Germany is procuring 10 new PzH 2000s for delivery in 2025–26 to replace the SPHs supplied to Ukraine in 2022. (KMW)

Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr: BAAINBw) awarded Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) a contract for 10 new Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 155 mm self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) on 30 March, the German company announced in a press release on the same day. The contract includes options for three batches of six PzH 2000s each.

On 29 March, the German Federal Ministry of Defence announced on its website that the budget committee of the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, had approved the contract valued at EUR184 million (around USD200 million). The ministry said the PzH 2000s would be delivered to the Bundeswehr in 2025–26.

The Bundestag budget committee's approval is required for procurements exceeding EUR25 million. The EUR184 million contract for the 10 PzH 2000s is financed by the Ertüchtigungsinitiative training initiative fund for Ukraine, valued at EUR2.2 billion in 2023, as the SPHs being procured are replacing the ones donated to Kyiv.

China's ZBL-09 armoured fighting vehicle, seen here from Russia's Victory Day parade, is armed with a 30 mm cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun, and anti-tank guided missiles. (Russian MoD)

The Eastern Theater Command (ETC) of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has inducted China North Industries Group Corporation's (Norinco's) ZBL-09 (also known as Type 09) armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) in an equipment awarding ceremony in eastern Guangdong.

The official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the People's Daily, reported via its Weibo social media platform that the 145th Medium Combined Arms Brigade of the 73rd Group Army has inducted at least 54 ZBL-09 vehicles.

According to Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Armoured Fighting Vehicles , the Type 09 is the 8×8 family of AFVs designed by Norinco to provide the PLA with a modern and capable vehicle to replace ZSL-92 AFVs in service.

The ZBL-09 is armed with a 30 mm cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun, and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). The 30 mm cannon is believed to be a copy of the Russian 2A72. It is a stabilised dual-feed cannon capable of firing two ammunition natures while stationary and mobile.

KYSEA approved the purchase of 100 Spike NLOS missiles to arm AH-64A attack helicopters of the Hellenic Army Air Corps, the upgrade of 19 of the helicopters by Israeli company Elbit, and the certification of nine of them to be armed with the air-to-ground version of Spike NLOS. (Boeing)

Greece's Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) chaired by Prime Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos approved the purchase of Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) systems and missiles for all three services on 29 March.

KYSEA approved the purchase of 17 Spike NLOS systems with 340 missiles for Hellenic Army anti-armour units worth EUR270 million (USD293 million).

The council also approved the purchase of 100 Spike NLOS missiles to arm AH-64A attack helicopters of the Hellenic Army Air Corps worth EUR45 million. This was accompanied by the approval of the upgrade of 19 AH-64As by Israeli company Elbit, with a total cost estimated at EUR40 million. Nine of these 19 helicopters will be certified to be armed with the air-to-ground version of Spike NLOS.