Armies have selected, both authorized by their national parliament, the PzH 2000 as their future howitzer system. Sweden, in addition, contracted one PzH 2000 for a demonstrator - lease - period from 2001 until 2003.
Finland too, after extensive tests and evaluation, has selected in the last quarter of year 2000 PzH 2000 over several international competing howitzer systems as winner of the Finnish modern SP howitzer program. Only due to unexpected budgetary constraints , the procurement decision was delayed until after 2006.
Major General Rimpi, Chief of Finnish Army General Staff, formally stated in a meeting in Army exercise range Rovajärvi/Lapland , that PzH 2000 had been selected as the winner in all parts of the competition including winter trials in Lapland in February 2000.
General Rimpi stated that only given priority to other procurement programs like the new Nordic helicopter had avoided to start the final procurement negotiations with KMW for PzH 2000 for Finnish artillery.
