According to the information disclosed on the Internet, in the promotional video recently released by NORINCO, the SH-4 155mm ultra-light towed howitzer, the SH-15 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer and the SH-16 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer and other large-caliber long-range suppressed body barrel artillery were publicly displayed.
Among them, the SH-16 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer that has attracted the attention of the majority of netizens is the SH-16 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer that adopts a modular unmanned turret design and is known as the "Chinese version of the archer" and "the oriental archer". Successfully developed by the 202nd Institute of China North Industries Group, it will become a support firepower focusing on foreign trade.
The so-called "Archer" is a FH77BWL52 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer developed by Sweden, which uses the Volvo A30D 6×6 articulated truck chassis, or the Rheinland MAN HX2 8×8 high-mobility off-road truck chassis.
An FH-77B05 155mm howitzer with a 52-fold barrel length and a 25-litre chamber volume is equipped with a fully automatic ammunition loading system with a storage capacity of 20 rounds. It can reach an average rate of fire of 9 rounds per 60 seconds and 3 rounds per 12 seconds and a burst rate of fire, and has the ability to land five 155mm grenades at the same time.
"Archer" 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer with a total combat weight of about 26-28 tons. It can fire a 155mm projectile of various NATO models. The maximum range is 40 km when firing a concave grenade, and up to 60 km when firing a rocket extended-range projectile.
When firing the M982 Excalibur satellite-guided projectile, the accuracy of striking at the target reached an astonishing 10-meter level. This means that the "Archer" 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer has the performance of attacking tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled guns and other single-moving high-value targets on the battlefield.
The SH-16 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer is different from the general 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer of the same caliber, it has a very high degree of automation, with a fully automatic modular unmanned turret, which can be automatically loaded for rapid fire without personnel.
The 155mm 52 times diameter body tube long body tube is installed on a high-mobility wheeled off-road chassis with armor protection, and the total combat weight of the speculation system is about 30-32 tons, and the whole vehicle has only 2 members, that is, 1 driver responsible for vehicle movement and 1 gun commander responsible for binding and firing Zhuyuan and firing guns.
This 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer launched by China Ordnance Industry is a combat system, which is also equipped with a company command vehicle, a reconnaissance radar vehicle, a meteorological observation vehicle, a drone launch vehicle, an ammunition transport vehicle, a maintenance support vehicle, etc.
The SH-16 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer has a very high degree of modernization, strong field maneuverability, and all-weather combat performance. Pull it out at any time and pull it out, you can fire the cannon on the way, and you can quickly withdraw from the firing position when you hit, so that it is not easy to be caught by the opponent's counter-battery reconnaissance radar, and therefore the vitality on the battlefield is stronger.
Previously, the PLZ-45 155mm self-propelled howitzer developed by China North Industries Corporation, which used a 45-caliber artillery barrel, once entered the Middle East arms market. It has been procured and equipped by the armies of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other countries, and has actual combat experience, and has achieved good results in the fight against the Houthis.
In addition, the UAE Army, purchased and equipped with the SH-4 155mm towed howitzer (formerly known as the AH-4), with a combat weight of only 4.5 tons, operated by 7 personnel, capable of firing 155mm precision-guided projectiles, with a 90% probability of hitting the first shot, and capable of hitting fixed and moving targets. The Ethiopian Army, for its part, procured SH-15 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzers.
SH-16 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer, as the latest large-caliber howitzer with a high degree of automation launched by China's weapons industry, has the strength to enter the international arms market and compete with the famous "Archer" 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer, "Caesar" 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer and other famous Western howitzers.
As a military fan, Guoping Vision expects that this domestic modern large-caliber howitzer can achieve good results in export sales as soon as possible and promote the prestige of China's weapons industry. After all, after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the role of 152/155mm large-caliber barreled artillery is obvious to the global military community.
Up to now, there is no doubt that the 155mm howitzer is still one of the most powerful and important suppression weapons in land warfare. Therefore, the export prospects of the "Oriental Archer" are relatively bright, and the author of this article believes that China's weapons industry can receive orders from overseas.