In January 2022, Pakistan started inducting its new mainstay weapon systems, notably the SH-15 wheeled self-propelled howitzer (SPH) and Tughril-class (Type 054A/P) frigate. Leaning on China as its primary arms supplier, Pakistan is adding a range of net-new warfare capabilities.
Pakistan Army Receives First Batch of Norinco SH-15 Self-Propelled Howitzers
According to publicly available export-import logs, the Pakistan Army took delivery of its first Norinco SH-15 self-propelled howitzers (SPH) on 13 January 2022. It is not clear how many SH-15s Pakistan received, but the logs indicate that Norinco delivered 76 packages comprising of guns and ammunition.
The Pakistan Army selected the SH-15 following a series of trials in 2015-2016 when it evaluated numerous wheeled SPH systems, including the Denel T5-52 and Yugoimport SDPR NORA-B52, among other SPHs. In 2016, Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) officials reportedly suggested that the Army could acquire as many as 500 SPHs under a transfer-of-technology (ToT) deal.
Pakistan likely settled its wheeled SPH choice in 2017 as it ordered 1,332 VLAP (very long-range artillery projectile) shells that year. None of the Army’s existing howitzers/guns can support that type of shell, so a new SPH order was certainly in the procurement pipeline.
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