Pakistan deploys hundreds of China-made SH-15 155mm howitzers along India border: Report

Pakistan has deployed a significant number of China-acquired SH-15 wheeled self-propelled artillery guns along its formations facing India, strengthening its conventional firepower capability, as per a TOI report. The 155mm, 52-calibre artillery system, manufactured by China's Norinco Corporation, is known as the PCL-181 in China.

The deployment comes as Pakistan continues its artillery modernisation programme, which was initiated in response to India's efforts to upgrade and standardise its artillery fleet.

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Pakistan receives SH-15 guns from China

Pakistan placed an order for 236 SH-15 artillery systems from China in 2019, with deliveries beginning in 2022. A second batch was delivered in 2023.

Under a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement, Pakistan also acquired a licence to manufacture the gun system at the Heavy Industries Taxila facility. The acquisition was part of the Pakistan Army's efforts to modernise its artillery arm and move towards greater standardisation.

The SH-15 is the first 52-calibre artillery gun in Pakistan's inventory. The longer calibre barrel improves the weapon's range and accuracy compared with older systems. The gun can fire multiple types of ammunition and has a range exceeding 50 km when using rocket-assisted projectiles. It is mounted on a 6x6 wheeled truck platform.

Capabilities of SH-15 artillery system

Manufactured by China's state-owned defence company NORINCO, the SH-15 is the export variant of the People's Liberation Army's PCL-181 wheeled self-propelled howitzer.

The 155mm/52-calibre gun system is mounted on a 6x6 armoured Shaanxi truck chassis, giving it high mobility and the ability to rapidly move across different terrains. The platform can achieve road speeds of up to 90 kmph and is designed for quick deployment and repositioning during combat operations.

The artillery system can fire standard NATO-compatible ammunition with an estimated range of around 30 to 40 km. Using rocket-assisted V-LAP projectiles, the gun can reportedly engage targets at distances ranging between 53 km and 72 km.

The SH-15 features an automated fire-control system and hydraulic stabilising spades, enabling crews to deploy the weapon quickly. It can fire up to six rounds per minute before relocating to avoid detection and response from enemy counter-battery systems.

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SH-15 deployed along key India-facing sectors

The SH-15 systems have largely been deployed with formations positioned against India, particularly in areas around Gujranwala, Sialkot and Jalalpur Jattan in Pakistan's depth areas near the Shakargarh bulge.

The Shakargarh bulge lies south of Jammu and north of Amritsar, with Pathankot located to its east. The artillery systems were also deployed and used against India during Operation Sindoor.

The guns are primarily positioned in northern Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir areas. In desert sectors opposite Rajasthan and Gujarat, Pakistan has deployed US-origin M109 tracked self-propelled guns, which are considered better suited for desert terrain due to their tracked mobility.

Wheeled systems such as the SH-15 are considered more suitable for plains, hilly regions and mountainous areas because of their mobility and faster deployment capability.

Pakistan expands long-range conventional strike capability

The induction of SH-15 artillery guns is being viewed alongside Pakistan's establishment of an Army Rocket Force, adding to its non-contact conventional strike capability through a combination of rockets, missiles and long-range artillery.

The licence-based production arrangement could allow Pakistan to maintain sustained artillery production and potentially expand defence cooperation with other countries, particularly in the Islamic world.

Military observers said India would need to monitor these developments, although India's artillery modernisation programme is broader and includes multiple platforms and indigenous systems.

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India upgrades artillery fleet under modernisation plan

India is implementing the Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan to standardise its artillery fleet around 155mm calibre systems. Currently, several Indian artillery units continue to operate 105mm Indian Field Guns and lighter variants.

The modernisation effort has resulted in the induction of systems including the M777 ultra-light howitzer, K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzer and Dhanush artillery gun.

The Indian Army has also ordered 307 indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS). While India does not currently operate a wheeled self-propelled gun similar to the SH-15, efforts are underway to develop a domestic wheeled artillery platform based on the ATAGS design.

The proposed Mounted Gun System (MGS) is in the advanced stages of development and has undergone initial firing trials.