Since the 1960's, the American M109 had dominated the market in Self-propelled gun's. Over 25 countries in the world had used it. These included Great Britain, Germany & Italy who had been looking for a replacement. Both Germany & Great Britain had entered into another joint development, the PzH 155 aka Sp-70, which like many other joint developments with Germany, it was ended in 1986. The British went with Vickers GBT 155 project, which had built two prototypes by 1986 which went onto become the AS-90 and the Germans also went looking for an indigenous design.
The former German company Wegmann who developed the chassis, which shared some components similar to the former Leopard I’s and also developed the turret, headed a consortium of German arms manufacturers.
The highly successful German gun manufacturer Rheinmetall, (who had built the L44 tank gun as used on the M1 and Leopard 2) developed the 8 meter long, 155mm, 52 cal. cannon. It is able to reach up to 30km with a standard non-assisted round and 40km with an assisted round. The Pzh 2000 has the fastest rate of fire for modern Self-propelled gun's at 3 rounds per 10 seconds, 8 rounds per minute, 20 rounds per 3 minutes.
This is achieved through its automatic primer magazine that can carry 60 rounds and automatic inductive fuse setting. The charges are loaded manually. The entire loading, laying and clearing is completely automated.
The Pzh 2000 was accepted into service with the German Army in 1995 who ordered 185 of them, with delivery of the first few completed vehicles in 1998. In 1999 Wegmann merged with Krauss-Maffei, another successful German arms manufacturer to become Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, who are now the prime contractor for the vehicle. They are responsible for construction of the turret and systems integration, whilst Rheinmetall landsystems are responsible for the construction of the chassis.
The Pzh 2000 carries all the latest digital fire control technology. It uses GPS to position the main cannon, direct data links to a 'behind the lines' fire control command post, so it can complete fire missions quickly, independently or the fire control command post can enter this data.
Like most Self-propelled Howitzers, it is lightly armoured. It is equipped with smoke grenade dischargers, a MG3 7.62mm MG and can be additionally fitted with ERA on the turret.
Whilst there is much speculation as to the best MBT being the Leopard 2, as it has lacked any serious combat experience, the Pzh 2000 has been very successful on a number of operations and battles in Afghanistan with the Dutch Army since mid-2006, notably in Operation Medusa in the Kandahar Province, also in the Uruzgan Province and in 2007 in the Battle of Chora where it earn’t the nickname "the long arm of ISAF".
Whilst international sales of its counterpart, the British AS-90 have been slow, the Pzh 2000 has been more successful. Though Germany has reduced its operational number to 154, mothballing 31, the Netherlands Army has purchased 57, Italy 72 and Greece has 24. As the M109 continues to be phased out of many Armies, sales are expected to increase.