There isn’t much new information in this video, but it is a relevant and timely reminder of the implications of Ukraine and UK/BAE systems agreeing to joint production and servicing of L119/M119 105mm howitzers.

The headline announcing this happened about a month ago and slipped by largely unnoticed by international media.

https://defence-blog.com/ukraine-uk-agree-on-joint-artillery-production/

I get that the headline didn’t really grab people, it is reasonable to ask, what is notable about a smaller caliber towed howitzer with relatively limited range? Nothing about the L119 on paper is that impressive until you get to the weight and even in that respect it isn’t necessarily obvious how a lighter artillery piece could decisively shift the tide of war, but this is the kind of material difference that iterates across the frontline and logistics chains into meaningful differences that flashy headline catching more limited and expensive weapons of war can’t. If you can actually appreciate the weight advantage multiplied across the infantry support artillery demands of an army and then factor in the reliability, accuracy, availability of specialized ammunition and muzzle flash hider for firing at night without giving away a firing position… (something the Soviet D30 cannot do) only then does a true picture of the L119/M119 come into clarity. It is not an overstatement to say that Ukraine gaining more general, durable access to these howitzers for infantry support across the frontline is a nightmare development from the perspective of a Russian general trying not to fall out of a window.

The L119 is the best towed infantry support howitzer in the world, it really isn’t even close when it comes to towed artillery pieces in this smaller 105mm size and Russia now has to contend with Ukraine having domestic production and restoration capability for it. No matter how war evolves, nor even specifically how soft recoil technology in artillery evolves (such as the hawkeye 105mm system) I am confident L119 or L119 derived systems will be used both as workhorses and as a basis/compliment to a variety of self propelled or potentially unmanned 105mm systems long into the future.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M119_howitzer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L118_light_gun

Right now is an intense time for Ukraine, but there are reasons to see strength in this moment, the L119 is an ideal anvil to smash the Russian military empire to pieces against.