SOURCE: AFI
On April 27, 2025, reports surfaced on social media platforms, including posts on X, alleging that the Pakistan Army has deployed Chinese-origin SH-15 truck-mounted 155mm/52-caliber artillery systems in populated areas of Lahore, raising concerns about potential military strategies and their implications for regional security. These advanced howitzers, capable of striking targets up to 53 kilometers away with rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP), could theoretically reach the Indian city of Amritsar, located approximately 50 kilometers from Lahore.
Speculation suggests that Pakistan may be adopting tactics observed in the Ukraine conflict, concealing heavy weaponry within civilian areas to complicate targeting and response. This development has sparked debate about Pakistan’s military intentions, the role of Chinese defense technology, and the risks of escalating tensions along the India-Pakistan border.
The SH-15, also known as the PCL-181 in its Chinese domestic configuration, is a 155mm/52-caliber wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed by China’s North Industries Corporation (NORINCO). Mounted on a 6×6 Shaanxi truck chassis, the SH-15 is designed for mobility, rapid deployment, and precision firepower. With a combat weight of approximately 25 tons, it is lighter than tracked howitzers, making it suitable for rapid airlift and operations in varied terrain. The system features an automatic fire-control system, a semi-automatic loading mechanism, and a maximum firing rate of six rounds per minute.
The SH-15’s versatility lies in its ability to fire a range of ammunition, including high-explosive, laser-guided, satellite-guided, and rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP). With RAP shells, the howitzer achieves a maximum range of 53 kilometers, while very-long-range artillery projectiles (VLAP) can extend this to 50 kilometers or more. Pakistan ordered 236 SH-15 howitzers in 2019, with deliveries beginning in January 2022 and a second batch of 56 units received in 2023. The system is also reportedly capable of firing nuclear artillery shells, a feature that amplifies its strategic significance, particularly in the context of Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine and its rivalry with India.
Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city and a major cultural and economic hub, lies just 50 kilometers from the Indian border and the city of Amritsar. The reported deployment of SH-15 howitzers in Lahore’s populated areas has raised alarms, particularly due to the system’s range and destructive potential. With RAP shells, the SH-15 could theoretically strike Amritsar, a major Indian city with historical and religious significance, posing a direct threat to civilian and military targets. This proximity underscores the delicate balance of deterrence and escalation along the India-Pakistan border, where both nations maintain significant military presence.
Posts on X have suggested that Pakistan may be emulating tactics observed in the Ukraine conflict, where artillery and other heavy weapons have been concealed within civilian areas to deter counterstrikes and complicate targeting. Such strategies, often referred to as “human shield” tactics, aim to leverage the presence of civilians to reduce the likelihood of retaliation, as adversaries may hesitate to strike densely populated areas. If true, this approach would mark a significant shift in Pakistan’s military tactics, raising ethical and humanitarian concerns. However, these claims remain speculative, as no official confirmation from Pakistani or Indian authorities has been issued.
The SH-15’s “shoot and scoot” capability enhances its suitability for such tactics. This feature allows the howitzer to fire rapidly and relocate before counter-battery fire can be directed, making it difficult to neutralize. The system’s mobility, combined with its advanced fire-control systems and guided munitions, enables precise strikes with minimal exposure. By positioning these weapons in urban environments, Pakistan could theoretically maximize their survivability while maintaining offensive capabilities against Indian targets.
The deployment of SH-15 howitzers in Lahore, if verified, would have profound implications for India-Pakistan relations, which have been strained by decades of territorial disputes, cross-border terrorism, and military standoffs. The India-Pakistan border, particularly along the Line of Control (LoC), has been relatively calm since a ceasefire agreement was reaffirmed in February 2021. However, the introduction of advanced artillery systems capable of striking deep into Indian territory could undermine this fragile truce.
India has responded to Pakistan’s artillery modernization with its own acquisitions, including the K-9 Vajra tracked howitzers and M777 ultra-light howitzers, both of which are capable of firing guided munitions like the M982 Excalibur. However, India’s procurement of mobile 155mm artillery systems has faced delays, putting it at a comparative disadvantage against Pakistan’s rapidly expanding SH-15 fleet. The Indian Army has been exploring domestic options, such as the DRDO’s Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) and Kalyani’s Mounted Artillery Gun (MaRG), but these programs are still in development or trial phases.
The potential nuclear capability of the SH-15 adds another layer of complexity. Reports suggest that Pakistan has been working on miniaturizing nuclear warheads since the 1980s, with claims of achieving a small nuclear warhead by 2011. If integrated into 155mm shells, such warheads could be delivered by the SH-15, posing a catastrophic threat to Indian cities and military formations near the border. This capability aligns with Pakistan’s strategy of countering India’s conventional superiority with tactical nuclear weapons, particularly in response to India’s “Cold Start” doctrine, which envisions rapid, limited incursions into Pakistani territory.
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