Product Description
The AH-4 howitzer is a lightweight 155mm towed artillery system manufactured by Norinco, a Chinese state-owned defense company. Primarily designed for the export market, it utilizes advanced materials such as aluminum and titanium alloys, resulting in a combat weight of only 4,500 kg, facilitating airlift by medium-sized helicopters such as the CH-47 Chinook.
The system is equipped with a 39-caliber barrel and can fire NATO standard 155mm ammunition, including long-range full-bore base-bleed projectiles and rocket-assisted projectiles. Its maximum rate of fire is 5 rounds per minute, with a standard range of approximately 24 km. It is compatible with precision-guided weapons such as the GP6 laser-guided projectile, with a range of 6 to 25 km and a reported first-shot hit probability of up to 90%. The system employs a hydropneumatic suspension system, enabling rapid towing and high mobility. Installation takes less than 3 minutes, towing time is only 2 minutes, and the operator requires 5 to 7 personnel. Its elevation range is -3° to +72°, and its lateral rotation angle is 22°.
The AH4 howitzer is equipped with a 155mm L/39 caliber gun, designed to be compatible with NATO standard 155mm ammunition, including high-explosive (HE), rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP), base-bleed projectiles, and extended-range full-bore (ERFB) projectiles. The barrel employs a semi-automatic vertical sliding breech mechanism and a muzzle brake to control recoil. The standard ammunition weighs 46.7 kg.
Ballistic performance varies depending on the ammunition: the maximum range is 25 km for standard HE shells, up to 30 km for ERFB base-bleed projectiles, and up to 40 km for rocket-assisted projectiles. The system has a maximum rate of fire of 4 to 5 rounds per minute in short bursts, with a sustained rate of fire limited to approximately 2 rounds per minute to prevent overheating. The gun is not equipped with secondary guns, emphasizing its role as a light towed artillery piece designed for rapid deployment rather than direct combat.