Full Afterburner
Full Afterburner
  • Home
  • AeroSpace
  • Next-Gen Weapons
  • Terrain Battle Machines
  • Special Forces
  • Space Technology
  • Share News/Articles
  • Home
  • AeroSpace
  • Next-Gen Weapons
  • Terrain Battle Machines
  • Special Forces
  • Space Technology
  • Share News/Articles

Military Balance India Vs China Part-3 Indian artillery systems

6/16/2021

1 Comment

 
Howitzers

Indian Field Gun (105mm)

The 105 mm Indian Field Gun was designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in 1972. It is a towed variant of the British L13 105mm howitzer as mounted on the FV433 Abbot.
Indian 105mm Light Field Gun is the primary artillery piece used in mass by Indian Army; it was introduced in 1980s and considered one of the best in the world in terms of weight and its range.
Due to its Light weight design IFG has excellent portability making it suitable for mountainous terrain. I t can be transported by mules in parts to some of the inaccessible posts over LOC as well as LAC. Despite being light its range is outstandingly 17kms with HE rounds latest variants has a range of 30Km. one drawback of this gun is being 105 mm it does not do much damage to strong bunkers and fortifications.
IFG is upgraded by fitting with inertial navigation system, digital fire control system etc and the range is increased to 30Km with bleed base, with the use of INS accuracy also increased.
IFG is replacing with modern artillery systems, variants of IFG may stay in service for many years.

Specifications

Max Range      : 30Km
Rate of Fire     : 10Rpm
In Service        : ~600

​Variants
  • Indian Field Gun MK 1
  • Indian Field Gun MK 2
  • Indian Field Gun MK 3
  • Light Field Gun
  • Garuda 105


Picture

Light field gun

Light field gun is a lighter version derived from the 105 Indian field gun , it entered into service in the 80s. This is developed mainly for deploying in mountainous terrains. It weighs less compared to IFG. The gun is light enough to be transported by helicopter making it an ideal weapon during cross-border firing. The gun takes just 3 minutes to get ready for action.

LFG is ongoing upgrade to 120mm .
 
Specifications
Max range        : 20Km
Rate of Fire      : 6Rpm
In Service        : ~700
 
Variants
  • Light Field Gun Mk1
  • Light Field Gun Mk2
  • OFB 105 SPG
Picture
Picture

OFB 105 SPG

OFB 105mm SPG is Indian self-propelled tracked artillery. It has been Developed & Manufactured by Ordnance development centre, Ordnance Factory Medak. The weapon is based on Sarath's hull mounted with Indian towed 105 mm Light field Gun (LFG). The system can stow 42 rounds of ammunition. The artillery can be used to destroy enemy fortification and also in anti tank role. The Original sights of 105 mm LFG have been retained. A GPS have been provided for navigation. The turret provides level-3 protection for the crew. It was first displayed in February 2010 during DEFEXPO-2010 in New Delhi and it is planned to replace the FV433 Abbot SPG in the Indian army. There is option of composite armour turret to increase protection of crew against 12.7mm weapon. An autoloader along with Fire control system can also be provided to achieve Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact. TALIN 500 Inertial Navigation System can also be installed to navigate in regions where GPS is unavailable due to terrain masking or enemy jamming ammunition carrying capacity can also be increased to 92 rounds.

This system is not inducted to Indian army. 

Picture
Picture

Kalyani Garuda 105
​

Garuda 105 is an ultra light weight mobile gun system. The Garuda-105 is based on 105mm field gun .At a gross weight of one ton (compared to three tons for other, average artillery pieces) the Indian Garuda 105 incorporates soft recoil technology (Technology is called Hybrid Recoil) that enables it to mount on standard tactical vehicles. This allows the weapon to be placed on light vehicles and nonstandard platforms, including aircraft and coastal and river patrol watercraft. The system is mounted on a TATA 4×4. It is based on an all terrain vehicle with mountainous terrain maneuverability, and adaptable for fitment on any current in-service vehicle. Garuda was developed and manufactured in a record time of 08 months.
Garuda was developed in collaboration with the Mandus group. The vehicle and the gun is OFB`s, only the recoil system is of Kalyani. They are well tested and, being mounted on pickup trucks, seem to be perfect for shoot and scoot, giving opposing fire no time to zero in. The existing mountain guns (105 IFG) are well thought of with excellent range and will obviously remain in service for a long time but they need to be dug in after being towed into place, making them sitting ducks for artillery locating radars. 

Picture

M-46 (M1954)

M-46 is a Soviet field gun developed in the 1940s, and apparently first fielded in the early 1950s. In a towing configuration, the M-46 is 11.73 m long, 2.45 m wide, approximately 2 m tall, and weighs 7.7 t. It is rated as safe to tow at speeds of 10-20 km/h cross-country, or at 50 km/h over a paved road. The 130 mm towed field gun M-46 is manually loaded system.   The M-46 fires OF-43 HE-FRAG (range: 27 490 meters), OF-44 HE-FRAG (range: 22 490 meters), BR-482 and BR-482B APCBC-HE-T (range: 1 140 meters, direct-fire). Smoke, Chemical, and Illumination rounds were also developed for the M-46.
The Indian Army has a total of around 1000 of the 130 mm towed guns that were acquired from the Soviet Union beginning in 1968.
 
Specifications
Max Range      : 38Km
Rate of Fire     : 8Rpm
In Service        : ~1000
Variants
  • Metamorphis M46 FG(M-46S)
  • SP-130 Catapult
  • Sharang
  • Arjun Catapult

Picture

Metamorphosis IOB M46 FG (M-46S)

In 2000 Soltam Systems Ltd. won a $47.5 million contract to upgrade 180 artillery pieces of the Indian Army. The project is expected to be completed in two years and will be done in Israel. A follow-on deal for 250 retrofit kits was also optioned. According to the contract; Soltam will upgrade Russian-made M-46 130 mm field artillery pieces into 155 mm guns similar to the ones used by the Israel Defense Forces. The upgraded M-46S, labeled by the OFB as Metamorphosis IOB M46 FG. The project was named as Project Karan.
In up-gradation process the original barrel is replaced by a new model of 155/45mm for a range of 25.8 to 39 km. A 39-calibre barrel is optional. According to the OFB, no modifications are made to the existing breech block, while failure of self-sealing systems during combat was overcome by the use of a stub cartridge case obturator similar to the obturating system of the original M-46. Conversion lead time was said to be minimal as there was no modification to the breech block mechanism and no change in the travel lock, cradle and recoil systems of the original M-46. The only modification to the horizontal sliding breech block was a widening to allow for the insertion of larger-calibre 155mm rounds. The split-trail carriage, elevating mechanism, shield and two-wheeled limber of the original M-46 were also retained. When travelling the Metamorphosis IOB M46 FG was to be withdrawn to the rear by the standard chain mechanism located on the right side. The original two-wheeled limber was retained, and to reduce operator fatigue, a three-cylinder telescopic rammer with eight-bar nitrogen gas pressure and pneumatic circuit was fitted, as was an in-built safety mechanism.
In 2005, after only 40 howitzers were modified, the M-46S programme was terminated due to a fatal barrel explosion.
 
Specifications
​

Max Range      : 39Km
Rte of Fire       : 8Rpm
In Service        : ~40


Picture

Sharang Gun

Sharang 155/45 is upgraded version of Soviet-origin 130mm M-46 towed artillery. OFB was awarded a contract to upgrade 300 of the 130 mm artillery guns in October 2018. All 300 upgraded ones will be delivered in batches by 2022-end.
The up-gradation, involved the changing of the barrel and breech block, would mean an increase in the range of the field gun from around 27 kms to 39km and better terminal effectiveness (fragmentation pattern) by over 300 per cent. It will add new sighting systems and a new hydraulic rammer to ease loading of shells. OFB officials term the up-gunning 100 per cent indigenous and a highly cost-effective solution to augment the Army’s firepower. The Sharang upgrade kit costs less than Rs 70 lakh per gun, or less than one-fifth the cost of a brand new towed field artillery piece.
Sharang has a combat weight of 8.4 tonnes and a length and width of 11.84 metres and 2.45 metres. The 7 metre-long barrel has a single baffle muzzle brake and horizontal sliding wedge breech block. A semi-automatic operating device enables auto opening of the gun breech and a pneumatic ramming system eases the load on the gun crew who have to ram the projectile in during firing.
In October 2020 Indian Army procured and inducted 155mm Excalibur precision guided ammunition from the U.S. which gives its 155mm artillery guns extended range and also the ability to hit targets with very high accuracy.
​
Specifications
Max range       : 39Km
Rate of Fire     :
In Service        : ~20 (18 in service as of Jan 2020)

Picture
Picture


M-46 Catapult (SP-130 Catapult, Catapult-MK1) 

The M-46 Catapult was a self-propelled gun developed in India by Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment. It was called Catapult in1980-81.
After the 1965 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan, the Army was in search of mobile (self propelled) artillery gun systems, primarily for the strike formations on the western borders. The production of Catapult guns began in the late 1970s and they were inducted in 1981. The platform is based on the Russian 130 mm M-46 field gun mounted on the lengthened chassis of the ageing British/Indian Vijayanta tank's hull. A total of 100 M-46 Catapult systems were built.
 
To withstand higher firing stresses and to cater for longer recoil the Vijayanta tank's hull has been elongated with seven bogie wheel stations on either side. The stability to the vehicle during firing is provided by unique hydraulic suspension locking system. The self-propelled medium artillery gun can fire both HE and AP ammunition and has a maximum range of 27 km. The gun has a limited static traverse 12½% on both side and an elevation of +45% to -2%. The system can stow 30 rounds of separate loading ammunition.
​
It was retired from service in 2021 after 40 years of active service with the Indian Army.

Picture
130 mm Self Propelled M-46 Catapult Guns decommissioning ceremony, March 2021

Arjun 130 mm Catapult (Catapult MK-2)

 
Arjun 130 mm Catapult is self-propelled 130 mm gun developed by DRDO.  The army had major problems with the M-46 Catapult, as maintenance was an issue and its stability on a full charge firing mode. Arjun, the indigenous main battle tank in operation at the moment, was considered a possible chassis for the emplacement of the 130 mm on a tracked vehicle. The job was given to the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), based at Avadi.

A feasibility study of mounting 130 mm Catapult Gun on Arjun Chassis Mk-I was carried out in May- June 2012. The technical study concluded that up-gradation of the existing Catapult on the chassis could be carried out in a very short time and the equipment capabilities increased. 
Eight key parameters were considered for carrying out the feasibility study. Some of them were; minimum changes to the chassis system for ensuring maximum commonality between the sub systems and the parts, accommodating recoil of the gun system at various elevation angles, power pack removal without removing the gun system, maximum onboard ammunition, structural design etc.
The trials were successfully concluded and it also found that the new system fared better than the M-46 Catapult on the Vijayata chassis in terms of mobility and the ability to absorb shocks during firing charged rounds. The system is also fitted with night vision systems and fire suppression systems available on the Arjun. Some new features of Arjun MBT MK-II being incorporated into the catapult systems were also be evaluated during the crucial GSQR trials. Indian Army ordered 40 of the system.
​
Specifications
Max Range      : 39Km
Rate of Fire     : 8 Rpm
In Service        : ~40
Picture

D-30 Howitzer

D-30 is a Russian-made 122 mm towed howitzer that first entered service in the 1960s with the Russian army. The D-30 is designed to defeat unsheltered and covered manpower, weapons and military equipment of the enemy at the forward edge of the battle area and to the regiment mission depth.
The D-30 uses the 2A18 gun which is also used by the Russian 2S1 tracked self-propelled howitzer. The maximum rate of fire of the D-30 is 6-8 rounds per minute, and about 75 rounds per hour. The D-30 fires FRAG-HE and HEAT-FS variable-charge, case-type, separate-loading ammunition.
D30 towed howitzer mainly deployed in the plains and is already obsolete. It got replaced by the M-46 of Soviet Union.

Specifications
​

Max Range      : 22Km
Rate of Fire     :  8 Rpm
In Service        : ~520

Picture

2S1Gvozdika

The 2S1 Gvozdika is a Russian-made 122mm self-propelled howitzer tracked armoured vehicle. The first prototype was ready in 1969. The 2S1 Gvosdika has a crew of four soldiers, including commander, gunner, loader and driver. The 2S1 is fully amphibious with very little preparation, and once afloat is propelled by its tracks. A variety of track widths are available to allow the 2S1 to operate in snow or swamp conditions. It is NBC protected and has infrared night-vision capability.  These systems will retire in the near future.

Specifications
​

Max Range      : 22km
Rate of Fire     : 5 Rpm
In Service        : ~110

Picture
Slovak 2S1

Haubits FH77/B Howitzer

155 mm Bofors guns are the mainstay of the artillery fire power of Indian army. The FH77 is a late Cold War era towed howitzer of Swedish origin.
 
The Army had initially planned to acquire 1500 Bofors FH-77B howitzers, but due to the infamous 'Bofors Scandal' only 410 guns were purchased, 200 left in service.
The FH 77 is one of the world's most revolutionary towed field artillery systems at the time of development. It has an on-mount auxiliary power unit that gives the system self-propelled capability. APU also supplies power to the hydraulically supported operations, making it easy to handle. Besides these it has a fully integrated land navigation system that gives the coordinates of the gun position and automatic alignment of the barrel. . The high level of automation results in a high rate of fire. When using semi-fixed ammunition three rounds can be fired in 8 seconds, and six rounds can be fired in 25 seconds. NATO standard ammunition is fired at a lower rate of fire. Sustained rate of fire is 3 rpm for 20 minutes. The FH77 fires both its own range of 155mm shells and NATO compliant ammunition. The maximum range is 21 km with regular ammunition and over 27 km with base bleed ammunition.
The Bofors guns proved their mettle during the 1999 Kargil conflict, particularly with their “shoot-and-scoot” technology — the ability to fire a shell and then move away from the location by up to three kilometres. 

Specifications
 
Max Range      : 32Km
Rate of Fire     : 10 Rpm
In Service        : ~200
 
Variants
 
  • Dhanush 
  • FH77 B02: Indian upgrade of FH77/B with 45-caliber ordnance and improved electronics (done in 1987).
Picture

Dhanush Howitzer

Dhanush is a 155x45 Calibre indigenous gun developed by OFB. Dhanush is the indigenously upgraded variant of the Indian Army Houbitz FH77 B02 gun.  Dhanush received bulk production clearance in February 2020 and the initial order of 114 Guns was placed on the OFB and will get all 114 guns by 2022.
Dhanush towed gun system capable of targeting at long ranges incorporating autonomous laying features and having one of the most sophisticated suites of electronic and computing systems in the world. The electronic suite is a module package, combining a hybrid (Inertial+GPS) Navigation System, a Muzzle Velocity Radar (MVR) and powerful Software solving in real time the ballistics for static or moving targets and for any combination of projectile-change available. The Inertial Navigation System (INS) is an extremely precise system determining the elevation and northing angles of the gun. Dhanush uses an enhanced tactical computer (ETC) for on-board ballistic computations; the system corrects automatically the firing for any variation in ammunition, charge or meteorology. Auto laying is adaptable to any orientation and elevation system hydraulically or electronically powered, it provides an effective solution for automatic laying of the gun barrel. Dhanush has an automated gun sighting system equipped with camera, thermal imaging, and laser range finder.
Each Dhanush unit is also provided with a STAR-V radio, which along with the ETC and a gun display unit makes it compatible with the Indian Army’s Shakti Artillery Combat Command & Control System (ACCCS) that automates artillery operations in a network-centric environment. The use of AGAPS along with electro-hydraulics suited for auto gun laying enables the Dhanush to be aimed at a target much faster, once targeting data is available. This means that the Dhanush can better utilise enemy gun location data provided by the Swathi Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) and drones used by search and target acquisition (SATA) units of the Artillery Corps.
The main elements of the Electronic Suite integrated with the gun have EMI/EMC compatibility as per the Standards laid down by the Indian Army and they are as follows:-
  • Gun Control Computer (GCU/ETC).
  • Inertial Navigation System (INS).
  • INU, CDU, Phonic Wheel, Travel Lock sensor.
  • Muzzle Velocity Radar (MVR).
  • Gun Sighting System.
  • Modified Electro-hydraulic Valve Block system.
  • Communication System-STARS V Radio MK II.
  • Drive Electronic Unit (DEU).
 
Dhanush can fire all types of ammunition available with Indian Army. The longer barrel length of the Dhanush, along with the use of a ‘Zone-6’ bi-modular charge system, allows it to fire an extended range full-bore base bleed (ERFB-BB) shell to a maximum range of 38.4 kilometres. The Army recently procured 155mm Excalibur precision guided ammunition from the U.S. having the ability for targeted artillery strikes at extended ranges. The ammunition can be used with all 155-mm artillery guns in the inventory. Ex Caliber extends the reach of .39-calibre artillery to 40 km and .52-calibre artillery to more than 50 km”.
SAIL’s special alloy steel, produced by SAIL-Alloy Steels Plant based at Durgapur, has been used for making this artillery gun. Weighing less than 13 tonnes, with a high ground clearance of 400 mm, a range of elevation from - 3degree to 70 degree and an arc of traverse of 60degree. The self-propulsion unit allows the gun to negotiate and deploy itself in mountainous terrains with ease.
The Dhanush howitzer is capable of firing eight rounds per minutes and needs a crew of six to eight artillerymen. Dhaunsh,s automated technology allows three guns to be fired simultaneously at a rate of 42 rounds per hour.  Indain Army 93 Field Regiment becoming one of the first units to be armed with this gun.

Specifications

Max Range      : 38Km, 50+ Km using Ex-caliber
Rate of Fire     : 8 Rpm
In Service        : ~54
 
Variants
 
  • Dhanush V2:  DRDO has also been working on an upgraded variant of the Dhanush howitzer, designated Dhanush Version 2 (v2) with a larger caliber 45 to 52 millimeter and a slightly increased range 38 to 42 kilometers.
 
  • BEML MGS: A vehicle mounted variant of the gun called Mounted Gun System was showcased by OFB at the Defexpo 2018 show. The gun is mounted on a 8x8 Tatra truck manufactured under license by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and has a 30 km/h cross country speed and 80 km/h road speed.

Picture
Picture

BEML MGS
​

BEML 155mm/52cal truck-mounted gun system is a variant of Dhanush system. In defense expo 2018 OFB and BEML have unveiled, the 155mm 52 Cal Mounted Gun system.
The uniqueness of this project is that it has been completely and independently designed and manufactured by OFB in association with BEML & BEL. The Gun is equipped with the state-of-the-art laying system and sighting system such as GPS aided INS, muzzle velocity feeder data management, day and night firing, ballasting computer system capability.
The base vehicle used for the gun system is the BEML-TATRA 8X8 truck with all differential lockable and a powerful 300KW engine, which provides it a power to weight ratio of more than 10KW/ton. This is a high mobility vehicle with independent wheel suspension and swinging half axles to provided enhanced cross-country mobility. The vehicle has a cruising speed of 80Km/hr on-road and more than 30Km/hr in cross-country and has a cruising range of 1000Km without refueling.
The armament used in the 155mm 52Cal with target equipment capability of approximate 42Kms. The Gun System combines with the advantage of high mobility performance of a truck with accurate long range fire power of a 155mm 52 Cal Gun and with its onboard ammunition storage capability of 18 rounds of HE shells as well as 18 BMCS and 2-6 chargers. It can be automatically deployed in any terrain and can perform a mission independently. With its high strategic maneuverability in all types of terrain it will serve as all weather reinforcement for the infantry and will be a present force multiplier for the Indian Artillery. This system not inducted into army. 

Picture
Picture
Picture


ATAGS

The ATAGS is a 155mm, 52 calibre artillery gun jointly developed by the DRDO in partnership with Bharat Forge of the Kalyani Group and the Tata Power SED.
ATGAS is a large calibre Gun system with the capability to program and fire future Long Range Guided Munitions (LRGM) to achieve precision and deep strike.  ATAGS will complete user trials by mid-2021. In August, 2018 the Defence Acquisition Council had accorded approval for the purchase of 150 of these guns. After the summer trials this year, orders can be placed in the industry, following which the system will become operational in the armed forces.
The ATAGS was has gone through extensive trials over the last four years and performed admirably with remarkable consistency. The validation trials at high altitude areas, including mobility trials in hilly and mountainous terrain have been completed. ATAGS has demonstrated efficient towed movement in the treacherous terrain climbing altitudes up to 15,500 ft. Movement to Lukrep meant covering 341 kilometres and was tested over 10 days. ATAGS could negotiate the otherwise un-accessible mountainous terrain with steep gradient and narrow Hair-Pin Bends with ease, without needing to unhook the Gun from the Tower. In similar terrain, other systems need to be unhooked and moved in self-propelled mode, thereby increasing the overall travel time. The total distance traveled by the ATAGS in mountains and high altitude was 526 kms. The field trials were recently conducted and it fired over 2,000 rounds in places like Sikkim near the China border and Pokharan near the Pakistan border. The DRDO believes that it would give an edge to the Indian Army over China and Pakistan in a war scenario.
ATAGS performed well in high-altitude trials in January 2018 at the 12,000-foot-high Menla Firing Range in Sikkim. In these trials, the BFL-developed ATAGS prototype fired a total of 130+ rounds, mostly in Zone 7, and the feedback was that the system had met the parameters. The howitzer prototype fielded by TATA Aerospace & Defence Ltd too succeeded in firing 99 rounds. However, when it went for additional trials in September, a gun barrel burst while being fired. At the 100th round, which was fifth of the rapid-fire practice, the gun tube sheared off, thus creating the first unfortunate incident during the entire process of design and development. It must be noted that the two prototypes, which have till now fired almost 2,000 rounds between them, can easily withstand pressures up to 560 mega Pascals and are the only ones to fire munitions in Zone 7.
The development of the complex system has been carried out in a very short time of four years. The gun had several significant features such as an all-electric drive, high mobility, quick deployability, auxiliary power mode, advanced communication system, night vision system and automated command and control system. DRDO claiming that it is the "best gun in the world".
The inhouse development has led to headway in the advanced technologies, which include higher pressure, higher chamber volume gun barrel, breech mechanism, compact recoil system and an efficient muzzle brake. A very robust yet compact structure, high power compact auxiliary power unit for achieving higher mobility during cross-country, walking-beam suspension for negotiating highly undulating terrains, SDR-based advanced communication, simultaneous voice and data communication, fire control computer, compact thermal imaging sight and surveillance system are some of the advanced features of the gun system. 
 
The ATAGS is configured with all electric drives to ensure maintenance free and reliable field operations. The automation ensures five Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI), automatic shell loading and ramming, higher rate of fire, and fast coming into/out of action in the day/night war scenario. The DRDO says that it can fire three rounds in 15 seconds in burst mode while in sustained mode; it has a rate of fire of 60 rounds in 60 minutes.
 
It is equipped with Integrated Fire Control system consisting of INS-based Automatic Gun Alignment and Positioning System (AGAPS), Muzzle Velocity Radar (MVR) and Ballistic Computer to carry out online computations. The system comprises a Tactical Computer (TC) that commands and controls a battery of six to eight guns over radio and line, and has been configured to be integrated as per ACCCS Shakti network protocol of Artillery Regiments.
 
The howitzer requires a crew of 6 to 8 personnel. During trials in 2017, ATAGS broke the world record for 155 mm gun by firing the round to a distance of 47.2 kilometres. It again registered a maximum distance of 48.074 kilometres with high explosive–base bleed (HE–BB) ammunition, surpassing the maximum ranges fired by any artillery gun system in this category. The longer range of the ATAGS comes from its larger chamber, which houses a larger quantity of high-explosive propellant that shoots out the warhead further. The ATAGS chamber volume is 25 litres, compared to 23 litres in all other existing 155mm/52-cal towed howitzers.

Specifications
​

Max Range      : 48 Km
Rate of Fire     : 3 rounds in 15s
In Service        : 150 ordered 

Picture
Picture

M777 A2
​

The M777 howitzer is a towed 155mm artillery gun developed by BAE Systems. The Indian Army has placed an order for 145 ultra-light weight Howitzer guns with BAE Systems under the ‘Make in India’ programme. Out of these 145 howitzer guns, 25 will come in a flyaway condition and the rest 120 will be assembled in India at the Mahindra Defene facility. Deal for 145 guns concluded in November 2016
To reduce the weight, construction of the M777 makes extensive use of titanium and titanium castings. The M777 weigh approximately 4,200 kg each. This light weight makes M777 howitzer guns are highly portable, can be carried easily over land, air and sea. One special feature of the M777 is that it can be readily airlifted on a Boeing Chinook heavy-lift helicopter. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has recently inducted Chinook helicopters. This means that at a very short notice, both troops and artillery guns can be transported by Chinooks to border areas , giving India ready firepower along its borders.
M777 are fitted with the General Dynamics Armament Systems Towed Artillery Digitisation (TAD) system. The TAD digital fire control system provides on-board ballistic computation, navigation, pointing and self-location, providing greater accuracy and faster reaction times, and also includes a laser ignition system, electric drives for the howitzer’s traverse and elevation, and a powered projectile rammer.
The maximum firing range is 24.7km with unassisted rounds and 30km with rocket-assisted rounds. The M777A2 can fire the Raytheon / Bofors XM982 Excalibur GPS / Inertial Navigation-guided extended-range 155mm projectiles using the Modular Artillery Charge Systems (MACS). Excalibur has a maximum range of 40-50 km and an accuracy of 10m.  Indian Army is placed an order for acquiring more Excalibur precision-guided Artillery ammunition in 2020.
The M777A2 howitzer has the potential to double the system's current artillery range to between 54-70 km depending on the sort of ammunition used. US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) are working on Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) project. The module include a modified barrel, suspension and recoil system, and adds approximately 500 kg to the M777’s existing weight, though engineers are working to see if the modification can be effected with no change in the gun’s weight. The Indian Army has been briefed that it has the option of either retrofitting its M777s to the ER standard later, or modifying the Faridabad assembly line itself so that later tranches of the gun could be of the extended range version. But no decisions are made yet.
 
Specifications
Max range       : 40-50Km
Rate of Fire     : 5Rpm
In Service        : ~ 45

Picture

K9-Vajra

The K9 Vajra is the Indian Army’s new self-propelled howitzer (SPH) jointly developed by Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and South Korean defence manufacturer Hanwha Defence. The K9 Vajra-T howitzer is an enhanced version of HTW's K9 Thunder, to suit specific requirements of the Indian Army including desert operations.
 
The 47-ton K9 Vajra-T is powered by a German 1,000 hp MTU MT 881 Ka-500 V8 diesel engine. The K9 has the ability to fire its shells in MRSI mode (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact). In the MRSI mode, the K9 is able to fire three shells in under 15 seconds  1 shell every 5 seconds each in different trajectories so that all of the shells land at their target at the same time.
K-9’s crew is protected by an all-welded steel armor construction which is rated to withstand 14.5 mm armor-piercing rounds, 152 mm shell fragments, and anti-personnel mines, and overall nuclear, biological, and chemical protection. The Vajra is compatible with Indian and standard NATO ammunition.
The K9 Thunder platform is made of all-welded steel armour protection material. The design incorporates a Modular Azimuth Position System (MAPS), an automatic fire-control system (AFCS), a powered gun elevation / depression and a turret traverse system. The hydro-pneumatic suspension system provides high-ground clearance and mobility across different terrains.
K9 Vajra-T manufactured with over 50% indigenous parts.  L&T had started indigenization right from the inception of the programme by replacing 14 critical systems in the Korean ‘K9 Thunder’ with indigenously developed and produced systems for the gun .
Vajra is meant to arm 18 regiments, and replace the 50-year-old 105-mm Abbott, which India inherited from the British in 1964.

Specifications
Max Range      : 52km (K315, HEARP) 100Km using GGAM (under development)
Rate of Fire     : 8 Rpm
In Service        : ~100

Vajra tank​
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the L&T are in talks to possibly convert the Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzer into a light or medium-weight tank that could be used in mountain regions like Ladakh. Three of its howitzers have already reached Leh for high-altitude trials, which could eventually pave way for the Vajras to be converted into a tank.
The chassis or the hull remains the same. The massive 155 mm gun can be replaced by a 105 mm or even 120 mm gun, which will reduce its weight drastically as the design of the turret also changes. More weight reducing technology and material can make its weight close to 30 ton.

Picture

ATHOS 2052

ATHOS is an autonomous, computerized 155 mm 52 cal.towed howitzer. It is rapidly deployed and operable in difficult terrain, having superior cross country abilities using self-mobility. The system has high survivability through a shootand- scoot capability. The system comprises of a modern platform with an APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) and a driver station. The ATHOS utilizes self maneuvering capability and automatic laying mode. Integrated with fully computerized systems, achieving automatic control, accurate navigation and target acquisition, the system is offered with various gun calibers, to meet customer requirements, including all peripheral equipment.
 
Indian army begin the process for acquiring 155mm/52-cal towed howitzers and MGS in 2001 as part of the IA’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, which had been drawn up in 1999. Multiple requests for proposal (RFP) were issued, starting with the first in February 2002. Nearly 14 years ago, the MoD had cleared the proposal for a 155mm/52-cal towed howitzers under the ‘Buy and Make’ category. In the last RFP, which was issued under the UPA government in June 2013, only two companies—ELBIT Systems of Israel (teamed up with the MoD-owned OFB) and Nexter Systems of France (teamed up with Larsen & Toubro) participated. The competition was for the supply of 400 towed howitzers off-the-shelf and licenced-production of another 1,180 howitzers by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), under a full Transfer of Technology (ToT) process that guarantees 50% local material content.
In March 2019, following exhaustive ‘Field Trials Cum Evaluation Process’ spread over two years of ELBIT’s Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System or ATHOS (15 tonnes) and Nexter’s Trajan (13 tonnes), ELBIT Systems was declared the lowest bidder (L-1). ELBIT had quoted €477 million for 400 fully-built ATHOS, while Nexter quoted €776 million, which translated into each ATHOS costing €1.2 million, significantly cheaper than the Trajan’s €1.94 million per unit cost. Thus, the ATHOS cost 40% less than the Trajan cost negotiation process was successfully completed between SIBAT, the International Defence Cooperation Directorate of Israel’s Ministry of Defence (representing ELBIT Systems) and the MoD in July 2019.
However, in December 2020, SIBAT wrote a letter to the MoD to expedite contract signature and even stated that in case the MoD wanted to order only 400 ATHOS (for 20 IA medium regiments) and forego the option of licenced manufacture, the related cost corresponding to the ToT process can be deducted from the total contract price. In addition, ELBIT Systems through SIBAT offered the ToT for the 1,180 ATHOS as an option for India, at the same cost as mentioned in the commercial offer made. ELBIT has also committed itself to achieve 70% indigenisation within the contract for the first 400 ATHOS howitzers, starting from the first units. Finally, ELBIT also promised to supply the 400 howitzers much earlier than the contract delivery schedule—the first six within 10 months after contract signing, an additional six within 14 months, and the remainder according to an accelerated delivery schedule, which will ensure finalisation of the deliveries not later than 54 months from the date of contract signature, instead of the 72 months stipulated in the draft contract. For meeting its ambitious 70% indigenisation target, ELBIT has proposed to take the unprecedented step of setting up two parallel production facilities in India, under which it will partner with the Pune-based Kalyani Group’s Bharat Forge Ltd (BFL) for supplying the first 400 ATHOS howitzers. After that, ELBIT has proposed to undertake ToT with OFB to build the next 1,180 howitzers. ELBIT has an existing industrial joint venture (JV) with Bharat Forge called BF-Elbit Advanced Systems, and another JV with Alpha Design Technologies, called Alpha ELSEC, and another JV with Hyderabad-based Aditya Precitech Pvt Ltd.
However, the Army has changed its plans and is now eyeing to only procure 400 of the ATHOS, but the DRDO is objecting to this and says the ATAGS is better and is the weapon of the future.
A final decision on ATHOS is still pending as reported on 28 May.

Picture

BHIM SPH

Bhim SPH is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer variant of the Arjun main battle tank. It has been prototyped by fitting the South African Denel T6 turret, which comes with the G5 howitzer to the Arjun chassis.
The Indian army required 400 mounted 155-mm /52 howitzers, of which 200 would be mounted on the Arjun chassis and another 200 to be mounted on modified TATRA trucks. The Bhim artillery system has a fully automatic ammunition loading system as well as a turret-mounted auxiliary power unit, which powers all systems. The Bhim's secondary armament consists of a single 7.62 mm machine gun.
 
Trials of the Bhim artillery system were successfully conducted in 1998 and 1999, after that this project has been delayed as Denel has become embroiled in a corruption scandal in India, and hence the Indian Ministry of Defence has suspended the Bhim.

Picture
Picture

FV433 Abbot

The self-propelled artillery variant of the British Army FV 430 series is currently in use only in the Indian and British Armies.
Development of the FV433 took place between 1958 and 1960. In 1965, Vickers presented the ‘Abbot’ to the Indian military. The Indians were impressed with everything about the SPG, apart from its price tag. This resulted in a full-scale investigation by the ‘Value Engineering’ Department of the Vickers Armament Division. Simply put, the Value Engineering process produces a cheaper vehicle, without impact to its tactical capability. The first ‘Value Engineered’ ‘Abbot’ was produced in 1967 and was taken to India for demonstration the same year. The Indian Army was happier with this cheaper ‘Abbot’, so much so that they accepted the vehicle for service.
The VEA was different from the standard Abbot in the following ways:
  • The flotation screen was removed
  • The engine was exchanged for the Rolls-Royce K60 Mark G/1, a variant of the standard engine that only ran on diesel
  • No rubber pads on the tracks
  • No power traverse – turret traverse and gun elevation/depression were manual
  • No electric rammer
  • The armored cover of the roof-mounted gun sight was replaced by a canvas one, sights were replaced with a German model
  • The Commander’s cupola did not rotate and was only equipped with one periscope.
  • No smoke launchers or roof-mounted machine gun
  • Reduced external stowage
 
There were around 80 units in service with Indian army, though they have been replaced by the K9-Vajra-T Howitzer.
​
Specifications
Max Range      : 18 Km
Rate of Fire     : 6-8Rpm
In Service        : Decommissioned

Picture

S-23
​

The 180 mm gun S-23 was a Soviet heavy gun of Cold War era. It was developed in the early 1950s, with the design based on naval guns. It is a heavy gun designed by NII-58 and later shipped off to India. There are 100 of these in service in the Indian Army. It is a towed artillery gun with a length of 10.48 metres. The barrel itself is 8.8 metre in length. The gun weighs a mammoth 21.45 tons. It fires not more than 1 round per minute but has an effective range between 30km and 43 km.
This system was decommissioned from Indian army

KALYANI Howitzers

Bharat 45(GHN-45)
​

Bharat 45 is a derivative of the GC-45 155mm/45-cal towed howitzer that was originally designed by the Canada-based Space Research Corp (SRC). Bharat-45s vectronics suite comes from Israel’s ELBIT Systems. The GHN-45 design was also passed to Israel's Soltam who have manufactured Athos.


Picture

Bharat 52
​

Bharat 52 is an upgraded version of Bharat 45(Need Confirmation). Bharat 52 is a long-range 155 mm 52 caliber gun fully designed and developed in India. Weighing 15 tonnes, Bharat 52 has a firing range of more than 48 km and has a self-propelled ground speed of 30 km per hour and automatic laying mode. Bharat 52 is a new generation of the towed gun, providing a highly maneuverable field artillery solution. It has been designed for accuracy, stability, and reliability during moving and firing maneuvers, and is based on the requirements of the Indian Army. It can fire six rounds in 30 seconds.
The Anti-backlash drive for elevation and traverse make it a truly unique system and a robust solution for superior battlefield operation. It is designed to operate as an all- weather system and has superior all-terrain mobility. Extremely easy to deploy, it takes a team of six crew members to deploy the system within one minute during day time and 1.5 minutes during night time. Bharat-52 in self-propelled mode is capable of achieving a mobility of 30kmph using its own diesel engine and electronic steering system.
It has a total weight of 15 tons, elevation angle from -3° to +72° with a speed of 5° per second. The Bharat 52 is equipped with a fully Load Assist System (LAS) with manual backup arrangement offering a burst rate of fire of 3 rounds in 30 seconds, 16 rounds in 3 minutes in intense rate of fire and 42 rounds in one hour in sustained rate of fire. The physical characteristics Bharat 52 is very similar to Israeli ATHOS.

Picture
Picture

Garuda-105 V2
​

Garuda-105 V2, which is a 105mm gun (Garuda V1 May be) mounted on “Go Anywhere Vehicle”. “Go Anywhere Vehicle” have been indigenously designed and developed by Kalyani Group incorporating niche and advanced technologies.
Garuda 105 has been extensively tested in India and abroad. It is a Hybrid recoil gun which is a new technology that Kalyani have developed using own design. The hybrid part is the metallurgy which reduces the weight and the recoil force of the gun. The 105mm gun normally weighs three and half tonnes and is towed with wheels, usually by a truck. Kalyani have reduced the weight of the gun to 900 kg by using high strength aluminium and hybrid recoil system, which reduced the recoil forces. Then mounted it on a small TATA truck and fired it. So it has become a mounted gun. A slightly bigger version of this gun has been sent to the US now.
 
  • 105mm/37 caliber gun based on the 105 Indian Field Gun
  • Extremely light weight: less than 1 ton
  • Incorporates state of the art Soft Recoil Technology resulting in light weight, modular, high performance howitzer
  • Adaptable for fitment on any in-service light vehicle
  • Shoot and scoot capability
  • Unprecedented precision and accuracy
  • Lower maintenance cost, less number of parts
  • Force multiplier for forward elements
  • Successfully test fired in India and USA
  • Indigenously developed ‘GO ANYWHERE VEHICLE’

Picture
Picture

Bharath ULH (MaRG)
​

Kalyani ULH is an Ultra-light 155 mm, 39 calibre howitzers. Kalyani developed three variants of ULH which can supplement the M777 procured by the Indian Army for mountainous terrain. Kalyani ULH can fire upto 24.7 km and with rocket assisted ammunition, it strike targets upto 30Kms. It is using Conventional Recoil system.
 
Variants
All-titanium ULH: Kalyani All-titanium ULH weighs about 4.8 tonnes.
  • MArG-T (Titanium): Indigenously designed and developed 155mm/39 cal Ultra-Light Howitzer
  • Titanium version of ULH making it extremely lightweight
  • Provides high field maneuverability, flexibility and accuracy
  • Capable of rapid redeployment by battle filed helicopters, existing railway service or towed by light weight limber or utility vehicles
  • Digital fire control, high rate of fire, reliability and easy maintenance
 
All-steel ULH:  Kalyani All-Steel ULH which weighs 6.8-tonne.
Mounted all-steel ULH:  Kalyani All-Steel ULH is mounted on an Ashok Leyland Mk.4 general utility truck for mobility in the mountainous terrain.
  • Indigenously designed and developed 155mm/39 cal Mountain Gun System
  • Mounted on 4x4 wheeled chassis – Go Anywhere Vehicle developed by BEML
  • Provides superior mobility, responsiveness, firepower and crew survivability
  • Offers distinct advantage in the mountains due to its shorter turning radius compared to a towed gun
  • Provides all terrain maneuverability
  • Provides high level of autonomy along with shoot and scoot capability to its users
  • Hydraulic platform adjusts itself to enable comfortable loading and firing
 
Mountain Artillery Gun ( MaRG Extended): This is an upgraded version of the base variant of ULH. MaRG is up-gunned to 155/52mm. This system also has better range compared to the base variant. MaRG also has two variants all steel and all Titanium. MArG Extended will be able to hit range close to 50km.
Super ULH: Kalyani Group is also working on an Ultra-Light Howitzer” Super Ultra-Light Howitzer” .This  incorporating hybrid recoil technology which will bring, the weight  to just 3.2 tons , which makes it much lighter than M777 Howitzer.

Picture
Picture
Bharath ULH

T5-52 Condor 155mm Mounted Gun System(TATA)The Tata Group’s strategic electronics division (Tata Power SED) revealed 03 December 2012 its truck-mounted 155mm howitzer gun.
It was jointly developed by TATA Power SED and South Africa’s DENEL Land Systems. The 155/52 mm howitzer is mounted on an eight-wheeled Tata truck for enhanced mobility. The 'mounted gun system' can fire a six-round salvo on a target 40 km away in less than three minutes.
DENEL Land Systems has supplied the monoblock gun barrel fitted with a double-baffle muzzle brake, gun cradle with an integrated buffer system, swing-and-slide breech mechanism, electrically-activated firing mechanism, autoloader/rammer, ballistics charts, muzzle velocity radar, an automatic laying and land navigation system using a RLG-INS, a panoramic optical-mechanical sight mounted directly to the trunnion, incorporating a compensation system for trunnion, which forms a backup for indirect fire, and a telescopic sight for direct fire that is mounted to the compensation system. Denel of South Africa was blacklisted in 2005 for allegedly paying kickbacks in the purchase of anti-material rifles.
TATA Power SED developed the digital ballistics computer, telecommunications system, the hydraulic system that supplies hydraulic power for deployment of the outriggers and the top-carriage hydraulics, all on-board electrical systems, the gun management computer, and the ‘Rajak’ driver’s vision enhancement system. The customized 8 x 8 truck comes from TATA Motors.
  • T5 Condor 45-caliber G5, mounted on a Tatra 8x8 truck chassis. In development.
  • T5-2000 Condor 52-caliber G5-52, mounted on a Tatra 8x8 truck chassis.

Picture
TATA Power SED’s 155mm-52-cal Motorised Howitzer

Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems 
​


BM-21
​

The BM-21 Grad is a Soviet truck-mounted 122-mm multiple rocket launcher, developed in the early 1960s. The main role of the BM-21 Grad system is to support the division with suppressive fire to counter anti-tank missile, artillery and mortar positions, destroy strong points and eliminate enemy nodes of resistance on the immediate battlefield. This multiple launcher rocket system has a firing range of 20 km with standard rocket and 40 km with extended range rockets (ER Rocket 9M521.). Indian Army is in the process of procuring new Extended Range Rockets for 122mm GRAD BM-21. Grad can fire Free Flight (unguided) and Guided Rockets. 
Indian Army upgraded its BM-21 MRLS. The upgrade was done by Ashok Leyland and L&T. The older Russian truck was replaced with a new Ashok Leyland 6x6 Chassis.  Since the Army already uses the Super Stallion in huge numbers this allows streamlining of logistics, spares & services Indian Army BM-21 Grad. OFB is trying to procure new 122mm Rocket for BM 21, this rocket will have a 40Km range, 15Km with brake ring.
 
Specifications
Max Range      : 40Km
Rate of Fire     : Full salvo in 20s
In Service        : ~150 upgraded BM-21 

Picture
Picture

BM 30-SMERCH (9A52-2T)
The BM-30 Smerch 9K58 Smerch or 9A52-2 Smerch-M is a 300mm Soviet heavy multiple rocket launcher. The most adavanced version of the Smerch is in service with the Indian army. This is a modification of 9A52-2T.
In 2002, the Indian Army carried out a series of firing trials of the modernised Smerch-M system. In December 2005, India placed an order for an initial 38 systems. Deliveries began in May 2007.
Indian smerch features an automatic rocket preparing and launching system and an increased range of up to 90km. The launchers for the Indian Army’s Smerch systems are mounted on Indian designed 10×10 high-mobility vehicles provided by Indian private-sector defence manufacturer Ashok Leyland.  On board there are automated guidance control systems, navigation and topographic location, closed communication systems. Due to this, the preparation time for use does not exceed 2 minutes.  The vehicle is fitted with a hydraulic crane to reload the system.
The IA operates several launcher variants for the Smerch system, each of which has six launch vehicles. Since 2012 Ordnance Factory Board has produced several rocket variants for the system that have a strike range of 70 or 90 km. Smerch can carry out a full salvoin just 38 seconds. The area of ​​destruction is 67.2 ha.  The maximum speed is 90 km / h. Cruising range – 850 km. The combat crew consists of only three military personnel.
​
Specifications
Max Range      : 90 Km
Rate of Fire     : Full salvo in 38 Seconds
In Service        : ~162

Picture
Picture
OFB Manufacturing rockets for Smerch
Picture
Pinaka MBRL

Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launch (MBRL) system, which has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the Indian Army.
The complete MBRL system of Pinaka is comprised of six launcher vehicles, each having 12 rockets with six loader-replenishment vehicles, two command post vehicles with fire control computer and a DIGICORA MET radar. Each Pinaka launcher can work independently, as it is controlled by its own computer. The launch system of Pinaka is comprised up of two pods, which are mounted side-by-side to each other on a Tatra launcher vehicle. Each launcher has the ability to fire all the rockets in one go or only a few - in a different direction than others with the help of its control computer. The Pinaka launcher can operate in different modes — autonomous, standalone, remote and manual.
Enhanced Pinaka Mk-1 will eventually replace the Pinaka Mk-1 missiles. While Mk-1 had a range of 36 km, this enhanced variant can hit a target 45 to 60 km away and has been developed as per requirements of the Indian Army.

Varaints
​

Pinaka Mk1                           : Mark-1 has a range of 38 km
Pinaka Mk1 Enhanced         : Enhanced version of Mark-1 has a range of 45 - 60km
Guided Pinaka                      : Has a range of 75Km
Upgraded Guided Pinaka    : 90Km
Pinaka MK2                          : Has a range of 60-90 Km
Mountain version of Pinaka : 40Km
Pinaka 122mm ER                : 20Km
Pinaka MK3                          : Under Development

Picture
More About Pinaka


Pinaka Mk-2
 
Pinaka Rocket Mark-II, which has evolved from Pinaka Mark-I, is equipped with navigation, guidance and control kit, and is converted to a guided Pinaka. The conversion into improved guided Pinaka rockets has helped in enhancing the range and accuracy of Pinaka.
 
This conversion has led to enhancement of its strike range and considerably improved its accuracy. The accuracy of the missile is estimated to be between 60m-80m at all ranges. In tests Pinaka achieved a CEP of just 8m for 65Km.
The rocket launcher can fire 12 rockets with 1.2 tonne of high explosives within 44 seconds and destroy a target area of 4 sq km at a time. The quick reaction time and high rate of fire of the system gives an edge to the Army during a low-intensity conflict situation. The weapons capability to incorporate several types of warheads makes it deadly for the enemy as it can even destroy their solid structures and bunkers.
The Pinaka is in the process of further improvement. Israel Military Industries teamed up with DRDO to implement its Trajectory Correction System (TCS) on the Pinaka, for further improvement of its CEP. This has been trialled and has shown excellent results. The rockets can also be guided by GPS to improve their accuracy. A wraparound microstrip antenna has been developed by DRDO for this system.
In 2019, an upgraded guided missile version of the system has been test-fired, with a range of over 90 km.


Pinaka MK 3

Mark-III variant will have a range of 120kms and can carry 250kg. Next Generation Pinaka will be replacing Russian Supplied SMERCH Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) which has a range of 90kms.But Indian army not demanded for such a system yet.
Integrating UAVs with the Pinaka is also in the pipeline.

Mountain version of Pinaka
A mobile high-altitude terrain optimized Pinaka is in development for LAC deployment that can be carried by lighter 6×6 all-terrain military truck, instead of the present 8×8 all-terrain High Mobility vehicle for improved mobility in the high-altitude terrain.
MRLs are still unable properly to engage reverse slope positions in mountain warfare because it is more difficult to determine the trajectory compared to that of a howitzer by adding or removing propellant increments. Due to the fact that India recently an enhanced version of Pinaka MK1 with drag rings and shorter in length has tested for mountain terrains. Drag rings to the rocket nose increases the drag the increased drag slows the rocket down relative to a clean configuration and creates a less flat trajectory.
Even though the rocket shorter in length still it has almost similar Range due to more efficient propellant grains and the accuracy is also better in mountainous terrain. It is believed that this one is specially designed for mountain areas for striking the reverse slope of the mountain, drag rings are the suitable option for optimizing the trajectory for such a strike.

Rocket 122 mm
​

The 122mm rocket has been developed with HE fragmentation warhead. A battery of six launchers can deliver a salvo of 240 rockets in 20 seconds to a maximum range of 20 km and saturate a target area of the size of a football field with more than four tonnes of steel fragments and high explosives.

Picture
Picture
Picture

MRPKS

Medium Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS) is under development rocket system for the Indian army.
The current rocket systems held in the inventory of Indian army cannot be employed with precision in mountainous terrain.  214 mm pinaka and 300mm Smerch MRLS are based on 8*8 and 10*10 TATRA Vehicle configurations respectively. The limited development of road infrastructure in the mountains result s in turning circle diameter (TCD) restrictions. As a result the smerch & pinaka systems have limited usage in Mountainous terrain.
The MRPKS is an indigenous weapon system which is being developed to be mounted on 4*4 in-service vehicles (2.5ton) and hence can be effectively employed in mountainous terrain. The system is configured to have single / double pods able to fire a cassette of 24 rockets each. The launcher would be able to operate in autonomous mode with; long range communication. The ammunition being developed for the weapon system is high precision, medium range rocket having a range of 25km and accuracy of upto 2m at the target end. The accuracy is achieved by an onboard guidance system & a passive IR terminal guidance. The ammunition being a fire & forget rocket will ensure greater efficiency of engagements with precision s like capability being available to own forces
It is proposed to be a vertical launcher, giving a 360 degree employment capability, As also posing no crest clearance issues in hills.

Next part will cover counter artillery 
1 Comment

Military Balance India VS China- Large caliber artillery- Part-2 Chinese Rocket Launchers

6/5/2021

0 Comments

 

Two Soviet Rocket launching system which changed the fate of Chinese artillery are BM-21 Grad & Smerch. Read a brief about those systems before continuing to Chinese Rocket artillery. 

BM-21 (Grad)The BM-21 "Grad" is a Soviet truck-mounted 122 mm multiple rocket launcher. China captured a Russian BM-21s in the 1979 DURING Sino-Vietnamese War. After reverse engineering, it entered service with the PLA in 1982 as type-81.

Chinese variants of BM-21
  • Type 83 SPRL: This is a 24-round version, based on a Dong Feng truck. The launch tubes are arranged in three rows of 8. The launch vehicle has a total combat weight of 8,700 kilograms (19,200 lb) and can also be used as part of the mine-laying rocket system Type 84. Currently new rockets with ranges between 30 and 40 km (19 and 25 mi) are being developed.
  • Type 89 TSPRL: This is basically the 40-round launcher of the BM-21 or Type 81 mounted on a tracked chassis with 520 hp diesel engine. The same chassis is also used for the Type 83 152 mm self-propelled howitzer (PLZ83), the Type 89 120 mm tank destroyer (PTZ89) and several other specialised vehicles. The vehicle has a combat weight of 29.9 short tons (27.1 metric tons) and carries 40 spare rockets. Its current PLA designator is PHZ89.
  • Type 90 SPRL: The NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation) Type 90 40-round multiple rocket system is an indigenously designed and built system equipped with an automatic operating and laying system, an electric firing system and an automatically reloadable pack of 40 rockets. It is very similar to the M-77 Oganj but of 122 mm calibre. The chassis used is the Tiema SC2030 6×6 truck. A Type 90 MRL battalion consists of three batteries, each with 6 self-propelled rocket launchers, 6 ammunition re-supply trucks Tiema XC2200 with 80 rockets and a battery command post on a DongFeng EQ-245 6×6 truck.
  • Type 90A: Modernised version based on a Tiema XC2200 6×6 truck chassis and fitted with a modern fire control system with GPS. The command post vehicle can lay and control a number of Type 90A systems by remote control for maximum firepower.
  • Type 90B: Latest, digitalised version. The rocket launch vehicle is based on a Beifang Benchi 2629 series 6×6 truck (Mercedes-Benz copy) and has a longer cabin. Each set now also has three forward observer vehicles, based on the armoured WZ551.
  • PR50 SPMRL: Development of Type 90B SPMRL with firepower increased by 25% (50 rounds compared to the original 40 rounds). Incorporate features of Weishi series self-propelled multiple rocket launchers (WS SPMRL) series so that the operating cost and overall life cycle cost for both when most components of PR50 is interchangeable with that of WS series. Also incorporated is a feature originated in Type 90B, which is the adoption of rockets of different ranges, so PR50 has a wide range of 20 km to 40 km.
  • WS-6 SPMRL: A light weight and more compact derivative of unguided 122 mm PR50 SPMRL for rapid deployment, with number of tubes reduced by 60% to 40 * from the original 100 of PR50 MLS.
  • WS-22 SPMRL: A guided version of 122 mm PR50 MLS with primitive cascade inertial terminal guidance, with standard range of 20 to 30 km
 
 
Smerch 9K58
​

China reportedly received a small number of the Russian Smerch 9K58 300 mm, 12-tube multiple launch rocket system and its ammunition in 1997. The Smerch 9K58 system is capable of firing a ‘smart’ submunition that has a dual-colour infrared sensors for terminal guidance, which enables the rocket to achieve accuracies previously difficult to achieve with unguided rockets of that range. The submunition is fitted with kinetic energy fragment warheads which are said to be able to penetrate 70mm of armour at an angle of 30° to the normal.Purchase of Smerch turned out to be a blessing for Chinese artillery systems. The experience and technology provided by the Smerch contributed to Chinese artillery technology in a big way.
According to media reports, manufacturers from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus successively provided relevant technology and information including launching system, trajectory control system, rocket and multiple warheads of BM-30 Smerch to China in the early 1990s. Currently China not using Smerch systems, they using indigenous systems based on Smerch technology.

Picture
Smerch 9K58

Chinese Rocket Launchers
 
Type 63
​

The Type 63 multiple rocket launchers is a towed, 12-tube, 107mm rocket launcher based on the Soviet BM-12 MRS. Type 63 was developed in the late 1950's and accepted for service in 1963.  
Most Type 63s have been retired from active service, but a small number is still in service with the specialized formations such as mountain infantry units and Special Forces detachments. In service Type-63s are upgraded. The Type 63 is a very basic system that consists of three rows of four launch tubes which are mounted on a lightweight two wheel carriage. Traverse and elevation is manual. Aiming is done in a similar way as with a mortar. Type 63 launchers have been fitted on a variety of vehicles. The effective range is 8.5km. Longer range rockets have been developed. All 12 rounds can be fired in 7 to 9 seconds. The Type 63 is mainly used against infantry positions. The Type 63 is towed by a light truck, which also carries the crew and additional ammunition. Due to its low weight the Type 63 can be towed manually over short distances. Many Type 63 launchers have been fitted on light trucks in order to increase the mobility even further.
The weapon fires electrically initiated 107mm rockets fitted with HE-Fragmentation warheads. The Type 63-2 ammunition introduced in 1975 is an 18.8kg rocket containing an 8.3kg TNT warhead, which can produce a 12.5m radius blast when detonated. The maximum firing range is 8.5km. The PLA has also developed an incendiary rocket fitted with a warhead containing White Phosphorous (WP) and Aluminium. Other types of rockets include HE anti-tank (HE-AT) and chaff dispensing round. In service Type-63 can fire HE, HE-Fragmentation warhead, HE-incendiary and Jamming rockets.
This rocket system is operated by a crew of 5. It takes around 2 minutes to prepare this artillery system for firing from travelling order. The Type 63 is reloaded manually by the crew. Reloading takes only 3 minutes. Type 63 is fitted with an optical sight for day light operations.

Specifications

Max range       : 9Km
Fire Power      : 12 Rockets in 6-9 Seconds
In Service        : Unknown numbers


Variants

Type 81: is an improved truck-mounted variant
Type 63-I: A pack model developed for use by airborne and mountain units weigh 281 kg in the firing position and can be dismantled into manpack loads. Type 63-I is 136 kg lighter than the basic model.
Type 85: Type 85 is a single-tube launcher, based on a tripod.
Haseb or Fadjr-1: Iranian version
Taka: Sudan version
RO 107: South African version
VTT-323: North Korean version
H-12:  is a Vietnamese version.
RL812/TLC: is an Egyptian version.
T-107: is a Turkish version.
Type 63 multiple rocket launcher of 130mm: Type 63 130mm MBRL has 19 tubes arranged in two lines of nine and ten tubes.

Picture
130 mm Type 63 multiple rocket launcher
PHZ-89 (Type-89)
​

The PHZ89 (also known as Type 89) is the 122mm, 40-tube self-propelled multiple rocket launcher (MRL) that entered the PLA service in 1990. It was developed in the mid 1980's to fulfill the need for a multiple rocket launcher that could keep up with main battle tanks in the field. This is an improved variant of the Type 81 MRL system. It was adopted by the PLA in 1989.
The PHZ89 is mounted on the Type 321 utility tracked chassis developed from the Type 83 152mm self-propelled gun-howitzer. At the rear of this vehicle a turret platform with standard 40 round 122mm rocket launcher is fitted. At the side of this platform there a small box that houses the gunner and anti-aircraft machinegun. In front of the launcher a box with second ammunition load is located, which significantly increases the reload speed. A second load of 40 missiles can be reloaded in only a few minutes.
The PLA issued a number of requirements for the improvement of the design, including automated launcher operation and reloading, the addition of a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun (AAMG), reduced noise and collective anti-NBT system.
PZH89 fires 122mm spin stabilized rockets of the same pattern as used in the Soviet BM-21 Grad and a wide variety of warheads is available. The launcher holds 40 rockets that can be ripple fired in 20 seconds. The standard rockets have a range of 20 km and models with a range of 30 and 40 km have been developed. These rockets carry a high explosive (HE). A 12.7mm QJC88 heavy machine gun is mounted for self-defense. Firing accuracy is attained by a computerized fire-control system, which can receive target information automatically from the command vehicle, or by manual input. The fire-control computer then calculates the ballistic and adjusts according to the vehicle’s slope and gradient before launch.
The vehicle is powered by a WR-4B 520hp liquid-cooled diesel. The chassis has six unevenly spaced road wheels and three track support rollers. The system has a combat weight of 30t and a maximum road speed of 55km/h. The system is operated by a crew of five men, who are protected by limited armour protection and a centralised NBC-protection system.

Specifications
Max Range      : 40Km
Fire Power       : 40 Rockets in 20 Seconds
In Service        : ~100 (200-300 as per some other sources)
Picture

  
PHL-96

PHL-96 is visually similar to BM-30 missile. It is based on the Wanshan WS-2400 8 x 8 cross country truck. However, the PHL-03 and BM-30 do not share interchangeable parts, so they are distinct missiles despite their similar appearance. The Chinese vehicle utilizes a German-designed diesel engine, transmission and hydraulics, manufactured by Wanshan in China, following a technology transfer from ZF Friedrichshafen. The program actually begun in the late 1990s. The program went through major redesign changes when the BM-30 Smerch was purchased. Although dubbed by many Chinese as a guided self-propelled multiple rocket launching system (SPMRLS), the PHL96 is not strictly speaking a guided SPMRLS because, technically, none of rockets are guided - the guidance is actually achieved via the sub-munitions, such as the 9M55K1 cluster munition. Only a very limited number of the PHL96 entered Chinese service because its successor, the PHL03, entered service shortly after.
PHL-96 was used as a basis to develop Chinas own MLRS version with the designation PHL-03, which retained the original Russian configuration with 12 rocket tubes.
While the Chinese and Russian rockets are similar in dimensions, according to their Chinese manufacturers the Chinese rockets are different internally and incompatible and therefore cannot be substituted for their Russian counterparts.
 
Specifications
​

Max Range      : 150Km?
Fire Power       : Full Salvo in 40S?
CEP                  :?
In Service        : Very Few 

PHL-03(Type-03, AR-2)

The PHL03 is a highly digitized PHL96 with a computerized fire control system (FCS) incorporating GPS/GLONASS, similar to that of the Type 90A SPMRL, with a four-man crew (compared with three for the BM-30/PHL96), which entered service around 2004-2005.
The main role of this artillery rocket system is to engage remote strategic targets, such as airfields, command centers, support facilities, air defense batteries, and large concentrations of troops and so on.
The PHL03 launch vehicle is based on a 8X8 wheeled chassis, with twelve launch tubes mounted on it. The tubes are arranged as two blocks of four with a single row of four above. The launcher has a crew of four and is capable of single or salvo firing. A transloader based on the same wheeled chassis carries an additional 12 rockets. The transloader provides for mechanised loading of the launch vehicle, by means of a hydraulic crane mounted on the vehicle.
The PHL03 fires 300mm rocket powered by a solid propellant (possibly HTTB) rocket motor. A standard rocket weights around 800 kg and has a 280 kg warhead. Maximum range of fire is 70-130 km depending on the warhead type. Though some sources report that rockets of this system has a maximum range of 150 km. The rockets are unguided solid propellant artillery rockets with wrap around folding fins. Rockets are available with High Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), fuel-air explosive, and cluster warheads with anti-armor and anti-personnel submunitions. Cluster warheads may also carry self-targeting anti-tank munitions. A full salvo of this system could potentially cover an area of up to 67 hectares.
The PHL 03 is based on a Wanshan WS2400 special wheeled chassis with 8x8 configuration. This military vehicle has good cross-country mobility and can travel off-road.
 
The PHL03 is an unarmored system that is vulnerable to any kind of direct and indirect fire. Its long range allows it to engage enemy systems beyond their maximum range, operating in relative safety.
The system is beginning to be replaced by the more modular and newer PHL-16.
 
Specifications

Max Range      : 150kms
Fire Power       : Full salvo in 38S
CEP                 :< 30?
In Service        : 175
 
Variants
 
AR2: Export designation of the PHL03 in service with the Chinese army with identical configuration. It has been exported to Morocco.
 
Extended Range PHL-03: in October 2020 Chinese state-owned media has reported that the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force’s (PLAGF’s) Tibet Military District is deploying what it claims to be a new, longer-range, and more accurate rocket with modified PHL-03 multiple rocket launchers (MRLs). The new rocket, the range of which claims is 30 km greater than that of the standard rockets used by the system. Given that the unguided BRC4, BRE2 and the guided Fire Dragon 140A 300 mm rockets used by the 8×8 PHL-03 all have a maximum range of about 130 km, the information provided by CCTV suggests that the new guided rocket – the designation of which was not revealed – has a maximum range of about 160 km.
The exterior of the PHL-03 appears not to have undergone any major modifications but the system now features a “higher level of information and intelligence”: a possible indication that it has been fitted with an improved fire-control suite.


Picture

A-100​

A 100 was a Chinese attempt to create a powerful rocket system, similar to a Russian Smerch. In 1997 China received a small number of Soviet Smerch multiple launch artillery rocket systems. At the time the Smerch was the most powerful system of its type in the world. So eventually Chinese created an indigenous system, which was modeled after the Smerch. The A100 reportedly appeared in 2002.
In many respects it is similar to the Smerch - the A100 fires 300 mm rockets and is based on a heavy high mobility truck chassis. However manufacturers insist that it is completely different system. The A-100 rocket is fitted with a simple guidance system for greater accuracy. The A100 was trialed by the Chinese army; however a PHL-03 was selected instead, which was a close copy of the Smerch. The A100 was proposed for export customers. Its improved version has been exported to Pakistan and Tanzania. Pakistan procured a battalion of A100E systems (36 launchers). It was purchased in response to India's acquisition of the Russian 9A52-2T Smerch (variant of the original Smerch). The A-100 fires 300 mm solid propellant rockets, with a firing range of 40~100 km.
 
Variants
 
A100E/AR-1A: A100E is an improved version of the A100. It has been exported to Pakistan, and possibly, Tanzania. In 2019, Pakistan's inter service public relations released an official statement regarding the indigenously developed A-100 and its induction as part of its Multiple Launch Rocket System of the artillery corps.
 
AR-1: AR-1 is an improved version of A-100. AR-1 is an 8*8 series first appeared in 2009. This is actually the first model of the Chinese versions of the BM-30 SPMRL.
A200:  A200 is a further development of the A100
A300: A300 is a further development of the A200.

Picture
Picture

AR-1A (A-100E)
 
The AR1A is an improved version fitted a with re-arranged rocket tubes of the A-100 and the Russian Smerch system. FSUE Splav (Tula) took part in the development of the rocket projectile for this Chinese system.  AR1A was introduced during the late 1990s, but was not adopted by the Chinese army. The AR1A artillery rocket system was first demonstrated in 2009. It is a modular MLRS, based on a Russian Smerch technology. The AR1A is being proposed for export customers. Recently it was reported that Armenia ordered unspecified number of these artillery rocket systems.
AR1A 300 mm MRLS can execute fire missions normally by battalion or battery as its basic firing unit, yet it can also execute fire missions autonomously by single launcher with advanced meteorological survey systems, command & control system and support system, effective fire assault and neutralization of various ground targets can be implemented.
The AR-1 and AR1A are the same the difference is that the AR1 has 2 x 4 300mm vs the AR1A 2 x 5 300mm and few more changes like the entire launcher unit can be replaced in-the-field by an accompanying support vehicle. 

Specifications
​

Max Range      : 130Km
Fire Power       : 10 Rounds/60S
CEP                 : 30m?
In Service        : Not Inducted 

Picture

A-200

A200 is a further development of the A100. It carries a total of 8 rockets in 2 pods. These rockets have a range of up to 200 km. The arrangement of A200 is different from A100 in that each launching box consists of three rows of launching tubes, three on the top and bottom respectively, and two in the middle. A200 rockets also have additional forward control surfaces that were not present on A100 rockets. The A200 is an export name. Belarus obtained a number of these rocket systems. However these are based on indigenous 8x8 heavy high mobility chassis and are locally known as the Polonez. Chinese army showed no interest to the A200.
The rockets have a maximum range of 200 km. Minimum range is 50 km. Rockets have inertial guidance with satellite navigation update. CEP is around 30 meters; it adopts GNSS/INS integrated system for the whole course. It employs warhead-body separation, maneuvering flight and other high-tech. The launching vehicle that compatible with A100 can perform autonomous positioning and orientating as well as high speed maneuvering. The system adopts the rocket loading cubicle integrated hoisting type which could speed up the re-loading process. The A200 rockets carry warheads that weight around 100-150 kg. Three types of warheads are available.
This system is also capable of carrying and launching 2 containers with Chinese M20 short-range ballistic missiles. The M20 missile has a range of 280 km and can carry a 480 kg warhead. Also it is nuclear capable. This artillery system is operated by a crew of 3 to 5 men, depending on the vehicle it is based on. It can use Chinese Taian TA5450, Wanshan WS2400 or similar 8x8 heavy high mobility chassis, which has a payload capacity of around 20 t.
 
Specifications
​

Max range       : 200Km
CEP                 : 30m
Fire Power       : 8 rounds / 50S
In Service        : Not inducted 

Picture

A-300

The A-300 is a 300 mm, 10-tube multiple rocket launcher developed by Beijing-based China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT, also known as 1st Space Academy) for the Chinese PLA ground forces. The A-300 is one of the latest Chinese artillery rocket systems. Actually the A300 is an export name. The A300 is a two-stage artillery rocket designed based on the current A200 hybrid rocket system. The new system has increased range of fire. It is being proposed for export customers. In 2015 it has been reported that Chinese army will purchase this system. The A300 is designed to attack important area targets well behind the enemy lines. Due to its range and powerful warhead the A300 might be one of the deadliest artillery rocket systems in the world.
The launcher vehicle carries 2 pods with four 300 mm rockets each. It is a derivative of Weishi Rockets WS-1 with simple cascade terminal inertial guidance. It has been reported that the A300 is a modular system, which can also use pods of A200 and possibly other calibers. The A300 has a range of 120-290km.Currently this Chinese artillery rocket system has the longest range in the world. The A300 rocket carries a 150 kg warhead. It is believed that several types of warheads are available. The rocket has a larger engine which can boost an unpowered second stage with vanes for lift and control fins directed by an inertial measuring unit-navigation satellite guidance system. CEP is about 30 to 45 meters. So these rockets are very accurate even at maximum range. It has been reported that these rockets maneuver in flight in order to overcome air defenses.
A-300 Launcher is capable of single or salvo firing. It takes 50 seconds to launch a full salvo of 8 rockets. It is claimed that each rocket can be targeted individually. So the A300 can hit up to 8 different targets simultaneously. This artillery system is operated by a crew of 5, including commander, driver and operators. Rockets can be launched directly from the cab, or remotely from the vehicle, by using a remote control unit.
Launcher of the A300 system is based on Taian TA5450 8x8 heavy high mobility vehicle. This vehicle has a fullt-time all wheel drive and is fitted with a central tyre inflation system. It has a good cross-country mobility and can operate off-road.
This artillery rocket system is well suited for shoot-and-scoot missions. From travelling it takes only a couple of minutes to prepare the launcher vehicle for launch. Once the rockets are fired vehicle can briefly redeploy in order to avoid counter-battery fire. Also it might be a hard nut for the enemy to intercept due to its extremely long range.
Each A300 launcher is supported by an associated reloading vehicle. It is based on the same 8x8 high mobility chassis, is fitted with a hydraulic crane and carries a full set of reload rockets. Reloading usually takes place away from the firing position in order to avoid counter-battery fire.
A battery of A300 launchers is also supported by command post vehicle, based on 6x6 high mobility chassis. However in case of emergency each launcher vehicle can operate autonomously.
 
Specifications
​

Max Range      : 290km
CEP                 : 30-45m
Rate of Fire     : 8 Rockets/ 50s
In Service        : Unknown

Picture


AR-3

In 2011 AR-3 MLRS was revealed. The AR-3 is similar to the AR1A, but it is even more powerful. It carries a total of 8 launch tubes with 370 mm guided rockets. These have a range of up to 220 km. The AR3 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) can fire both 370 mm and 300 mm rockets by using launching-transporting container system.
 
Based on an 8x8 chassis, it is able to fire guided and unguided rockets. Designed for deployment at battalion or battery level, the AR3 can also be operated as a stand-alone single launcher. Reaction time is 20 seconds at battalion level or 15 seconds at battery level. According to NORINCO, it features an advanced meteorological survey system, command-and-control system and support system, as well as a high degree of automation. In order to improve the accuracy, the system is equipped with AR3 computer fire control system, as well as ground-based navigation system. This allows the MLRS to take a position, open fire and leave the position much faster and therefore increase the chances of survival in a possible counter-battery fire. АR-3 has a circular error probable of less than 50 meters.
 
With guided rockets and simple controlled rockets, the AR3 MLRS features long range, high firing accuracy, great battlefield coverage, mass and violent fire-power, high lethality ammunition, as well as highly automatic operation, short fire reaction time, high mobility and high survivability. By accurately suppressing and eliminating enemy strong-point, area targets and concentrated targets with instantaneous and intensive fire-power, AR3 370 mm / 300 mm MLRS provides significant campaign and tactical values.
The AR3 MLRS can execute fire missions normally by battalion or battery as its basic firing unit, yet it can also execute fir missions autonomously by single launcher. With advanced meteorological survey system, command & control system and support system, effective fire assault and neutralization of various ground targets can be implemented.
AR-3, can even switch to the 750-millimeter Fire Dragon 480 tactical ballistic missile and TL-7B anti-ship missile, the report said.
AR3 vehicle accessories include: a weapons of mass destruction protection system, fire control system, night vision devices, GPS positioning system, air conditioning system and tire pressure regulation system. So far it received no production orders.
 
Specifications
Max Range     : 220Km
Fire Power      :  Full salvo in 60S
CEP                : 50m
In Service        : Not inducted
 
Variants
PHL-16(PCL-191)

Picture

PHL-16(Type PCL-191)
​

The PHL-16 is a truck-mounted multiple rocket launcher (MRL) system developed by the People's Republic of China. It is based on the AR-3 MRL developed by Norinco. The PHL-16 is one of the most capable rocket systems in the world. The main role of the PHL-16 is to engage remote strategic targets, such as airfields, command centers, support facilities, air defense batteries, concentrations of troops and vehicles and so on. The PHL-16 was unveiled during China's National Day parade in 2019. The PHL16 is in service with the Chinese army since around 2016.
 
Unlike the earlier PHL-03, which is loaded with a fixed type of ammunition, the new PHL-16 has two modularized launch cells, which can carry different types of ammunition. The PHL16 and AR3 launch long range artillery rockets that use a solid propellant and follow a ballistic arc. Each launch cell can carry either five 300 mm rockets or four 370 mm rockets. The system is capable of firing eight 370 mm rockets a distance of 350 km or two 750 mm ballistic missiles 500 km.  As far as the system uses pods with missiles, it can be configured to use rockets of different caliber. Some sources report that it is capable of launching tactical ballistic missiles and anti-ship missiles. The previous AR3 can also carry pods with 300 mm rockets, Fire Dragon 480 tactical ballistic missiles and TL-7B anti-ship missiles. Satellite guidance allows for a CEP of less than 30 m at maximum range.
 
 This rocket system is operated by a crew of 5. The rockets or missiles can be launched without leaving the cabin. Preparation for launch takes around 5 minutes. Rockets and missiles can be also launched remotely from the vehicle by using remote control unit. Once the rockets are launched the launcher vehicle can leave its firing position within 1 minute. Brief redeployment time allows avoiding counter battery fire.
 
 The vehicle is based on the 45 ton WS2400 8x8 special wheeled vehicle chassis. This high mobility vehicle has 8x8 configuration and can travel over difficult terrain. The same wheeled chassis is used for most recent Chinese large-caliber multiple launch rocket systems and various missile systems. Vehicle has good cross-country mobility and can travel over all kinds of rough terrain and unimproved surfaces. It can operate in various climatic conditions, ranging from -20°C to +55°C. The diesel engine provides a maximum road speed of 60 km/h. Operational range on roads is 650 km.
 
Vehicle has an armored cab which provides some degree of protection for the crew from small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. Launcher vehicles can operate in battery, battalion, or autonomously. A typical battery includes launcher vehicles, reloading vehicles, command post vehicle, meteorological survey vehicle and other associated support vehicles.
Each launcher vehicle is supported by a dedicated reloading vehicle. It is based on a similar 8x8 heavy high mobility chassis and is fitted with a crane. It carries 2 pods with reload pods. It takes around 20 minutes to replace empty pods. Reloading usually takes place remotely from firing position in order to avoid counter-battery fire.
While the PHL16 is an expensive system, it has the ability to strike targets that would otherwise require more expensive tactical missiles or air strikes.
 
Specifications
 
Max Range      : 350Km with Rockets, 500Km with Ballistic Missile
CEP                 : 30m
Rate of Fire     : Full salvo under 60S
In service         : Unknown (probably less than 100)

Picture
Picture

Type-81(PHL-81)

The Type 81 is a self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher (SPMRL.It is a variant of the Soviet BM-21 Grad. The Type 81 was the first in a family of Chinese self-propelled 122 mm rocket launchers.
The Type 81 features a 40 round 122mm rocket launcher that is directly copied from the BM-21 Grad design. The launcher is placed on the rear of the indigenous SX2150 heavy duty 6x6 truck. Of the 7 crew members four are seated in the cab and the other three on the resupply vehicle or on a folding bench between the cab and the launcher. In the firing position the windows are covered by metal blast shields. This artillery rocket system is reloaded manually.
 
The spin-stabilized rocket fired by the Type 81 may be armed with a high explosive warhead or a steel fragmentation warhead.  The launcher holds 40 rockets that can be ripple fired in 20 seconds. Additional rockets are carried on resupply vehicles and it takes 7 men 8 to 10 minutes to reload. The standard rockets have a range of 20 km and models with a range of 30 and 40 km have been developed, although it is unknown if the Type 81 can use them or if they are restricted to newer designs. Rockets can be launched from the inside of the driver's cab or remotely from the vehicle.
 
Specifications
Max range       : 30km
Fire Power       : 40roundsin 20S
CEP                 : 90m?
In Service        : 550 PHL 81+ PHL-90
 
Variants 
Type 81: PHL-81. The Type 81 mounts a 40-round launcher on an OQ261 Honyan 6X6 truck chassis.
 
Type 83
 
Type 89(PHZ-89)
 
Type 90(PHL-90)
 
Type 90A (PHL-90A)
 
Type 90B: Type 90B is an upgrade of the Type 90A. The 40-round launchers are mounted on a Beifang Benchi 2629 6×6 trucks. The system adds WZ551 reconnaissance vehicles, and the command vehicle has improved command and fire control systems.
 
PHL-11: PHL-11 is a wheeled multiple rocket launch system based on export-orientated SR-4. People's Liberation Army adopted SR-4 in 2011, the vehicle received designation PHL-11. It shares the same modular 122 mm rocket pod configuration on that of SR-4.
 
PHZ-11: PHZ-11 shares the same modular 122 mm rocket pod configuration on SR-4 and PHL-11; however the support platform is based on the tracked chassis of PLZ-05 and PGZ-09.

Export variants 

PR50: Part of the WS export series. The vehicle has fire power increased by 25% to 50 round from the original 40 rounds. Incorporate features of WS SPMRL series so that the operating cost and overall life cycle cost for both. Also incorporated is a feature originated in Type 90B, which is the adoption of rockets of different ranges, so PR50 has a wide range of 20 km to 40 km. The Chinese name for PR50 SPMRL is Sha Chen Bao (沙尘暴), meaning Sandstorm, and the system made its public debut in 2006 at the 6th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.
 
WS-22: WS-22 is a guided version of 122 mm PR50 SPMRL with simple cascade inertial terminal guidance, with standard range of 45 km.
 
SR-4: The SR-4 can trace its lineage to the Type 81, but featuring 50 tubes arranged into two pods mounted on a wheeled chassis. The range is 50 km. The weapon system is derived from the modular naval rocket launcher on the PLA Navy Chinese frigate Changsha (516) The wheeled chassis is based on Shaanxi SX2190KA.
 
SR-5: SR-5 MRL is a self-propelled MLS which first made its public debut in 2012 Eurosatory, similar to the HIMARS. SR-5 is a fully computerized and digitized system with modular design concept to enable both the 122 mm rocket series and 220 mm rocket series to be adopted on a single chassis, using the same fire control and support systems, hence greatly reduces the operational cost. The SR-5 has been exported to Algeria, Bahrain and Venezuela.
 
SR-7: The SR-7 is a scaled-down variant, with either one pod of twenty 122 mm rockets or six 220 mm rockets. The maximum range is 50 km for the 122 mm rocket and 70 km for the 220 mm rocket.

Picture

Type- 82
​

The Type 82 Artillery is a 30-tube 130 mm multiple rocket. It is replacing the 19 tube 130 mm multiple rocket launcher of the Type 70 (on an YW 531C) and Type 63 (on a 4X4 truck). The Type 82 multiple launch rocket system was developed by NORINCO in the early 1980s. It replaced the ageing Type 63 130 mm artillery rocket system in service with Chinese army. Both the Type 63 and Type 82 systems fire the same rockets.
In Type-82 30 tubes arranged in three lines of ten tubes. All the tubes are parallel to each other and mounted co-axially on a cradle. Ammunition used with the MBRL is in the form of Rocket which consists of one piece. Warhead is attached with rocket motor. A fixed amount of propellant is contained in the rocket motor. The rocket is stabilized with a slow spin.
 
Only a limited number of these rocket systems were built and it was replaced with more capable Type 81. Some of them are still in service with reserve forces.

Specifications

Max Range      : 10 Km
Fire Power       : Full salvo in 17S
CEP                  :?
In Service        : ~100 in reserve 

Picture

Type -83(WM-83)
​

Type-83 is an improved variant of Type 81. The Type 83 mounts a 24-round launcher on a 6x6 truck chassis.
The Type 83 mounted on a tracked vehicle chasis, has four tubes arranged in a single line. The modernised and upgraded WM-80 Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher, mounted on the rear of a TA-550 8X8 cross-country truck chassis, has eight tubes arranged in two lines of four tubes. The WM-80 features a reload time of 5 to 8 minutes, and a digital ballistic computer which provides positioning and fire direction for an accuracy of less than 2% of the range to the target. The Type 83 273mm rocket is a fin stabilized high explosive rocket. The rocket is olive drab with black markings, and weighs 484 kilograms 
Norinco has updated the WM-80. The updated system was designated WM-120. Compared with the basic version, the new MLRS range was increased by 40 kilometers to 120 kilometers.

Specifications

Max range       : 80Km
Rate of Fire     : Full salvo in 30S?
CEP                 :?
In Service        : unknown

Variants
WM-80
WM-120
Picture

Type-89(PHZ-89)

This is an improved variant of the original Type 81 MRL system.  It was adopted by the PLA in 1989. The Type 89 mounts a type of 40-round box launcher on the armored tracked chassis of the Type 83 self-propelled gun. The rockets may be fired in 20 seconds. The launcher is mounted at the rear with a reload pack in front. The rocket launcher of the PHZ89 was developed from the Type 81. The PHZ89 is mounted on the Type 321 utility tracked chassis developed from the Type 83 152mm self-propelled gun-howitzer.
The PLA issued a number of requirements for the improvement of the design, including automated launcher operation and reloading, the addition of a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun (AAMG), reduced noise and collective anti-NBT system. A prototype rolled out in February 1987. The PHZ-89 entered service within the PLA in 1999
Type 89 can fire 40 122mm rockets in 20 seconds. The launcher is at the back of the vehicle, and the reload pack at front. A similar configuration is featured in a previously undisclosed and un-designated 40-round system that was apparently seen in public for the first time at the October 1999 parade in Beijing celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This system is mounted on a variant of the Type 85 Armored Personnel Carrier, also known as YW 531H and the M-1967 APC, which is the 5 road wheel successor to the YW 531.
Ammunition used with the MBRL is in the form of a rocket which consists of one piece. Warhead is attached with rocket motor. A fixed amount of propellant is contained in the rocket motor. The rocket is stabilized with a slow spin.  Chinese 122mm rockets are available with ranges of 20 km, 30 km, 40 km and 50 km each of which can be combined with different types of warheads (18-22kg) including Fuel-Air-Explosive (FAE), High-Explosive (HE), High-Explosive Fragmentation (HE-frag) with 3,000 to 5,700 fragments.The vehicle has a crew of five-man and is powered by a diesel engine developing 520-hp and a top speed of 55 kilometers per hour. The maximum range is 450 kilometers.
Firing accuracy is attained by a computerised fire-control system which receives the information on its target (distance, location,) and the meteorological conditions (wind,) and thus calculates the ideal firing position. , which can receive target information automatically from the command vehicle, or by manual input. The fire-control computers then calculates the ballistic and adjust according to the vehicle’s slope and gradient before launch.
The PHZ89 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher System can be reloaded by its automatic reloading system within 3 minutes. This reloading system was influenced by Czechoslovakian RM-70 MLRS. The Type 89 also can be reloaded manually.
 
Specifications

Max Range      : 50Km
Rate of Fire     : Full salvo (40) in 20s
CEP                 : >30m?
In Service        : ~300

Variant
​

SH-3

Picture

Type 90(PHL-90)
​

The Type 90 is the second-generation truck-mounted 122mm 40-tube multiple launch rocket system developed by NORINCO in the mid-1990s as a successor to the   Type 81 and Type 89 combat vehicles. The Type 90 has been promoted by NORINCO to the export market. It is currently in service with the People's Liberation Army of China and the Omani land forces
The Type 90 shares the 40-round launcher with PHZ-89. The biggest difference on the Type 90 is the reload pack carrying 40 spare rockets, which can reload the rocket launcher within 3 minutes after the first launch, providing additional firepower with quick turnarounds. The launcher is mounted on the improved North-Benz 2629 6X6 truck.
The Type 90 missiles could be fired with the Type 81 BM combat vehicle. The Type 90 is also supported by a large formation of ground equipment including a battery command truck, rocket reloading trucks, reconnaissance APC, meteorological radar, and maintenance vehicles. Greater firing accuracy is ensured by the use of a computerised fire-control system integrated with GPS on the improved Type 90B. The weapon system could deliver intensive fire-power over a distance of 40km within a very short period. The weapon was designed to engage large area targets such as armour formation, airport, weapon storages, etc. NORINCO has developed a range of warheads for different purposes.
The Type 90 fires 122mm fin-stabilized free rockets to a minimum range of 10~12km and a maximum range of 20~40km depending on the rocket type. The combination of spin- and fin-stabilization ensures closely grouped fire. The rocket can deliver High-Explosive (HE), High-Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), High-Explosive Incendiary (HEI), anti-tank/anti-personnel submunitions, and mind-laying warheads of 18.3~22kg at standard range, or 26~28kg at reduced range.
The electrically powered launcher has four rows of 10 tubes mounted above each other on a rotating cradle assembly. The launch tubes have an elevation range of 0° to 55° and azimuth range of -102° to +102°. The truck is equipped with two hydraulically operated stabilizers at rear which are lowered in preparation for the rocket launch.
The rocket launcher can be operated in manual, semi-automatic, or automatic modes. The electrical firing system fires the rockets in either single or in salvo with 0.5 seconds interval. The launcher can be operated inside the driver’s cab or remotely outside the vehicle. The reloading rack located in front of the launcher can load the launcher in under 3 minutes. The truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated foldable canvas cover, which covers the launcher and the reloading rack when the truck is in travelling mode.
The vehicle is fitted with slope and gradient sensors, launcher elevation and azimuth sensors, as well as GPS and computerized fire control system to ensure higher firing accuracy.
 
Specifications

Max Range      : 30Km
Fire Power       : 20S for Full salvo
CEP                 : ?
In Service        : 325 produced.

 Variants

Type-90A (PHL-90A): The upgraded version of Type-90
Type-90B: The improved Type 90B was first revealed in 2004.

Picture

Type-90A (PHL-90A)

The upgraded version of Type-90. Artillery unit of the Type 90A combat vehicle is mounted on the modified mounting chassis of the Tiema XC2200 6×6 truck. In fact, this is a Chinese copy of the German 8-t truck Mercedes-Benz 2026. The combat vehicle has similar characteristics as the Type 90, except for the length (9700 mm), height (3200 mm), ford depth (700 mm) and turning radius (11 m). Type-90A able to fire unguided rockets, new computerized fire control, command post can lay and control Type 90A launchers units by remote control.
 
Improvement of the Type-90 A include the following
  • Capability to launch all kinds of 122mm caliber unguided rockets at a maximum range of 40Km, together with a blast and ignition head.
  • Installation of new fire control system, including a GPS System
  • High level of automation for the operators
  • Provision of guidance and control for multiple combat vehicles from the command and control vehicle.
 
Type 90B
 
Type 90B is an upgrade of the Type 90A. The 122 mm Type 90B multiple launch rocket system is a mobile fire support system for the destruction of a variety of targets by means of multiple barrages of up to 40 rockets at a time. The Type 90B is able to be in combat position, to fire and leave its firing position in less than 7 minutes. The Chinese-made Type 90B 122mm MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) is fully operational with the Peruvian army. In 2013, Peru has ordered 27 Type 90B MLRSs to China that was delivered in 2015.
 
The electrically powered launcher has four rows of 10 tubes of 122mm mounted above each other on a rotating cradle assembly at the rear of a 6x6 truck chassis. The launch tubes have an elevation range of 0° to 55° and azimuth range of -102° to +102°. A hydraulically operated collapsible awning is mounted over the rear deck for use as protection and camouflage. The truck is equipped with two hydraulically operated stabilisers at rear which are lowered in firing position. The electrical firing system fires the rockets either singly or in a salvo with 0.5 second between rounds. Firing is accomplished either inside the driver's cab or remotely outside the vehicle. The automatic reloading system consists of elevator, rack and feeder with three modes of control. 40 rockets can be loaded in less than 3 minutes. The launcher is controlled by the computer through man/machine interaction.
 
The Type 90B MLRS fires 122mm fin-stabilized rockets and use a composite solid propellant. The rockets can reach a range from 20 to 40 km depending on the rocket type. These rockets can be equipped with the following warhead types: standard High Explosive (HE), High-efficiency HE containing steel balls for greater fragmentation effect, High-efficiency HE Incendiary (HEI), Cargo containing anti-personnel/anti-tank sub-munitions, Mine containing anti-tank mines. The rockets can also be launched by other 122 mm multiple rocket systems.
 
Type 90B is a modern design, mounting the launcher on the North-Benz 2629 truck, a 6 x 6 configuration vehicle. The truck is fitted with a forward control type cab. The Type 90B features an automatic operating and laying system which is composed of a mini-computer, a launcher direction finder/display, longitudinal and transversal slope and gradient sensors, launcher assembly elevation and traverse position sensors, and a special vehicle-launcher power interface. Greater accuracy is ensured by the installation of a new computerized fire control system which includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) and a north-seeking gyro. A communications link and interface to the battalion command vehicle is provided. The truck can run at a maximum speed of 85 km/h with a maximum road range of 800 km.

A typical Type 90B battalion would consist of one battalion command vehicle based on a North-Benz 1929 (4 x 4) chassis, three reconnaissance vehicles based on a WM551A 6x6 wheeled armoured personnel carrier, one meteorological radar, one mechanical maintenance vehicle, one electronic maintenance vehicle and three batteries, each of which has one battery command vehicle, six rocket launchers and six rocket resupply vehicles.
 
The electric firing system fires the unguided rockets, either separately or in a salvo with 0.5 seconds between rounds. The system comprises an electrical ignition device, remote release device and ignition contact and cables. Triggering can be done either from the driver's cab or remotely outside the vehicle.
The fin stabilized rockets used are of the 122mm caliber extended range compound, they use solid propellant and full details thereof are given in a separate entry. These rockets can be launched by multiple 122mm rocket systems from other countries such as those made by countries like Egypt and Russia.  The automatic loading system consists of elevator, rack and feeder. The rocket loading can be done automatically, by button operation in the driver's cabin, or manually by external operations. The loading mechanism can be rotated 90 °. Automatic loading of the launcher takes less than 3 minutes. A rocket positioning system is monitored in the driver's cabin, the state of the weapons after loading or firing, after visualization of the firing camera.
 
Specifications

Max range       : 40Km
Rate of Fire     : Full salvo in 20S
CEP                 :?
In Service        : Unknown Numbers

Picture
Type-90B


PHL-11
 
PHL-11 is a wheeled multiple rocket launch system based on export-orientated SR-4. People's Liberation Army adopted SR-4 in 2011, the vehicle received designation PHL-11. It shares the same modular 122 mm rocket pod configuration on that of SR-4. In 2012 Thailand ordered 4 of these artillery rocket systems. These were delivered in 2013.
 
The main role of this artillery system is to engage area targets, such as concentration of troops and equipment, airfields, command posts, and other important targets.
Instead of a permanent package of guides, the design of the artillery unit includes replaceable transport and launching containers (TLC). Four rows of five tubular guides in each are configured as guides for each PIC. It fires 122 mm artillery rockets. These rockets were originally developed for the Soviet BM-21 Grad and are widely used around the world. Rockets with various warheads are available, including HE-FRAG, smoke, incendiary and illumination. Also there are cluster warheads with anti-tank or anti-personnel submunitions. Maximum range of fire with newly developed rockets is up to 50 km.
PHL-11 has a brief reaction and redeployment time. Similar artillery rocket systems are often used for shoot-and-scoot type attacks. Once all the rockets are launched the launcher vehicle leaves its firing position in order to avoid counter-battery fire.
The launcher is based on Shaanxi SX2190KA 6x6 heavy-duty military truck. This truck is in service with the Chinese army. Each launcher vehicle is escorted by associated reloading vehicle. It is based on Shaanxi 8x8 military truck and is fitted with a crane. It carries pods with reload rockets and reloads the launcher vehicles. It seems that in case of emergency the rocket pods can be reloaded manually by the crew. Reloading usually takes place remotely from firing position in order to avoid counter-battery fire.   Normally launcher vehicles operate in batteries, however each vehicle can also operate autonomously. Transport and charging machines are used to transport the transport and charging containers. The recharging time of the combat vehicle is about 10 minutes.
 
The combat vehicle's fire control system has been modernized. In particular, it is reported that it is possible to select the type of ammunition used by voice command. When firing, the side windows of the chassis cab can be covered with folding armor shields
Two versions of projectiles equipped with a gas-dynamic pulsed trajectory correction system unit are known. The version of the guided missile with aerodynamic rudders, presented at AirShow China 2014, is made according to the "duck" scheme.  To improve accuracy, the guided missile is supposedly equipped with a satellite navigation system.

Specifications
​

Max Range      : 50Km
Fire power       : Full Salvo in 20S
CEP                 : 30m?
In Service        : ~375


PHZ-11
 
PHZ-11 is a 122mm Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) on tracked chassis. This is in service with the PLA, Western Theater Command. PHZ-11 shares the same modular 122 mm rocket pod configuration on PHL-11; however the support platform is based on the tracked chassis of PLZ-05 and PGZ-09.
 
The PHZ-11 could be operated by a crew of three including a driver, gunner, and commander, all of whom are seated in the fully enclosed cab at the front of the vehicle. This is protected against the firing of small arms and artillery shell fragments by aluminum armor. All the firing operations can be performed from inside of the crew cabin. The vehicle could be equipped with a land navigation system (LNS) and a computerized Fire-Control System (FCS), which allows for autonomous operation with target information being transmitted to the launcher from the battery command post.
The PHZ-11 is fitted with two pods of 20 launchers for 122mm rockets arranged in four rows of five tubes each mounted on a power operated turntable. After the rockets are fired, a dedicated reloading vehicle with a crane unloads the empty modules and places new ones directly on the mount. It can fire different types of unguided solid propellant 122 mm rockets including mine laying, fuel-air explosive, HE High Explosive, steel ball HE, and steel ball HE incendiary with a range from 15 km to 30 km.
The PHZ-11 needs only a few minutes to be ready to fire and carry out a fire mission and rapidly to come out of action. Once the 122 mm rockets have been fired the vehicle can rapidly move to another position to avoid counter-battery fire. The PZH-11 was developed based on a modular design offering the possibility to fire rockets of different calibers as the mounting points are common to rocket modules of different calibers including 220 mm and 300 mm.
​
Specifications
Max Range      : 30Km
Fire Power       : Full salvo in 20S?
CEP                 : 20-30m?
In Service        : ~100

Picture
PHZ-11

SY-300 – strategic MLRS

SY-300 is a development of WS-2/3, with SY standing for Shen Ying (meaning Divine Eagle), designed after the 4th Academy and the 9th Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) were merged to form a new 4th Academy. It was first unveiled at the 2008 Zhuhai Airshow The SY-300 is described as a precision strike rocket system; canard guidance vanes can be seen near the nose of the rocket, and the missile is stated to have GPS/INS guidance
 
The main difference between the SY300 and its WS-2/3 predecessor is that for WS-2/3, the control section of the forward control surfaces and the warhead are integrated into a single unit, but they are separated in SY-300. This design difference enables the guidance system of SY300 to be rapidly changed in the field by soldiers, by simply replacing the guidance system with a dummy weight, when SY-300 needs to be used as an unguided rocket. Each vehicle can carry either six or twelve SY300 rockets.
These have a range of up to 130 km. The SY-300 rockets are accurate out to 200 meters using inertial guidance system, and out to 50 meters using inertial guidance system with Baidu satellite navigation system update. The rocket can carry High Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), cluster rockets with scatterable anti-tank or anti-personnel mines, and even chemical warheads.
SY-300 did not win the Chinese military's selection of a new generation of long-range rockets.

Picture
Picture


SY-400 – strategic MLRS

SY-400 is a further development of SY-300, that can carry either two short-range ballistic missiles BP-12A with range of 400 km or twelve 300 mm PHL-03 rockets. As a low cost alternative to more expensive ballistic missiles.
SY-400 first unveiled at the 2008 Zhuhai Airshow. The system is mainly intended for for export. Eight PHL-03 rockets are housed on a single launcher, four containers across and two deep or two ballistic missile on an 8 x 8 WS-2400 series. SY-400 Missiles are factory-fitted into these containers and can be stored for years and do not require additional maintenance. Missiles are launched vertically. The SY-400 can use different types of warheads such as HE, fragment, submunition and EMP payload. SY-400 TEL vehicle can switch between different caliber rockets, by carrying two 400km ranged BP-12A short ranged ballistic missiles, or 12 300mm PHL-03 heavy rockets.
The SY-400 is comparable to Russia’s Iskander-E SRBM. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army classifies the system as precision rocket artillery. SY-400 rocket uses mid body strakes, rear mounted fins and thrust vectoring to gain high maneuverability, just like a surface to air missile, to hit ground targets despite its high supersonic speed. The missile has a two way datalink between the missile and launch vehicle, and is guided by satellite and inertial navigation system. The missiles are fitted with GPS/INS guidance system. They are steered to the intended target in the initial flight phase by four control surfaces and stabilizing fins. Missile uses low lowering rate to extend the range. Multiple missiles can be aimed at different targets.
Each transport erector launch (TEL) vehicle can carry 8 SY-400 rockets, 10 TEL vehicles compose a battalion, along with fire control, scout and reloading vehicle. The multipurpose TELs can use the crane equipped reloading trucks to resupply quickly by winching in new rocket magazines.
 
Specifications
​

Max Range      : 400Km
CEP                 : 50M
Fire Power       : ?
In Service        : Unknown numbers 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Next part will cover Indian Artillery systems
0 Comments

India Vs China military Balance- Large Calibre artillery – Part-1 Chinese Howitzers

6/2/2021

0 Comments

 

Artillery generally refers to large-caliber weaponry that are operated by a crew, as opposed to small arms or weaponry carried and fired by individual troops. Such heavy artillery rocket systems are extremely effective against large area targets, such as concentration of troops or armored vehicles, artillery and air defense batteries, airfields, command posts, ammunition depots, support facilities and other important military targets.
Artillery types can be categorized in several ways, for example by type or size of weapon or ordnance, by role or by organizational arrangements.
Artillery is usually ranked as light, medium, or heavy. According to one classification Light refers to projectiles up to 105mm for close support of ground troops, medium at 106 – 155mm for bombardment, and heavy, with projectiles over 155mm for attacking rear installations.
 
Artillery is also classified according to the method of ground transportation, either towed or self-propelled. Towed artillery is mounted on carriages and is designed to be towed behind other vehicles. Self-propelled artillery is mounted on tracked vehicles, and can move between firing positions under its’ own power. Towed artillery is generally lighter than self-propelled, but obviously requires a separate vehicle to tow it. Self-propelled artillery can be quicker to reposition to a new firing position.
 
Types of artillery include
 
Guns:  Which fires at a high muzzle velocity through relatively long barrels and with a flat trajectory. Examples would be antiaircraft or antitank guns.
 
Mortars: Generally small tactical munitions fired from short tubes. Mortars are fired with a high trajectory and have a relatively short range.
 
Howitzers: Artillery weapons that have relatively short barrels, lower muzzle velocities, and more parabolic trajectories.
 
Multiple-launch rocket system:  capable of engaging surface targets by delivering primarily indirect fire, with a calibre of 75 millimetres and above.
​
In this article we are considering only Howitzers and Multiple Launch Rocket Systems.

Picture
PCL-09 during a live fire exercise in Tibet september-2018

Fundamentals of Artillery
 
There are some fundamental principles involved in operating artillery. The following are five basic requirements for achieving accurate artillery fire. The five basic requirements are:
 
Target Location and Size: Establishing the range from the artillery weapons to the target requires accurate and timely detection, identification, and location of ground targets. Determining the appropriate time and type of attack requires that the target size (radius or other dimensions), makeup (i.e., troops, vehicles, bunker, etc), and the direction and speed of movement be considered. 
 
Firing Unit Location: Accurate aiming to the target requires accurately knowing artillery firing unit locations. There are different ways to determine the firing unit location, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) or site surveys. In addition to determining an accurate location for the firing unit, each howitzer in the firing unit must also be precisely positioned to make sure each projectile goes exactly where it was intended. One term that is prevalent in almost all weapon firing discussions is a mill radian – usually referred to as a “mil.” A mil is a measure of angle. Using a circle of 360 degrees does not provide enough precision, therefore artillery computations assume a complete circle is broken into 6400 mils. Pointing a howitzer requires two angle commands (given in mils): azimuth (horizontal direction measured from north) and elevation (vertical angle measured from level). In a practical sense, one mil of elevation or azimuth works out to be a change of one meter at a range of 1000 meters.
 
Weapon and Ammunition Information: The actual performance of the weapon is measured by the weapon muzzle velocity (velocity with which the projectile leaves the muzzle of the tube) for a projectile-propellant combination. The firing battery can measure the achieved muzzle velocity of a weapon and correct it for nonstandard projectile weight and propellant temperature. A howitzer can fire different types of projectiles, depending upon the target, and each projectile can be fired with different propellant loads. The combinations can put different stresses on the artillery piece, which must be factored into the design, operation, and maintenance of the artillery system.
 
Meteorological Information: The effects of weather on the projectile in flight must be considered, and firing data must compensate for those effects. 
 
Computational Procedures: The computation of firing data must be accurate. Manual and automated techniques are designed to achieve accurate and timely delivery of fire.
 
If these five requirements are met, the firing battery will be able to deliver accurate and timely fires in support of the ground troops. If the five requirements for accurate predicted fire cannot be met, changes can be made to compensate for nonstandard conditions.
 
 
Chinese Artillery
 
China is a world leader in Artillery systems. Chinese artillery systems are world class and outperform all other systems in terms of range. China is one of the largest exporters of self-propelled artillery. We will give details about the Chinese artillery regiments and units near Indian border at the conclusion part. 


Chinese Howitzers
 
PL-54-1(Type 54-1) 
​

The NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation) 122 mm howitzer Type 54-1 is the Chinese version of the Russian 122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30). It is virtually identical to the original apart from some small manufacturing expedients. its improved design Type 54-1  finalized in 1966. The 122 mm Type 54-1 howitzer is fitted with a Type 58 panoramic sight weighing 1.3 kg (with a magnification of ×3.7 and a 10° field of view) and a collimator sight Type 58 (with a 10° 40' field of view).
The Type 54-1 uses a variable nine-charge propellant system and can fire at least four types of projectile: HE, smoke, illuminating and incendiary. No details are available regarding the incendiary projectile and it is thought to be little used.
A leaflet shell containing 1.1 kg of leaflets is also used. A 122 mm cargo round with six layers of HEAT bomblets has been developed to the prototype stage. These HEAT bomblets are dispensed over the target area and are highly effective against the upper surfaces of tanks and other armoured vehicles, as well as soft skinned vehicles and troops in the open.
The upper part, mount and 122 mm weapon are also used in the NORINCO 122 mm Type 70 and Type 70-1 self-propelled artillery system that are based on a full-tracked chassis. These are only used by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Production was completed many years ago and they were never exported.

Specifications
Max range       : 12Km
Rate of Fire     : 5-6 Rpm
In Service        : 700- PL-54-1 & 800-PL-54-D1 in reserve
​
Variants
PL-54-1 & PL-54-D1: improved variants of the PL-54.

Picture
M-30
Picture
PL-54

PL-66( Model 1955, D-20, Type-66)

The PL-66 is a 152 mm field howitzer. It is a license-produced version of the Soviet D-20 howitzer that was developed during the early 1950s. It is unknown if this howitzer is still in production. Though this artillery system is still widely used in China and was exported to some countries.
The PL-66 has 152 mm /L26 ordnance. This artillery system is capable of direct and indirect firing. It is compatible with all types of ammunition, developed for the Soviet D-20, including fragmentation, High-Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), High Explosive (HE), concrete-busting, and illumination rounds. China also developed a number of indigenous projectiles for this howitzer, including rocket-assisted projectiles. The Soviet D-20 was even capable of launching nuclear rounds, however it is unknown if China uses any. 
Maximum range of fire is 17.4 km with a standard HE-FRAG projectile and 22 km with indigenous rocket-assisted projectile. Range is further increased on the Type 66-1. The HE round penetrates 250 mm steel plate at a range of 3 km. The PL-66 is also capable of launching 152 mm laser-guided projectiles, based on Russian Krasnopol laser-guided projectile technology. China obtained this technology and production license from Russia in the late 1990s. This laser guided projectile has a range of 20-25 km and can engage armored targets, buildings, bunkers, field fortifications, warships, and other targets. These shells can track targets after they are fired, making them as accurate as missiles. Electromagnetic jamming shells and flare shells are also included in its arsenal. PL-66 can also fire artillery reconnaissance artillery which gives a unique advantage, which is much cheaper than drone, and it does not need to wait for the drone to reconnaissance. It can realize reconnaissance by relying on the artillery itself, so that it can preempt the enemy and quickly destroy the enemy position.
This artillery system is operated by a crew of 10 soldiers. In case of emergency it can be operated by a crew of 6, though with significantly reduced firing rate. Maximum rate of fire is 5-6 rounds per minute. It takes around 3 minutes to emplace this artillery piece from traveling order. It takes around 2-3 minutes to leave the firing position.
 
PL 66 has a two-cylinder recoil mechanism above the tube, and the gun tube is prominently stepped, with a semi-automatic, vertically-sliding, wedge breech block. The circular firing jack and caster wheels make it possible to rotate the whole gun swiftly through up to 360 degrees. It also has direct fire sights for both day and night and is capable of engaging armored targets with direct fire. The crew is protected by a steel shield. It can be towed by truck or tractor.
PLA has developed new tactics and equipment to let this old weapon shine even after 50 years of practical deployment. Fully manually operated, the 152 millimeter PL 66 howitzer is inexpensive compared to the modern Chinese 155 millimeter self-propelled howitzers, which has a similar caliber but is highly automated. PL-66 is fully manual; it is slower than the automatic ones, but it gives resistant to electromagnetic jamming. An advanced self-propelled howitzer often uses electronic systems to calculate trajectories, and the weapon cannot do much if these devices become jammed, the old howitzer's manual system is more reliable in these circumstances. The PLA plans to further revamp this old weaponry to make it more lethal in modern warfare.
The PL-66 was succeeded by a PLL-01 155 mm/L52 towed howitzer.
 
Specifications
Maximum rate of fire  : 5-6 rounds/Min
Maximum Range         : 17 – 25Km
In Service                    : ~ 500
 
Variants

Type 66:  Licensed version of the Soviet D-20
Type 66-1:  Improved version of the PL-66.
Type 83:  SPH with a modified ordnance of the PL-66 with an added semi-automatic loader and fume extractor. First introduced in the mid-1980s.
APU-66-152   :  Latest version of the PL-66, fitted with auxiliary power unit. This allows self-deploying over short distances. Also auxiliary power unit aids in emplacement and displacement. This artillery system was first publicly revealed in 2018.

A truck-mounted version of the PL-66. It uses the same light armored chassis with 6x6 configuration as the SH-2 and SH-5 artillery systems. This truck-mounted howitzer was first publicly revealed in 2018, alongside the APU-66-152.

Picture


PL-59 (Type-59)

The Type 59 is a Chinese copy of the Soviet M-46 130mm towed field gun with some minor modifications. The improved variant Type 59-I with a lighter combat weight has been in service with the PLA ground forces as a standard long-range indirect artillery weapon since 1970.
The gun received its design certificate in 1959 and was produced in limited numbers for the PLA in the 1960s. In 1970, the manufacturer introduced an improved variant known as Type 59-I. This version features a modified two-wheel carriage originally developed for the Type 60 122mm towed gun. The Type 59-I entered service with the PLA in the early 1970s.
A significant number of the Type 59-I is still in service with the PLA. The PLA is considering replacing the Type 59-I and a number of other artillery weapons (Type 60 122mm towed gun, Type 66 152mm towed gun-howitzer, and Type 83 152mm towed gun) with the more capable PLL01 155mm/45-calibre towed gun-howitzer to simplify the logistic supply.
A self-propelled version based on a full track chassis was developed but never entered batch production.
The Type 59 and Type 59-I fire high-explosive projectile capable of penetrating 250mm of armour set at 0 degree at a range of 1.5Km. The gun fires HE rounds at a rate of 7~8 rounds/min (8~10 rounds/min for Type 59-I), with a maximum range of 27km. The gun can also fire illuminating rounds with a maximum range of 25km.
NORINCO developed a range of new types of 130mm rounds for the Type 59-I in the 1980s/90s, including:
  • 30km-range Extended-Range HE
  • 37km-range Base Bleed HE
  • 37km-range Rocket Extended-Range HE
  • 32km-range Extended-Range Full-Bore HE (ERFB/HE)
  • 27.5km-range High-Explosive Incendiary
  • 25km-range blasting (with 10,000 steel balls and prefabricated fragments)
  • 25km-range antitank submunition (with 35 bullets)
  • 25km-range smoke round
 
Specifications
Range              : 25-37
Rate of fire      : 9 rounds/min
In Service        : ~234(PL-59-1)
 
Variants
 
PL-59-1: An improved version. Currently these systems are replacing with PCL-181

Picture
PL-59-1


PLZ-83 (Type 83)

The Type 83 self-propelled gun-howitzer was developed by NORINCO. The Type 83 is a modified copy of the Soviet 2S3 Akatsiya SPH. The first prototype was completed in 1980. Production of the Type 83 began in 1983 and ceased in 1990.The Type 83 is armed with a modified PL-66 152 mm towed gun-howitzer. The Type 83 was additionally fitted with a semi-automatic loader and fume extractor. This artillery system fires all types of ammunition developed for the PL-66 gun-howitzer, however it usually carries only HE-FRAG and smoke rounds. Maximum range of fire is 17.2 km with a standard HE-FRAG projectile and 22 km with indigenous rocket-assisted projectile. A total of 30 rounds are carried. Maximum rate of fire is 4 rounds per minute. Ammunition is loaded through rear or side hatches.
 
The Type 83 is assumed to be capable of firing 152 mm laser-guided projectiles. China obtained this technology and production license from Russia in the late 1990s. This laser-guided projectile has a range of up to 20 km. Eventually China developed its own laser-guided projectiles.
 
PLZ-83 replaced in service the ageing Type 70 130 mm artillery rocket systems. Type 83 replaced with more capable PLZ-05. PLZ-83 decommissioned and few units are in reserve.
 
Specifications
Range              : 16Km
Rate of Fire     : 8Rpm
In Service        : Decommissioned, PLZ-83A-200
 
Variants
Type-89: it is a multiple launch rocket system. It is based on the same tracked armored chassis. This artillery rocket system was revealed in 1999. It is speculated that this system entered service in the late 1990s and was not offered for export.  
PLZ-83A: an upgraded version with improved communications system and updated fire control system.
​
Armored engineering vehicle & Armored earthmover.

Picture
Type-83 firing


PLZ-89(Type-89, 2S1)

The Type 89 / PLZ-89 is a 122 mm self-propelled howitzer. PLZ-89 was first presented to the public during the 1999 statehood military parade. Type 89 self-propelled howitzers, was developed in the late 1980s. It was a Chinese attempt to develop an autochthonous SPH with similar capabilities as the Soviet 2S1 Gvosdika to replace the Type 85 and Type 70 122 mm SPH . Type 89 is currently in use by the Chinese Army and Marines .
Type 89 SPH is armed with a 122 mm / L32 howitzer. It is a variant of the towed type 86 (W-86), which in turn is a copy of the Soviet towed howitzer D-30. The pistol for PLZ-89 is mounted on a crawler chassis developed from a Type 77 amphibious armored personnel carrier. The PLZ-89 carries 40 bullets inside the turret and can fire on all types of 122 mm Chinese and Russian bullets. The pistol is equipped with a semi-automatic cartridge with a maximum firing rate of 6 ~ 8 rounds / min, and the precision of the fire is achieved by a digital fire control system and a roof electro-optical sight for day and night operations. PLZ-89 combat weight is 20 tons, crew of 5 people. Crew members are protected by collective anti-NBC systems and automatic fire extinguishing . The howitzer can swim with the help of certain floating devices. Its water propulsion speed of 6 km/h. The vehicle is powered by a 12V150L12 diesel engine, which develops 450 hp. 
​
In terms of handling, PLZ-89 equipped with a new hydraulic control unit, making driving more convenient, energy, steering machine can be freely shifted; hydraulic shift mechanism and synchronization allows shifting light and easy; pneumatic suspension makes driving more artillery smooth, track adjuster for quick and easy adjustment of shoe elastic.
​
Specifications

Max Range      : 21Km
Rate of Fire     : 6-8 Rpm
In Service        : ~500

Variants
 
SH-3: is an improved version of the Type 89, developed for export. It offers greater mobility, improved fire control system and delivers greater firepower than the Type 89.
PLZ-07: is a successor of the Type 89. It utilizes a similar 122 mm howitzer, but has a new tracked chassis. It has greater mobility, improved fire control system and delivers greater firepower than its predecessor.
PLZ-07B: Amphibious version of PLZ-07

Picture
Picture

PLL-01(W88, W890, Type-89, WA-021, WAC-21)
 
The PLL01 is a heavy gun-howitzer introduced in 1987. It was the first PLA artillery system to have adopted the Western-standard 155mm calibre instead of the Soviet/Russian standard 152mm calibre. The weapon was briefly displayed to the public during the 1999 military parade.
China obtained the Austrian 155 mm howitzer technology, alongside with technology of long-range ammunition. The PLL01 was based on the Austrian GHN-45, which itself was derived from the Canadian GC-45 howitzer designed by Dr Gerald Bull’s Space Research Corporation in the 1970s. The GC-45 combines a number of features to produce what is generally considered the best field artillery in the world. Its unique 155mm/45-calibre gun design has been adopted by a number of artillery systems around the world, including the famous South African G5 howitzer.
The PRC obtained the Austrian GHN-45 howitzer technology in the 1980s when it formed a temporary coalition with Western countries against the Soviet Union. The technology was used to develop the PRC’s own version of the 155 mm/45-calibre howitzers known as W88. The howitzer was promoted to the export market under the designation WA021/WAC-21, and later adopted by the PLA under the designation PLL01. The weapon was also sometimes referred to as the W89 or Type 89. The PLL01 design was also used on the PLZ45 self-propelled gun-howitzer system.
Only around 50-150 of these artillery systems were made. Eventually this howitzer evolved into a whole series of Chinese artillery systems.
PLL-01 uses Extended Range, Full Bore (EFRB) ammunition, which has a much longer range than typical howitzer ammunition, thanks to improved aerodynamics. The PLL-01 can also fire all standard NATO 155 mm ammunition. Though the maximum range with a standard M107 HE round is 24 km. Maximum range of fire with long-range ammunition is much greater. The EFRB ammunition has a range of 30 km. It is the same as rocket-assisted ammunition fired from a 155 mm/L39 weapon, except that the ERFB has no rocket booster. The EFRB-BB ammunition has a range of 39 km and again, this is not a rocket-assisted projectile. In 2004 NORINCO announced that it developed a 155 mm extended-range projectile with a maximum range of 50 km. This howitzer fires HE, HE-FRAG, illumination, smoke, white phosphorus, and cargo rounds. This artillery system is also capable of firing precision guided munitions. In the late 1990s China obtained a Russian Krasnopol laser-guided projectile technology and production license. Eventually China successfully developed its own laser-guided projectiles. These projectiles have a maximum range of 20-25 km.
 
The gun-howitzer is constructed using alloy steel. The muzzle velocity (using ERFB-BB projectile) is 903m/s. The PLL01 is able to deliver up to 4 rounds per minute under intense firing conditions and is able to provide a sustained rate of fire of 2 rounds per minute. The howitzer is capable of both direct (line of sight) and indirect (out of the line of sight) firing.
The PLL01 is fitted with a hydraulic power pack for operation of the load assist systems, for aiming and for opening/closing the carriage. When in travelling mode, the howitzer barrel is folded back 180 degree to reduce the total length of the howitzer.

Specifications
Max Range      : 50Km
Rate of Fire     : 2-4 Rpm
In Service        : ~36
 
Variants
 
AH-1: an improved version of the PLL-01. It has a more powerful auxiliary power unit, consisting of an air-cooled diesel engine, developing 110 hp. This howitzer has a maximum auto-propulsion speed of 20 km/h. reportedly; the AH-1 is in service with Ethiopia.
PLZ-45
AH-2:  52-caliber version of the AH-1. It has a longer range of fire.
SH-1: Chinese truck-mounted howitzer consisting 6x6 truck with an armored cab, carrying the ordnance of the AH-2 howitzer. It is modeled after a French CAESAR. This artillery system was developed for export. The SH-1 is operated by Myanmar, Pakistan.
PLZ-05: a self-propelled howitzer, which utilized a modified version of the AH-2 towed howitzer, based on a traced armored chassis. It mounts a 155 mm/L52 howitzer and has an automatic ammunition loading system.
FGT-203: A 203 mm towed howitzer. It uses the same carriage as the PLL-01. This artillery system was developed in cooperation with Space Research International of Belgium and was a Chinese version of the FGH-203. Prototypes were completed in 1994. This artillery system had a range of up to 50 km. However this 203 mm howitzer never reached mass production.
 
In 2001, a truck-mounted variant of the 155mm gun-howitzer system was introduced. The design did not enter production; with only a technical demonstrate sample produced.

Picture

PLZ-45(Type-88)
​

The PLZ-45 is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer for the export market. It is based on Norinco's Type 89 (PLL-01) 155mm/45-calibre towed gun-howitzer.  The PLZ45 was developed as a replacement for the aging Type 83 howitzer. Eventually the Chinese armed forces settled on the PLZ-05, which is a further development of the PLZ-45.
The PLZ-45 did not enter service with the PLA primarily because their existing artillery was all based on Soviet-standard 152 mm ammunition. However, two major batches of PLZ-45s were sold to the Kuwaiti and to Saudi Arabia.
China may have around 10 PLZ-45 in its inventory
 
Variant
 
PLZ-52: Fitted with 152 mm caliber barrel

Picture

PLL-05 (Type 05)

The PLL-05 120mm self-propelled mortar-howitzer system is one of the wheeled APC-mounted light artillery systems fielded by the PLA. The artillery system was initially introduced in mid-2001 for the export market, but failed to attract any buyer. A modified variant was later adopted by the PLA under the designation PLL-05, and entered service with the 127th Light Mechanized Infantry Division of the 54th Group Army in the Jinan Military Region in early 2008.
The artillery system features a 120mm gun, which combines the features of the mortar and the howitzer. The artillery fires projectiles at both short-range, high-arcing ballistic trajectories (maximum 80°) and longer-range, less steep ballistic trajectories for indirect fire.
The PLL05’s main armament is a 120mm gun,, which has an elevation range of -4°~+80°, and an azimuth range of 360° (in contrast to the +/-35° of the 2S23). The artillery system has a maximum range of 8.8km when firing the howitzer projectile, and 7.1km when firing the mortar projectile. The artillery could also fire the rocket-assisted mortar projectile, which has a maximum range of 12.8km. PLL05 is equipped with a semi-automatic loader, which gives a rate of fire of 6~8 rounds/minute (howitzer projectile), 10 rounds/minute (mortar projectile), and 4~6 rounds/minute (HE-AT projectile). The turret is fitted with a cylinder-shape electro-optical device, which may allow the use of smart ammunitions like the Russian KBP Gran laser-guided mortar round. The vehicle carries 36 rounds inside the turret and hull.
Fire accuracy is attained by a fire-control system, which allows three aiming methods: automatic, semi-automatic, and manual. Secondary weapon includes a Type 85 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the commander copula. There are two sets of smoke grenade launchers in group of three, with one fitted on each side of the turret. A crew of four (commander, driver, gunner, and loader) are protected inside the hull with collective NBC protection system.
The PLL05 uses a 6X6 wheeled chassis derived from the ZSL92/WZ551 armoured personnel carrier (APC). The combat weight is 16.5 tonnes, enabling the vehicle to be airlifted by a Y-8-sized transport aircraft. The vehicle is powered by a BF8L413F 4-stroke, 8-cylinder, turbo-charged, air-cooled diesel engine, which produces a standard power of 235kW (320hp) at 2,500rpm. The vehicle is capable of a maximum speed of 85km/h on paved road and 8km/h when afloat. Two propellers are fitted at the rear of the vehicle for swimming.

Specifications
Max range       : 13Km
Rate of Fire     : 6-8 Rpm
In Service        : ~450

Picture

PLZ-05 (Type 05)
 
China PLZ-05 self-propelled howitzer is a long-tube tracked self-propelled gun with a diameter of 155mm. It is one of the main artillery equipment developed by China. Two versions of the same 155 mm howitzer were initially developed, the PLZ-05 with a 54 caliber and the PLZ04 with a more standard 52 caliber. PLZ 04, has a slightly (4 percent) longer barrel than the PLZ 05.
The PLZ-05 was adopted by Chinese army in 2008 to replace the older Type 83 152 mm self-propelled howitzer. The gun was developed in the 1990s and developed from the PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer. PLZ-05 is a modern artillery system with which China has reached the world's advanced level.
The PLZ-05 carries 30 rounds of 155mm ammo, with 24 ready to be used by the autoloader. Max rate of fire (for a few minutes) is ten rounds a minute. Max range of the howitzer is 50 kilometers (with rocket assisted shells). Normal shells are got about 39 kilometers and laser guided shells for 20 kilometers. All three of these systems use a lot of technology from the Russians. The maximum range was 53 km. Recently PLZ-05 is upgraded to fire guided rounds to a maximum range of 100KM
PLZ-05 self-propelled howitzer weighs 35 tons, from 5 person operation; the turret houses a fully automated loading system which is derived from the Russian 2S19 Msta. The crew of five consists of a commander, driver, gunner and two loaders.  The 155mm barrel is good for about 2,500 rounds.
PLZ-05 howitzer has some armor protection. The advanced crawler chassis can be used without preparation directly into the battle, and after the completion of the shooting, quickly evacuate the launch position to avoid the enemy's anti-artillery counter-battery fire.
PLZ-05 has a high fire response speed and advanced fire control command and operation automation level. It is the new type of informationized artillery with the largest caliber and the longest range in China. It has advanced fire control system, and is equipped with first-speed radar and a satellite positioning system, which can achieve single-shot operations and multiple shots at the same time. The performance indices of the PLZ05 155mm self-propelled howitzer have reached the international first-class level.
The type of artillery chassis used in Type 05 has been comprehensively improved. PLZ-05 adopts the advanced 540KW class ZZ8V-150HB series water-cooled diesel engine and CH700 series crawler-type integrated transmission. There are four smoke bomb launchers on each side of the front of the turret, and a direct sight of the gunner is mounted on the left side of the turret. In an emergency, the gun can be operated for direct aiming. The top of the turret is equipped with a digital artillery perimeter sight and a long-sighted night vision mirror. The addition of the captain's mirror is also a highlight of the 05-type artillery, effectively improving the command and observation ability of the artillery captain and the control of the battlefield environment.
Each of PLZ-05 howitzer battalion consists of three batteries; each battery is equipped with six howitzers each. In addition, each unit also has a maintenance and equipment - technical support company, and to improve the accuracy of conventional munitions for shooting fire control radar system.
PLZ-05 is compatible with all standard 155 mm rounds, including: ERFB/HE, ERFB-BB/HE, ERFB-BB/Cargo, ERFB/Smoke, ERFB/ILL, and ERFB/WP.

Specifications
Max Range: 100Km with (WS-35 Rocket)
Max Rate of fire:  10 Rpm
In service:  ~320

Variants

PLZ-05

PLZ-05A (PLZ-52): An export variant similar in appearance to the PLZ-45, but based on a slightly different hull. Having a gross vehicle weight of 43 tonnes, the PLZ-52 features a new power pack, which consists of a diesel engine developing 1,000 hp at 2,300 rpm coupled to a fully automatic transmission.

PLZ-04: Self-propelled howitzer with a 54 caliber barrel and apparently offered for export.


Picture
Picture

PLZ-52(PLZ-05A)
 
PLZ-52 is a new Chinese self-propelled howitzer. It is similar in appearance to the PLZ-45, however it packs a heavier punch. It was first unveiled in 2014. Currently it is among the most capable artillery systems in the world. However the PLZ-52 is aimed mainly at export customers, rather than Chinese army. The new PLZ-52 has a modified hull and turret. This artillery system is fitted with a 155 mm/L52 howitzer and uses a modular charge system. This howitzer is capable of firing a full range of Chinese 155 mm munitions. Range of a standard High-Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG) projectile is around 30 km and around 40 km of extended-range projectile. Maximum range of fire is 53 km with rocket-assisted projectile. It has been reported that China developed a GPS-guided 155 mm projectile. It was claimed that this projectile has a whooping maximum range of 100 km and accuracy of 40 m.
 
The projectiles include killing explosives, flares, smoke bombs, submunitions, yellow phosphorus bombs, GS-1 end-sensitive bombs, GP-1, GP-6 laser-guided bombs. Among them, the GS-1 terminal sensitive bomb is equipped with 2-3 end-sensitive bombs, and the terminal-sensitive bomb is equipped with a search sensor, which can automatically search for attacking armor targets, and is a weapon for long-distance anti-armor. The GP-6 Laser Terminal Guided Projectile is the newest laser semi-active terminal guided projectile in China. It can attack fixed targets and moving targets with a speed of no more than 36 km/h, with a first hit probability of 90%.
This artillery system has an automatic ammunition and charge loading system. Maximum rate of fire is around 8 to 10 rounds per minute. The PLZ-52 is capable of Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) firing. It can launch up to 4 rounds that would hit the same target simultaneously. Secondary armament consists of a 12.7 mm machine gun, mounted on top of the roof. The PLZ-52 is operated by a crew of around 4 to 5 soldiers. Armor of the PLZ-52 protects the crew against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems are fitted as standard.
This artillery system uses an armored tracked chassis, which is very similar to that of the PLZ-05. It is powered by a new diesel engine, developing 1 000 hp. Engine is located at the front of the hull. Vehicle is fitted with an automatic transmission system.
This self-propelled howitzer is supported by an associated ammunition resupply vehicle, which carries ammunition under armor on the battlefield. The resupply vehicle is based on the same tracked armored chassis and carries around 90 rounds of ammunition with associated charges though it has a slightly different design and ammunition delivery method, than resupply vehicles of PLZ-05 and PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzers. It resembles a South Korean K10 resupply vehicle of the K9 self-propelled howitzer. Automated ammunition delivery is around 8 rounds per minute.
A battery of PLZ-52 howitzers includes command post vehicle, forward observation vehicle, ammunition resupply vehicles, and maintenance vehicles. Also there are proposed some optional battery support vehicles, such as artillery locating and fire correction radar, meteorological radar and armored recovery vehicle.
 
Specifications
Max Range     : 53Km
Rate of Fire     : 8-10Rpm
In Service        : < 250

Picture
Picture

PL-96 (Type-96, D-30 / 2A18, Model 1963)


The PL-96 is a Chinese copy of the Soviet D-30 howitzer. It is also referred as the Type 96. It is a slightly improved version of the Type 86 howitzer.
This howitzer uses separate-loaded ammunition with projectiles and their charges. This howitzer fires High Explosive (HE), High Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), cargo, incendiary, smoke, illumination, and possibly other types of shells. The PCL-09 is compatible with all standard 122 mm ammunition of Russian D-30 howitzer. Maximum range of fire is 18 km using standard High Explosive (HE-FRAG) projectile, 21 km with extended-range projectile and 27 km with rocket assisted projectile. The PL-96 is also capable of firing 122 mm laser-guided projectiles. These are based on Russian Kitolov projectile technology.
 
This artillery system has a 3-leg mounting and is capable of 360° traverse. It is also capable of direct firing. It’s HE projectile penetrates up to 180 mm of steel armor. Also there are dedicated HEAT rounds that penetrate around 450-500 mm of steel armor. So this artillery system can defend against various approaching lightly armored vehicles.
The PL-96 is operated by a crew of 5. Maximum rate of fire is 6-8 rounds per minute.  This field howitzer is towed by a 6x6 truck. It is typically seen towed by Dongfeng EQ2102 or Shaanxi SX2150 trucks that also carry crew and ammunition. In travelling order this howitzer is towed by its muzzle. This howitzer can be rapidly emplaced or displaced. It takes only 1.5-2.5 minutes to prepare this artillery piece for firing from travelling order. Also it takes the same amount of time to leave the firing position.
  
Specifications
Max range       : 27Km
Rate of Fire     : 6-8rpm
In Service        : ~500

Variants
​

Type-89: A tracked 122 mm artillery system with the 122 mm ordnance. Type 89, also known as the PLZ89, was developed in late 1980s. Currently these are being replaced by the PLZ-07 and PLZ-07B self-propelled howitzers.
SH-2:  is another truck-mounted howitzer. It is based on a 6x6 light utility truck chassis and uses ordnance of the PL-96. This artillery system was first publicly revealed in 2007. It was aimed mainly at export customers. However it received no production orders.
PCL-09: is a truck-mounted howitzer. It is based on a Shaanxi 6x6 military truck and uses ordnance of the PL-96. This artillery system was adopted in around 2009 and is widely used by Chinese army.
PLL-09: is a self-propelled artillery system, which is based on a ZBL-09 Snow Leopard armored personnel carrier chassis with 8x8 configurations. This self-propelled howitzer is widely used by the China's army. A number of these systems are used by China's marines. It provides indirect fire support for rapid deployment brigades. The PLL-09 has good cross-country mobility and is capable of keeping pace with main battle tanks.
SH-4: is a recent truck-mounted artillery system, which utilizes modified ordnance of the PL-96 122 mm howitzer, based on a 4x4 military truck chassis with an armored cab.
 

Picture

PCL 09(CS/SH-1) 
​

The PCL-09 or CS/SH1 (Chinese export name) is a 122mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer designed and manufactured by Norinco. The PCL-09 is similar to the French Caesar 155 wheeled howitzer, and uses a wheeled 6×6 truck chassis with a Chinese-made 122mm howitzer PL-96 mounted at the rear part. It was developed in the 2000's as a cost-effective design to increase the mobility of existing units using the 122mm PL-96 towed howitzer. As such it replaces towed howitzers in use with infantry formations.  This vehicle is already in service with the Chinese armed forces.
The PCL-09 can fire at a maximum range of 22 km with a rate of fire of 8 rds/min and 27 km with rocket assisted projectile. The 122mm howitzer of the CS/SH1 can fire High Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), cargo, incendiary, smoke, illumination, and all standard 122 mm ammunition used by the Russian D-30 howitzer. It can be ready to fire in less than 90 seconds from traveling mode. PCL-09 has combat weight of less than 11.5 tons and can carry 24 rounds of ammunition, crew of 4 to 5 people, can achieve zero angles shooting, all guns height 2.95 m.
The PCL-09 is based on 6×6 Shaanxi truck chassis. A fully enclosed cab is mounted at the front of the vehicle and has individual seats for the crew of five. There are two doors on each side of the crew cabin and one hatch is available at the top right side. The PCL-09 uses a 6×6 chassis with one axle at the front and two axles at the rear. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 85 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 600 km. The truck is equipped with a central tire inflation system to provide control over the air pressure in each tire as a way to improve performance on different terrain conditions.
A typical battery of PCL-09 consists of one 6 self-propelled howitzers and a battery command post. This artillery system comes with a semi-automatic loading system, which simplifies loading of the howitzer. There are ammunition boxes for projectiles and their charges.
The PCL-09 can launch its first round in less than one minute. A typical shoot-and-scoot mission of stopping, firing six rounds and transforming back to traveling mode can be completed within 3 minutes. Such result is a huge improvement over PL96 towed howitzers that are widely used by the China's army. Brief redeployment time allows avoiding counter-battery fire.
 
Specifications
Max Range      : 27Km
Rate of Fire     : 6-8 Rpm
In Service        : >350

Variants
CS/SH1: Export version of PCL-09.
 
PLL-09: A self-propelled howitzer based on ZBL-09 8x8 armored personnel carrier chassis. It was adopted alongside the PCL-09. The PLL-09 is more mobile due to its chassis. It is capable of keeping pace with main battle tanks. Also this artillery system is fully amphibious and can ford water obstacles afloat.

Picture

PLL-09/Type-09

PLL-09 is a 122 mm self-propelled howitzer which is in service with the Chinese Army. A version of this artillery system is also used by China's marines. The vehicle is based on a ZBL-09 8x8 armored personnel carrier chassis. It is armed with a version of the 122 mm PL96, or Type 96 howitzer. The PLL-09 is fitted with a semi-automatic loader. It has a maximum firing range of 18 km with standard HE-FRAG projectiles and 27 km with extended-range projectiles. The PLL-09 is also capable of firing 122 mm laser-guided projectiles. The PLL-09 provides indirect fire support for rapid deployment brigades. These Chinese brigades are similar in concept to the US Stryker brigades
PLL-09 SPH has good cross-country mobility and is capable of keeping pace with main battle tanks.PLL-09 artillery systems replaced the older PLZ-89. PLL-09 is fitted with a semi-automatic loader. The PLL-09 is fitted with computerized fire control system with digital ballistic computer. It is most likely to use digital battlefield management system. The PLL-09 SPH is powered by a Deutz BF6M1015C turbocharged diesel engine, developing 440 hp. It is a German engine, produced in China under license. Engine is located at the front. Vehicle is fitted with a tyre pressure regulation system for improved mobility over difficult terrain. This self-propelled howitzer is fully amphibious. On water it is propelled by two water jets.
 
Specifications
Max Range      : 27 km
Rate of Fire     : 6 Rpm
In Service        : ~ 350

Picture

PLZ-07(Type-07)

The PLZ-07 is 122 mm self-propelled artillery. It evolved from the SH3 that was aimed mainly at export customers. The PLZ-07 self-propelled howitzer was first unveiled to the public during the military parade celebrating 60th anniversary of the PLA on 1 October 2009. The PLZ-07 was developed to replace the older Type 89, Type 85 and Type 70/70-1 122 mm self-propelled artillery systems.
PLZ-07 self-propelled artillery chassis is developed from ZBD-04 infantry fighting vehicles. PLZ-07 is armed with a variant of the PL-96 122 mm/L32 howitzer that is of similar design as the Russian D-30 and a 12.7 mm machine gun as a secondary armament. The PLZ-07 is powered by 600 hp diesel engine.PLZ-07 has greater mobility, improved fire control system and delivers greater firepower than its predecessors. PLZ-07 is fitted with a semi-automatic loader. This artillery system is compatible with standard Chinese and Russian 122 mm ammunition. PLZ-07A artillery system is not amphibious; however it seems that it may be fitted with floatation kit in order to ford inland rivers and lakes
The gun has a maximum range of 18 km with normal ammunition, 22 km with base bleed and 27 km with rocket assisted rounds. Armor of the PLZ-07 provides protection against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. NBC protection and automatic suppression systems are fitted as standard. This artillery system is operated by a crew of 5.
The PLZ-07 122 mm tracked self-propelled gun mounts a 122 mm gun armed turret on the PLZ-45 hull. The vehicle weighs 22.5 tons fully loaded and carries 40 rounds of ammunition. It is 6.66 m long, 3.28 m wide and 2.5 m high to the turret roof. It carries a crew of five and its 440 kW diesel engine gives it a top road speed of 65 km/h and a maximum road range of 500 km.
 
Specifications
Max firing Range        : 18-27 Km
Rate of Fire                 : 6-8 rpm
In Service                    : PLZ-07A~150, PLZ-07B~300
Variants
PLZ-07/PLZ-07A: Land based variant.
PLZ-07B: Amphibious variant with unique dedicated-designed amphibious chassis. China's Marine Corps using PLZ-07B artillery system has a boat-like hull for improved floatation and is fitted with a trim vane. Though it uses the same turret as the PLZ-07. On water this artillery system is propelled by two water jets. The PLZ-07B can be launched at sea from amphibious assault ships and swim over short distances to shore.
SH3 : SH3is a forerunner of the PLZ-07. It is a similar 122 mm self-propelled howitzer, which was developed mainly for export. It emerged as PLZ-07. 

Picture
Picture

PCL-161

The PCL-161 is a truck-mounted 122 mm self-propelled howitzer.  PCL-161 was first unveiled while doing exercises in Tibet Autonomous Region in October 2020.It is speculated to be a successor of the 122 mm truck mounted howitzer PCL-09. PCL-09 features various improvements over the PCL-09, including better firing accuracy, the ability to fire directly in the forward direction of the vehicle. PCL-161 122mm truck gun is the latest equipment of the mountain infantry brigade.
 
The howitzer has a range of 22 km with conventional ammunition and 30 km with rocket-assisted projectiles. Supposedly, it has ammo commonality with the Russian D-30 howitzers.
The PCL-161 features a semi-automatic loading system where the operator places the shell on the loading arm and the loading arm loads the round into the breech. Its fire control system featuring automatic calculation and gun-laying via the vehicle-mounted fire control computer.
 
The design of the truck is based on the CTM-133 military truck. During combat, two front vertical stabilizers are extended, as well as two rear stabilizers that dig into the ground in order to reduce recoil. Mobility of the new generation 4X4 military wheeled high-mobility off-road truck chassis is also significantly better than the previous PCL-09.
 
Specifications
Rate of Fire     : 8 rounds/minute
Max Range      : 22- 30Km
In Service        : Numbers unknown 

Picture
Picture

PCL-171 (CS-SH4)​
​
PCL-171 is a 122mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer. The basic layout of the PCL-171 truck gun is similar to that of the PCL-161. PCL-171 may still use the body of the Type-96 122mm howitzer. PCL-171 was commissioned with the troops in the second half of 2020.
PCL-171 has a semi-automatic loader assembly, which can greatly increase the rate of fire. It may be similar to the PCL-161. It is estimated that the PCL-171 is also equipped with an advanced fire control system, the Beidou satellite navigation and positioning system and the positioning and orientation system of the elevation measurement function, and the information equipment is connected to the fire control system. It can be provided by the information combat platform of the entire battlefield information network. As long as the soldier enters the attack coordinates, the artillery can automatically calculate the firing elements. The pitch and direction motors on the gun mount can calculate the electrical signals generated and transmitted by the terminal with the help of the attitude sensor. The downward-driven artillery can quickly complete the adjustment of the angle of fire and the direction of fire. After the gun enters the firing position, the assisting hoe and hydraulic jack touch the ground to firmly fix the gun. The gun mount and pitching machine are controlled by hydraulic systems. The ammunition loading is also semi-automatically loaded by a robotic arm, 122 mm
PCL-171 self-propelled howitzer, using "Warrior 3rd generation" CSK181 6×6 light armored vehicle as the chassis, "Dongfeng Cummins" ISDe 300 inline 6-cylinder water-cooled turbocharged diesel engine with a maximum output of 300 horsepower, with powerful high-mobility off-road capabilities With a maximum road speed of 120 km/h and a maximum endurance of 700 km, it is also one of the most advanced light armored vehicles in the world.
PCL-171 gun is designed to be very compact, with barrel, gun mount, hoe... etc. After the large part is folded, the volume of the whole cannon is small, and the small body is more conducive to concealment in a small space and better road passing performance. It can drive at high speed on the lowest grade earth and stone roads at high altitudes. The howitzer has a maximum firing range of 18- 22 km with conventional ammunition and up to 27 - 40 km with extended range ammunition. . There are 2 rows of 6 ammunition on the right side. The frame and 2 rows of 7 rounds can carry 28 rounds of 122mm rounds, a total of 6 × 28 = 168 rounds of rounds for a company of 6 cannons, enough for a large-scale continuous firepower support.
The PCL171 gun weighs less than 5 tons. Chinese medium transport aircraft can carry 4 vehicles. Two aircraft can transport one artillery company to a distance of 1,000 kilometers. The transport 20 strategic transport aircraft has a load weight of 60 tons, and one vehicle can be transported in one sortie. , And it is the light weight of the artillery that greatly improves the mobility of the troops.
 
Each combat unit consists of 6 PCL-171 guns, command vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles, ammunition supply vehicles and other equipment. Some of the other vehicles are based on Dongfeng Mengshi CTL181A 4×4 armoured vehicles, of at least two variants. The command vehicle has mounted communications equipment. The reconnaissance vehicle is configured with counter-battery radar, fitted with a radar antenna and an opto-electronic sight mounted on top of a folding and elevating mast.
 
Specifications
Max Range      : 40Km
Rate of fire      : unknown
In Service        :  ~100?
 


Picture
Picture

PCL-181(SH-15)
 
The PCL-181 is a truck-mounted 155 mm self-propelled howitzer . It was developed as more mobile replacement of older towed artillery pieces. The PCL-181 currently delivered to the PLA Army artillery troops will be mainly used to replace the active PL-66 152-mm towed gun-howitzers and a small part of the remaining Type 59-1 130-mm towed cannons. PCL-181 is based on an older SH-1.
 
The PCL-181 is equipped with the world-leading automatic fire control system (AFCS). Following the input of the target azimuth data, the vehicle-mounted fire control computer can automatically settle the shooting elements and automatically adjust the azimuth and height of the artillery
 
The PCL-181 has a full combat weight of 25 tons, only about half compared with the PLZ-05. In addition, with a smaller overall size, the PCL-181 has no worries about "overrun"(the overall height exceeds 3.6 meters or overall width exceeds the train cabin) when transported by rail, and can get through almost all railway sections to reach a freight station nearest to the destination.
Besides, the PCL-181 weighs only 25 tons, which is just within the cargo capacity of China's Y-9 tactical transport aircraft. Each Y-9 tactical transport aircraft can carry one PCL-181, and as long as there are a sufficient number of transport aircraft groups, the rapid deployment of the organically assigned artillery troops as a whole within nearly a thousand kilometers can be realized. This will undoubtedly greatly improve the rapid reaction capability of the PLA Army.

The PCL-181 vehicle-mounted howitzer is equipped with the military high-mobility truck chassis (Shaanxi 6x6 truck chassis), which make it good at long-distance mobility on road. It was reported that the service members of an Army brigade under the Eastern Theater Command just drove the PCL-181 to their camp after unloading at the freight station.
 
The 155mm howitzer is mounted the rear. In the firing position two large hydraulic jacks are lowered. Shells and charges are stored on the sides of the truck. A semi-automatic loading mechanism feeds the shell into the breech. The PCL181 has a 155mm 52-caliber howitzer that fires a Chinese range of NATO standard shells. The semi-automatic loader allows for a rate of fire of 4 to 6 rpm. The howitzer has a maximum firing range of 40 km with conventional ammunition and up to 72 km with extended range ammunition and can carry 27 rounds of ammunition. The armored cab protects against small arms fire and shell splinters. Three crew members load the howitzer in the open while the driver and commander remain in the cab
The export model is known as SH-15.  In 2019 Pakistan ordered 236 of these artillery systems
​
Specifications
Max Range      : 72Km
Rate of Fire     : 4-6 Rpm
In Service        : ~100?

Picture
Picture
Picture

AH4
 
AH4 is a 155 mm/39 caliber Lightweight Gun-howitzer developed by NORINCO. AH4 is considered to be the direct equivalent of the American gun M777. This artillery system was designed to be as lightweight as possible for maximum mobility and air transportability. Many parts of this howitzer were designed to serve multiple functions in order to reduce weight. Development of AH-4 completed in July 2016.  Due to its light weight AH4 can air lifted to desire positions makes it extremely useful in mountain warfare.

NORINCO states that the AH4 has a combat weight of 4,500 kg, including its hydro-pneumatic suspension that enables the weapon to be deployed in firing position within three minutes and returned to its towed position in two minutes. The AH4's elevation and traverse limits are almost identical to the M777 at -3 to 72° and 22.5° respectively. Gun tube is 39 times the diameter, because the use of ramming machine gun in the intensive fire, the initial rate of fire is up to 5 rounds per minute, with continuous shooting at 2 rounds per minute. This artillery system is operated by a crew of 8. In case of emergency it can be operated by a crew of 5, though with significantly reduced rate of fire.
AH-4 has a 155 mm/L39 tube. It can use a wide array of ammunition, including High Explosive (HE), High Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), smoke, incendiary, cluster, mine -scattering and other specialized projectiles. AH4 is also capable of firing NORINCOs expanded family of 155 mm precision-guided munitions (PGMs). These include the latest 155 mm laser-guided projectile (LGP) GP6, which has minimum range of 6 Km and maximum range of 25 km with a first round hit probability of 90% and is capable of engaging stationary and moving targets. The GP6 is claimed to be more resistant to jamming than the GP1 (earlier version of LGP), while its multiple laser coding technology enables co-operative multi-target engagement. The GP1 and GP6 are also referred to as the GP155 and GP155A respectively. Norinco also markets the GP155B, which is guided by a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). With rocket-assisted projectile AH4 can fire up to 40 km. AH-4 howitzer is compatible with any NATO-standard 155 mm projectiles. This feature hugely expands the variety of ammunition it uses.
 
Specifications
Max Range of Fire      : 20-40Km
Rate of Fire         : 2-4 RPM
In Service                    : Unknown

Variants
 
SH-11: SH-11is a self-propelled artillery system, based on an 8x8 armored personnel carrier. It uses modified 155 mm /L39 ordnance of the AH-4. This artillery system was developed mainly for export. It was first publicly revealed in 2018.
 
AHS-4: a three-ton variant that is designed for mountain warfare.

Picture


SH-1

The SH-1 is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer developed by China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO). SH-1 started as an export project with Pakistan and Burma.  The artillery system has been in development since 2002, it was first revealed during the 2007. It was modeled after a French CASEAR.
SH1 has advantages such as high mobility, large fire-power, fast hit capability, modular design, good cost-effectiveness, etc. SHI has a combat weight of about 22 tonnes and is normally operated by a crew of five who are seated in the armour protected four door cab towards the front of the chassis to the rear of the diesel powerpack. Mounted on the cab roof is a 12.7 mm machine gun for local and air defence purposes.
The SH-1 self-propelled artillery system is fitted with an ordnance of an AH-2 155 mm/L52 howitzer, which can fire a range of ammunitions developed by NORINCO, including: Extended-Range, Full-Bore, Rocket-Assisted, High-Explosive (ERFB-RA/HE) and Extended-Range Full-Bore, Base-Bleed, High-Explosive (ERFB-BB/HE). When using the ERFB-BB/HE round, the howitzer can reach a maximum range of 53km. The howitzer can also fire the 155mm semi-active laser-guided projectile developed by NORINCO based on the Russian Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) 152mm Krasnopol projectile. In addition, the howitzer is able to use the standard NATO 155mm ammunitions. The vehicle carries 20 rounds onboard. Secondary weapon includes a 12.7mm QJC88 anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the roof of the driving cab.
The artillery system is mounted on a 6X6 wheeled chassis with a forward engine and an armour-protected driving cab. The vehicle can climb a 1.2m-high vertical obstacle, and has a maximum road speed of 90km/h. The vehicle is equipped with two hydraulically operated stabilizers which are lowered in preparation for the firing. The howitzer barrel is electric-operated, with an elevation of 0~70 degrees. The artillery system has a combat weight of 22 tonnes, and is operated by a crew of five.
The SH1 is equipped with a computerized fire-control system, with a muzzle velocity sensor which feed the data directly to the fire-control computer. The artillery system is equipped with navigation, positioning, targeting, and communications systems, all of which adopt the modular design for easy maintenance and upgrade. The onboard communication system enables the artillery system to be connected into the C4ISR network of an artillery company or battalion for information sharing and automated command and control.
Pakistan acquired a total of 90 SH-1 truck-mounted howitzers. Deliveries were completed between 2012 and 2013.

Specifications
Max Range      : 53Km
Rate of Fire     : 6-8 Rpm
In Service        : Not applicable

Variants
SH-1A:  is an improved version, based on a new 6x6 vehicle.
PCL-181/ SH-15: is a similar howitzer, based on 6x6 truck. It was first publicly revealed in 2018, though first images of this artillery system appeared little earlier.

Picture
Picture

​SH-2


The SH2 122mm self-propelled howitzer is the second 6x6 truck-mounted artillery system developed by NORINCO. The artillery system was first revealed during the 2007. The SH2 was developed mainly for the export market, but it cannot be ruled out that the artillery system may also be adopted by the PLA in its airborne force and Marine Corps.
The main armament of the SH2 artillery system is a 122mm howitzer possible developed from the PL96 122mm towed cannon towed howitzer design. Like the PL96/D-30, the SH2 has a recoil-recuperator mechanism mounted above the gun barrel. The electric-operated howitzer has an elevation range of 0~70° and an azimuth range of +/- 30°. The howitzer has a rate of fire of 6~8 rounds/min. There are 24 rounds carried onboard the vehicle.
The howitzer has a maximum firing range of 22km when using the NORINCO Extended-Range, Full-Bore, Hollow-Base (ERFB-HB) round, or 27km when using the NORINCO Extended-Range, Full-Bore, Rocket-Assisted (ERFB-RA) round. The howitzer can also fire the Russian D-30 122mm ammunitions. NORINCO has been producing the 152/155mm laser-guided projectile based on the Russian Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) 152mm Krasnopol projectile design under license, but it is not known whether NORINCO has also obtained the license to produce the KBP Kitolov 122mm laser-guided projectile.
The artillery is mounted on a 6X6 wheeled chassis developed from a 4x4 HMMWV-like utility vehicle, with a maximum road speed of over 90km/h and a maximum range of 600km. The vehicle is capable of climbing 60% gradient and has a turning radius of less than 13m. The artillery system is operated by a crew of 4~5 people, and have a combat weight of 11.5 tonnes. The system can transform between travelling and combat mode within 45~50 seconds. A typical mission of transforming from travelling mode to combat mode, firing six rounds, and transforming back to the travelling mode can be completed with 2 minutes.
The vehicle is equipped with two hydraulically operated stabilizers which are lowered in preparation for the firing. The artillery crew is seated inside an armour-protected driving cab. The vehicle is fitted with a central-inflating system, and can reach a maximum road speed of 90km/h. The artillery system can be airlifted by a large transport aircraft such as IL-76 or Y-8.
The SH2 is also equipped with a computerized fire-control system, including GPS navigation and positioning, targeting, and communications systems, all of which adopt the modular design for easy maintenance and upgrade. The artillery is used within a C4ISR network at company or battalion level. The artillery system is operated by a crew of 4~5 people

Specifications
Max Range     : 27 Km
Rate of Fire     : 6-8 Rpm
In service        : unknown
 
Variants
 
SH-5: is a similar artillery system, based on the same 6x6 chassis. Though it is fitted with a lighter 105 mm howitzer.
There is also a 152 mm version, based on the same 6x6 chassis. It mounts modified ordnance of the PL-66 gun-howitzer. It was first publicly revealed in 2018.

Picture
Picture
SH-3(WMZ-322)

SH-3 artillery system is an improved version of the Type 89. Its industrial designation is WMZ322. This artillery system was offered for export customers. The only known customer of the SH-3 is Rwanda. This country acquired 6 units in 2007. SH-3 is in the service of the Chinese army.  It is armed with a variant of the PL-96 122 mm/L32 howitzer. Maximum range of fire is 18 km with standard HE projectile, 22 km with extended-range and 27 km with rocket assisted projectile. This artillery system is also capable of firing 122 mm laser-guided projectiles. 
Secondary armament consists of a roof mounted 12.7 mm machine gun. The SH-3 is fitted with improved fire control system.
Armor of the SH-3 provides protection against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. NBC protection and automatic suppression systems are fitted as standard.
This artillery system is operated by a crew of 5.
The SH-3 uses a new chassis, which is based on the Type 89 chassis, but has numerous improvements. It is powered by a BF8M1015CP turbocharged diesel engine, developing 590 hp. It is based on a German-made Deutz engine. Due to the new chassis the SH-3 has greater mobility than the previous Type 89.
Standard equipment of SH3 includes a infrared night vision device, a meteorological sensor, a NBC protection, an automatic fire-extinguishing system and a GPS navigation system. WMZ322 is also equipped with an automatic fire control system that includes a digital ballistic computer, an optical sight for day and night vision and a laser range finder installed at the top of the turret.

Specifications
Max Range: 27Km
Rate of Fire: 6-8 Rpm
In Service: ~50

Variants
PLZ-07: is a version of the SH-3.

Picture
Picture
SH-5

SH5 is a further development of the SH2 which is armed with a 105 mm howitzer. SH-5 105mm self-propelled Artillery System is installed on a 6X6 truck chassis and similar to French GIAT CAESAR self-propelled howitzer. SH-5 is developed for exporting.
The SH5 is armed with 105 mm/37-calibre ordnance. The 105 mm gun is mounted on a turntable fitted to a flatbed just behind the crew compartment. This has elevation from zero degrees to plus 70 degrees with traverse being 30 degrees left and right. The maximum range depends on projectile/charge combination but NORINCO has released the following range figures for this 105 mm system: A total of 40 × 105 mm projectiles at carried in the ammunition containers located at the rear of the chassis. During firing, two stabilizers are lowered at the rear of the vehicle.
The armor crew compartment is mounted just behind the engine. The crew cabin is protected again small arms firing and shell splinters. The front of the crew compartment is fitted two large bulletproof windows to the front with two forward opening doors down either side. Each of these doors has a large bulletproof window in the upper part. All the windows of the vehicle provide the same level of protection as the crew armor cabin.
The SH5 is based on a 6 × 6 cross-country chassis that is a new design that is also used for the SH2 122 mm (6 × 6) self-propelled artillery system. The vehicle's high-road speed reaches 100km/h and range can reach over 800 km. The engine is mounted at the front of the vehicle.
SH5 is fitted with a computerized fire-control system, including GPS navigation and positioning, targeting, and communications systems, all of which adopt the modular design for easy maintenance and upgrade. The artillery is used within a C4ISR network at company or battalion level. The SH5 is fitted with a central-inflating system. A spare wheel is mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The SH-5 is also is equipped with two hydraulically operated stabilizers mounted at the rear of the vehicle which are lowered in preparation for the firing. A spare wheel is mounted at the rear of chassis.

Specifications
​

Max Range      : 18Km?
Rate of Fire     : 8 Rpm?
In Service        : unknown

Picture

SH-11

SH-11 is a new 155mm 8x8 wheeled self-propelled howitzer which unveiled during Air Show China 2018. This system is intended mainly for export.  This artillery system is based on the VN1 8x8 armored vehicle fitted with a turret mounted at the rear top of the hull which is armed with one 155 mm/L39 howitzer.
The SH-11 uses modified ordnance of the AH-4 lightweight field howitzer. Fume extractor was added.It has a maximum firing range of 25 km with standard projectiles and 40 km with rocket-assisted projectiles. The SH-11 can also use precision-guided munitions, such as GP155 laser-guided projectiles (Chinese copy of the Krasnopol), GP155B GPS-guide projectiles (Chinese copy of the M982 Excalibur), GP155G, also known for export as GS1, smart anti-armor projectiles (Chinese copy of the Bonus).

SH11 howitzer is fitted with a fully automatic loading system offering fast firing and manoeuvring while the autonomous system integrates seamlessly into the networked and centralized command and control system.
The SH11 has a crew of three including driver, commander and gunner. The roof of the turret seems to be equipped with latest generation of optics that includes a new panoramic sight. The turret has a traverse of 360°.
The hull and the turret provide protection against firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters. It has a combat weight of 36,000 kg.  
 
Specifications
Max Range      : 40Km
Rate of Fire     : ??
In Service        : unknown

Picture
SH-11
Picture
SH-15(PCL-181)
Picture
SH-2 rocket trajectories

Next Part Chinese Multiple Rocket Launch Sysytems

0 Comments
    Flag Counter

    Author

    Palash Choudhari
    Varun Karthikeyan
    ​Anoop Madhavan

    Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All
    Aerodynamics
    Aircraft Analysis
    Electronic Warfare
    Future Indian Weapons
    Future Weapons
    India Vs China
    IRST
    ISRO
    Miscellaneous
    Missile Technology
    Picture Gallery
    Propulsion
    Space Technology
    Technology
    Top 10

    Like Us

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.