Analysis: Top most modern 8x8 wheeled self-propelled howitzers
Army Recognition is presenting an analysis about the most modern 8x8 wheeled self-propelled howitzers in service and currently in production or ready for series production to date. A self-propelled howitzer is an artillery combat system equipped with its own propulsion system to move towards its target. The key advantage of the self-propelled artillery system over towed artillery, it can be deployed into action much faster. Currently, there are three main classes of mobile artillery systems including towed howitzer, self-propelled howitzer based on a tracked armored vehicle, and self-propelled howitzer mounted on military truck chassis or wheeled armored vehicle in 8x8 or 6x6 configurations.
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Analysis most modern 8x8 wheeled self-propelled howitzers. (Picture source Army Recognition)
There are advantages and disadvantages for all the types of mobile howitzer, but towed howitzer is lighter and easier to use. It can be towed by a military truck or a tracked armored vehicle. It can be used to provide fire support for light units as mountain units, paratroopers, or marines.
The tracked self-propelled howitzers are mainly used by armored mechanized units. It is heavier, but it provides a high level of protection and can be easily deployed in all-terrain conditions. The wheeled self-propelled howitzer is much lighter and can be deployed by fast reaction units using military transport aircraft. It also offers a high level of mobility and simplified logistics.
CAESAR 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - France
CAESAR - France
The CAESAR 8x8 is an upgraded version of the 6x6 Caesar wheeled self-propelled howitzer designed and manufactured by the French Company Nexter Systems and using 155/52 caliber cannon. This version of the Caesar was unveiled during the defense exhibition in London, DSEI in September 2015. The Caesar 8x8 presented at DSEI was based on the Tatra T-815 8x8 chassis, but the Nexter 155mm artillery system can be fitted on other 8x8 truck chassis available on the military market manufactured by Renault trucks defense, Rheinmetall MAN military, Sizu, or other trucks manufacturer.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 155mm/52 Cal. gun and one 7.62 or 12.7mm machine gun
Range cannon: Standard ammunition: 19 to 40 km; Extended Range Full Bore: 40 km; Rocket assisted projectile: 55 km; Direct fire: 2 km
Weight: 28,400 to 30,200 kg
Dimensions: Length: 12.3 m; Width: 2.8 m; Height: 3.1 m
Advanced Mobile Gun System 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - Singapore
Advanced Mobile Gun System - Singapore
ST Kinetics Defense Company from Singapore, the land systems division of ST Engineering, presents the latest development of its 155mm caliber Advanced Mobile Gun Systems (AMGS) project at Singapore AirShow 2018. The AMGS is a wheeled self-propelled howitzer mounting a 155mm/52 caliber gun system carried on an 8x8 military truck chassis. The 155mm AMGS is capable of firing a volley of rounds with simultaneous impacts. This capability grants an element of surprises in firing missions by removing the unfavorable early warning created by single round-firing. The 155m gun has a maximum rate of fire of 6 rounds per three minutes with an effective firing range of 40km with Extended Range, Full Bore (ERFB) ammunition. The gun's automated charge and projectile loading system reduces crew fatigue by removing the repetitive tasks of preparing the gun for firing.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 155mm cannon
Range cannon: 40 km with Extended Range ammunition
Weight: 28,000 kg
Dimensions: Length: 11.5 m; Width: 3.0 m; Height: 3.5 m
Aleksandar 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - Serbia
Aleksandar - Serbia
The Aleksandar is a 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer designed and developed by Serbian State defense company Yugoimport SDPR. This artillery system was unveiled in June 2017 at Partner defense exhibition in Serbia. The vehicle is based on a KAMAZ 8×8 wheeled truck chassis with an armored cabin at the front. The rear end of the truck chassis integrates a 155mm weapon system and a fully automatic loading system behind the main gun. The 155mm cannon can fire all types of standard and special 155mm NATO ammunition. It has a maximum firing range of 32.5 km with standard ammunition and up to 52 km with HE ERFB RA/BB very long-range artillery projectiles (VLAP). It has a crew of three. It is equipped with a storage container, which can store 12 rounds of additional ammunition. The automatic loading system reloads the weapon with the ammunition in the storage container.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 152mm 52 caliber cannon
Range cannon: 32.5 km with standard ammunition; 52 km with HE ERFB RA/BB very long-range artillery projectiles
Weight: 28,000 kg
Dimensions: Length: 11.4 m; Width: 2.6 m; Height: 3.85 m
Archer on MAN truck chassis 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer -Sweden
Archer MAN 8x8 - Sweden
In September 2019, at DSEI defense exhibition in London, BAE Systems has unveiled a new version of its Archer 6x6 wheeled self-propelled howitzer. The vehicle was based on Rheinmetall MAN RMMV HX2 8x8 military truck chassis. From the safety of ARCHER’s armored cabin, a three-person crew needs less than 30 seconds to deploy or displace the system, making ARCHER the ultimate shoot-and-scoot artillery system. As the most advanced wheeled 155mm, a 52-caliber system in operation today, ARCHER features a 21-round auto-loader and onboard ballistic calculation. The system can fire up to eight rounds per minute at ranges approaching 40 kilometers with conventional 155mm ammunition and 60 kilometers with precision-guided munitions such as Excalibur.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 155mm 52 caliber cannon
Range cannon: 40 km with standard ammunition; 60 km with precision-guided ammunition
Weight: NA kg
Dimensions: Length: 10.33 m; Width: 2.5 m; Height: NA m
Artillery Gun Module KMW IVECO Truck 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - Italy and Germany
Artillery Gun Module KMW IVECO Truck - Germany
In 2018, at Singapore AirShow, the German Defense Company KMW (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann), a subdivision of KNDS (KMW+Nexter Defense Systems) presents a new version of its 155mm Artillery Mobile Gun System (self-propelled howitzer) mounted on 8x8 IVECO military truck chassis fitted with a turret similar to the Donar tracked self-propelled howitzer. The turret is armed with a 155 mm/L52 howitzer, fitted with a fully-automatic ammunition loading and handling system. It combines the high mobility of a military truck with the fully automatic, unmanned functionality of the remote-controlled 155 mm / L52 Artillery Gun Module. The vehicle can carry a total of 30 ammunition stored inside of the turret. It has a maximum firing range of 30 km with standard HE (High Explosive) ammunition and 40 km with HE extended range ammunition. It has a crew of two that can operate the system from the truck cab separate from the automatic gun module.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 155 L52 cannon
Range cannon: 30 km with standard ammunition; 40 km with extended range ammunition
Weight: 39,000 kg
Dimensions: Length: NA m; Width: NA m; Height: NA m
ATMOS Elbit Systems 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer -Israel
ATMOS on 8x8 MAN - Israel
The ATMOS is a 155mm/52 caliber truck-mounted howitzer designed and developed by the Israeli company Elbit Systems. It offers the advantages of superior firepower, enhanced mobility and rapid response time. Highly adaptable, the modular ATMOS system is compatible with any 6x6 or 8x8 high-mobility tactical truck. ATMOS supplies fire support for all types of missions and can be easily interfaced with customers’ existing C4I systems. The ATMOS can fire all types of qualified 155mm ammunition, projectiles and charges that are in use by NATO and other countries. Onboard containers store a minimum of 18 rounds, including projectiles, propellants and fuzes. The ATMOS achieves ranges exceeding 40km with ERFB-BB ammunition and suitable propelling charge.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 155 mm 52 caliber cannon
Range cannon: 40 km with ERFB-BB (Extended Range Full-Bore - Base Bleed) shells
Weight:? kg
Dimensions: Length: NA m; Width: NA m; Height: NA m
Boxer RCH 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - Germany
Boxer RCH 155 - Germany
The Boxer Remotely Controlled Howitzer, or RCH 155, is a wheeled self-propelled artillery system developed by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). This artillery system is based on the Boxer 8x8 armored vehicle fitted with a remotely controlled turret. The Boxer RCH 155 is operated by a crew of just 2 men. It is armed with a 155 mm/L52 howitzer using components from the German-made PzH 2000 tracked armored self-propelled howitzer. This artillery system is compatible with all standard NATO 155 mm projectiles. The maximum range of fire is 30 km with standard projectile, 40 km with base bleed projectile and 56 km with South African VLAP rocket-assisted projectile. The vehicle carries 30 primed projectiles and 144 modular charges
Technical Data:
Armament: One 152mm 52 caliber cannon
Range cannon: 30 km with standard ammunition; 40 km with extended range ammunition
Weight: 39,000 kg
Dimensions: Length: 10.5 m; Width: 2.99 m; Height: 3.5 m
Dana 152mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - Czech Republic
Dana - Czech Republic
The Dana also knowns as the Samohybná Kanónová Húfnica vzor 77 (ShKH vz. 77), is a 152mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer that was developed in the late 1970s to respond to a request for the Czech army for a new mobile artillery system. The vehicle was designed and manufactured by the Czech Company ZTS and entered in service with the Czech army in 1981. The Dana 152mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer is fitted with a fully enclosed armoured turret mounted on the center of the chassis which is armed with one 152mm with a muzzle brake and fires the same ammunition as the Russian-made 152 mm 2S3 tracked self-propelled howitzer. The vehicle can carry a total of 60 ammunition stored inside the chassis and the turret. It has a maximum firing range of 20 km with standard ammunition and 28 km with extended range ammunition.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 152mm
Range cannon: 20 km with standard ammunition; 28 km with extended range ammunition
Weight: 25,100 kg
Dimensions: Length: 11.15 m; Width: 3.0 m; Height: 2.85 m
EVA 8x8 155mm self-propelled howitzer - Slovakia
EVA 8x8 - Slovakia
The EVA is a 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer designed and developed by the Slovak Company Konstrukta Defense. The artillery weapon system is equipped with an automatic loading mechanism with conveyers of 12 rounds of ammunition and 12 of charges, feeders and a loading system – allowing a maximum rate of fire of 5 rounds in one minute and 9 rounds in 2 minutes. The vehicle is based on Tatra 8x8 military truck chassis.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 155mm 52 caliber cannon
Range cannon: 41 km when using ERFB-BB (Extended Range Full-Bore - Base Bleed) shells
Weight: 28,100 kg
Dimensions: Length: 11.5 m; Width: 2.55 m; Height: 3.28 m
M46 on IVECO chassis 130mm self-propelled howitzer - Syria
M46 gun on 8x8 chassis Syria
The Syrian military forces against Daesh uses their own technology to manufacture wheeled self-propelled howitzer using the Soviet-made 130mm towed field gun M-46 as the main armament mounted at the rear of 8x8 IVECO civilian truck chassis. The M-46 is a manually loaded, towed 130 mm artillery gun, manufactured by the Soviet Union in the 1950s. The first prototype of the 130 mm M-46 was completed in mid-1948. It has seen combat in Asia and the Middle East and has also been built in China as the Type 59-1 and in Egypt. Ammunition originally used by the M-46 included HE fragmentation, Armour Piercing solid shot, smoke, illuminating and chemical. HE shells weigh some 33 kg. The maximum rate of fire is 5 -6 rounds/minute, and about 70 rounds/hour. It can fire at a maximum range of 27 km.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 130mm cannon
Range cannon: 27 km with standard ammunition
Weight: NA kg
Dimensions: Length: NA m; Width: NA m; Height: NA m
M777 on Enigma 8x8 armored 155mm self-propelled howitzer - United Arab Emirates
M777 on Enigma 8x8 armored - UAE
The Enigma M777 is based on the 8x8 armored vehicle Enigma developed in the United Arab Emirates by EDT. The Enigma is designed to be compatible with a variety of weapon systems, which makes the Armored Modular Fighting Vehicle (AMFV) suitable to armed forces around the world. This includes the Self Propelled M777 variant, which provides a high mobility Howitzer solution, due to the lightweight titanium gun built by BAE Systems. For the Enigma self-propelled howitzer variant, an M777 Lightweight 155mm howitzer is deployed at the rear of the vehicle. The M777 Joint Lightweight 155mm 39 calibers (LW155) howitzer has been designed to replace U.S. Army M198 towed howitzers. It has a maximum firing range of 24.7 km with standard ammunition and 30 km with extended range ammunition.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 155 mm 39 caliber cannon
Range cannon: 24.7 km with standard ammunition and 30 km with extended range ammunition
Weight:? kg
Dimensions: Length: NA m; Width: NA m; Height: NA m
Malva 152mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - Russia
Malva - Russia
In July 2020, the Russian defense industry unveils new 8x8 152mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer 2S43 dubbed Malva developed by the Burevestnik Central Research Institute, a division of Uralvagonzavod who is now part of ROSTEC, State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology Industrial Product. The new 2S43 Malva is based on 8x8 military truck chassis BAZ-6010-027 manufactured by the Bryansk Automobile Plant. The vehicle has a crew cab at the front while the artillery weapon system is located at the rear. The 2S43 Malva is armed with the 152mm 2A64 cannon which is also used on the 2S19 MSTA-S. Other Russian military sources said that the artillery weapon system is based on the 2A88 gun, also mounted on the Russia 2S35 tracked self-propelled howitzer. It has a maximum firing range of 30 km with standard ammunition and around 40 km with a rocket-assisted projectile
Technical Data:
Armament: One 152mm
Range cannon: 41 km when using ERFB-BB (Extended Range Full-Bore - Base Bleed) shells
Weight: 21,000 kg
Dimensions: Length: NA m; Width: NA m; Height: NA m
NORA B-52 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - Serbia
Nora B-52 - Serbia
The NORA B-52 is a 155mm, 52-caliber self-propelled gun-howitzer produced by the Serbian State company Yugoimport-SDPR. The standard version of the NORA B-52 is based on an 8x8 Kamaz truck chassis. The main armament of NORA B-52K1 consists of a 155 mm barrel length of 52 calibers, fitted with a semi-automatic breech block, automatic loader and an advanced solution of powder chamber self-obturating system. The automatic loader consists of two cassettes containing 12 projectiles and 12 propellant charges, projectile and charge feeder and chain rammer controlled by PLC thus increasing the firing rate and minimizing crew effort. The NORA B-52K1 can fire at a maximum range of 41.2 km with a full range of ammunitions as HE ERFB-BB, ERFB-BT, standard 155mm M107, or laser beam guided projectile.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 155mm/52 Cal. gun and one 7.62 or 12.7mm machine gun
Range cannon: 41,2 km
Weight: 28,500 kg
Dimensions: Length: 10.64 m; Width: 2.66 m; Height: 3.72 m
Porcupine IVECO Centauro 155/39LW 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - Italy
Porcupine IVECO Centauro 155/39LW - Italy
The Porcupine also called Centauro 155/39LW is a prototype 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer developed by Italian companies IVECO and OTO Melara. It is also referred as Centauro 155/39 LW. This artillery system is based on a modified Centauro 8x8 wheeled tank destroyer chassis. It is armed with an FH70 155 mm/L39 howitzer equipped with a fully automated loading system mounted in an unmanned armored turret. A total of 15 rounds are carried in the turret. This self-propelled howitzer can fire all standard NATO 155 mm ammunition. It is also compatible with the newly-developed OTO Melara Volcano both guided and unguided long-range projectiles, which have a maximum range of up to 60 km. The Porcupine is operated by a crew of only two men, including driver and commander. Both crew members are located at the front of the hull.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 155/39 cannon
Range cannon: up to 60 km with guided long-range projectiles
Weight: 25,000 kg
Dimensions: Length: 9.0 m; Width: 3.1 m; Height: 3.0 m
PLL-09 122mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - China
PLL-09 - China
The PLL-09 is a Chinese 122 mm self-propelled howitzer which is in service with the Chinese Army. 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, a Chinese version of the Soviet D-30 122mm towed 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 which is based on the Russian Kitolov projectile technology.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 122mm
Range cannon: 18 km with standard ammunition; 27 km with extended range projectiles
Weight: 21,000 kg
Dimensions: Length: 8.0 m; Width: 3.0 m; Height: 3.0 m
SH-11 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - China
SH-11 - China
The Chinese defense industry has developed a new 155mm 8x8 wheeled self-propelled howitzer called SH-11. The new artillery system will be unveiled during AirShow China 2018, which will take place in Zhuhai (China) from 6 to 11 November 2018. 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 155mm cannon. The vehicle is fitted with a turret armed with one 155 mm/L39 howitzer. 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).
Technical Data:
Armament: One 152mm 39 caliber
Range cannon: 25 km with standard ammunition; 40 km with rocket-assisted projectiles
Weight: 36,000 kg
Dimensions: Length: 10 m; Width: 8 m; Height: 3 m
T5-52 on Tatra chassis 155mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - South Africa
T5-52 Tatra chassis - South Africa
The T5-45/52 also named Condor is 155mm truck-mounted artillery system designed and developed by the South African Company Denel Land Systems. The system was developed for the Indian market after a request for a new wheeled self-propelled howitzer. The T-5-52 was presented during the Pakistan defense exhibition IDEAS in November 2016. The T5-45/52 is armed with the G5 155mm howitzer top-carriage in 52 or 45 caliber configuration mounted at the rear of an 8x8 TATRA truck chassis. Using base bleed projectiles, the weapon has a range of 42.5 km at sea level. The firing range can be extended to 53,9 km using V-LAP (Velocity Enhanced Long Range) ammunition.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 155mm 45 or 52 caliber cannon
Range cannon: 42.54 km with base bleed projectiles; 53.9 with Velocity Enhanced Long Range ammunition
Weight: 28,000 kg
Dimensions: Length: 10.1 m; Width: 2.9 m; Height: 3.48 m
Type 19 on MAN chassis 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - Japan
Type 19 - Japan
The Type 19 is a Japanese 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed locally in Japan for the Japanese armed forces. The Japanese MOD's evaluation finished in 2012 and requested 6.4 billion yen be invested into the development of the vehicle in the FY 2013 defense budget; with development and testing occurring between 2013 and 2016. On 31 May 2018, the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) received 5 prototypes from Japan Steel Works for testing and evaluation. Seven wheeled howitzers were procured for training purposes in the FY 2019 defense budget for a total of 5.1 billion yen. The new artillery system was officially unveiled in the 2019 East Fuji Maneuver Area. The main armament of the vehicle consists of one L52 155 mm gun mounted on the back of an 8x8 RMMV HX MAN military truck chassis. It has a maximum firing of 30 km with standard High Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG) shell and approximately 38 km with rocket-assisted shell, with a maximum rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 152mm 52 caliber
Range cannon: 30 km with standard ammunition; 38 km with rocket-assisted projectiles
Weight: 23,000 kg
Dimensions: Length: NA m; Width: NA m; Height: NA m
Zuzana 2 152mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer - Slovakia
Zuzana 2 - Slovakia
The Zuzana 2 is an upgraded version of the Zuzana 155 mm 45 caliber version of the Dana 152 mm 8x8 self-propelled gun-howitzer designed and manufactured by the Slovak Company Konstrukta – Defence. The Zuzana 2 is armed with a new 155m 52 caliber gun. It has new firing capabilities allowing multiple round simultaneous impact (MRSI) operations. The Zuzana 2 was showed for the first time to the public in May 2013 at IDET defense exhibition in the Czech Republic and in May 2014, at IDEB defense exhibition in Bratislava, Slovakia. This artillery vehicle is fitted with an automatic loading system that enables a maximum firing range in automatic mode of 5 rounds per minute or 5 rounds in one minute. It has a minimum firing range of 5 km and a maximum range of 41 km with ERFB-BB shells.
Technical Data:
Armament: One 152 mm 52 caliber
Range cannon: 41 km when using ERFB-BB (Extended Range Full-Bore - Base Bleed) shells
Weight: 32,400 kg
Dimensions: Length: 14.2 m; Width: 3.02 m; Height: 3.52 m
