| AH4 Lightweight Towed Howitzer | |
|---|---|
| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | China |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 2016–present |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4,500 kg (9,900 lb)[1] |
| Crew | 7 |
| Shell | 155mm ERFB-HB/HE, ERFB-Base Bleed/HE, ERFB-Rocket Assist/HE, Laser Guided GP6 |
| Caliber | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
| Carriage | split trail |
| Elevation | −3° to +72° |
| Effective firing range | ERFB-HB/HE: 25 km (15.53 mi) ERFB-Base Bleed/HE: 30 km (18.6 mi) base bleed ERFB-Rocket Assist/HE: 40 km (25 mi) LGP GP6: 25 km (15.53 mi) |
The AH4 howitzer is a Chinese 155 mm towed howitzer system manufactured by Norinco.[2] Its main characteristic is that it has been designed to be lightweight, which allows greater tactical mobility. The weight of 4,500 kg, compared to a traditional system that can weigh 18,000 kg,[3] allows the system to be airlifted via heavy-lift helicopters like the CH-47orMi-26, or transport aircraft like a C-130orY-8. Also, as a modern howitzer system, it possesses a range of engagement of up to 40 km using rocket-assisted projectiles.[2]
Because of its greatly reduced weight, the AH4 can be used in mountain warfare, which was traditionally filled by more portable howitzers such as the 76 mm mountain gun M48or105 mm OTO Melara Mod 56.[3]
The body of the system has forward stabilizers as well as spades and dampers.[4] It has a cannon that can fire 155mm/39 calibre shells with an elevation angle from -3° up to 72° with a traverse limit of 22°. The hydro-pneumatic suspension allows for quick deployment of around 3 minutes and packing in 2 minutes.
AH4 has an initial rate of fire up to 5 rounds per minute, and with continuous firing at 2 rounds per minute.
According to Defense World, in 2016 Norinco's AH4-155 won its first export order from an unidentified customer from the Middle East, it beat the M-777 counterpart from BAE systems.[6] In February 2019, the United Arab Emirates confirmed it had procured the AH4 howitzers, and that it had received at least one batch of six systems.[7]
