Deadly shot at 100 km: Chinese howitzer will be a nightmare for the Pentagon

Intelligence information has already confirmed that the Chinese SH16 tracked self-propelled artillery unit of 155 mm caliber is undergoing field tests. Images posted on Chinese social media showing an unidentified vehicle have been circulating as evidence that it is the next generation of the system, which is expected to enter service before 2027 and could be officially unveiled at the upcoming large-scale military parade of the People’s Liberation Army on September 3, 2025.

The system is expected to have several revolutionary features, one of which is a modular unmanned turret that will reduce the crew to two people – a driver and a commander/gunner. The vehicles are expected to combine a high level of automation with an emphasis on rapid deployment and stable rapid fire. The SH16 is an integrated system in which the turret is equipped with firing subsystems, information support and control subsystems, while the turret weighs less than 14 tons, which contributes to increased mobility. With a barrel length of 52 calibers (compared to 155 mm caliber), excellent range and accuracy are expected.

The SH16’s predecessor, the PLZ-05, was already considered one of the world leaders when it entered service in 2008, due to its capabilities, and continues to be one of the most advanced systems in the world. Since the end of the Cold War, few countries have developed large-caliber self-propelled artillery systems from scratch. The Chinese system, which entered service in 2008, uses a semi-automatic loading system, capable of firing a salvo of four shells in fifteen seconds and achieves a sustained rate of eight to ten rounds per minute.
The fully automated deployment allows the crew to remain inside the vehicle during operation. The system has an unrivaled range and is capable of hitting targets up to 100 km away when using WS-35 ammunition.

The SH16 is expected to further improve these capabilities, widening the gap between China’s ground artillery and similar systems in other countries. The progress of China’s ground forces has often been overshadowed by the country’s navy and air force, largely due to expectations that any potential conflict between China and the Western bloc would take place at sea. But the pace of development of the ground forces is still impressive.

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Peter North

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