China Presents SH16A Artillery System

14 November, 2024 Chinese wheeled howitzer SH16A, November 2024. Photo credits: Norinco The Chinese state-owned Norinco Corporation has demonstrated an updated SH-16A self-propelled 155 mm howitzer with a fully automated artillery module.

The wheeled artillery system was first publicly unveiled on November 8, 2024, at the Air China exhibition in Zhuhai. China North Industries Group Corporation presented a further development of the export-oriented self-propelled gun, which received a new 8x8 wheeled chassis unified with the VN-23 tank destroyer. Such a structural upgrade of the system, just a year after the original SH-16 was introduced on a 6x6 truck chassis, was made possible due to the modular design of the fully automated artillery unit.

As a result, the crew and maintenance of the SH-16 self-propelled howitzer consist of only two people. The armored unmanned turret weighing about 14 tons is equipped with a 155-mm barrel with a length of 52 caliber--the standard for a modern artillery system. The SH-16A is said to have a maximum range of 53 kilometers using active-reactive ammunition.

Chinese wheeled howitzer SH-16

The tower has certain differences, having received a wider body with a larger internal volume.

However, visually, the overall design remains unchanged. Traditionally for Chinese self-propelled artillery systems, the module is equipped with a compact radar station to measure the flight speed of the ammunition. In addition, the system had to retain the direct firing ability using optical sights.

For firing, the self-propelled vehicle is equipped with frames that can be deployed at the firing position and act as stops that absorb recoil energy to protect the chassis.

Chinese wheeled howitzer SH16A, November, 2024. Photo credits: Norinco

The howitzer can also be equipped with a remote-controlled machine gun module for self-defense, and smoke mortars for smoke barriers. It should be noted that the Chinese anti-aircraft system Hongqi-19 (HQ-19), which is currently the most advanced missile defense system in China, was also presented at this exhibition.

It is stated that the HQ-19 complex, consisting of two launchers, a radar, and a control center, is capable of intercepting targets at a distance of up to 500 kilometers.