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Can Pakistan's China-Made SH-15 Howitzer Match Up To India's K-9 Vajra Power?

Last Updated: Military experts in India are dismissive of the SH-15's effectiveness when compared with the home-deployed K-9 Vajra. In the aftermath of the deadly April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which left 26 people dead, Pakistan finds itself gripped by a growing fear of retaliation from India. As tensions flare across the Line of Control (LoC), Islamabad has launched an extensive military build-up, deploying air defence and artillery units along the border, intensifying a state of high alert that spans land and air. The Pakistani Air Force has activated a triad of military exercises – Fiza-e-Badr, Lalkar-e-Momin, and Zarb-e-Haideri – involving advanced combat aircraft like the F-16, J-10, and JF-17. Meanwhile, the Pakistani Army has moved forward with the deployment of its latest Chinese-acquired artillery system – the SH-15 howitzer. Delivered under a 2019 agreement with China's Norinco group, the SH-15 is a 155 mm/52-caliber self-propelled howitzer mounted on a 6×6 Shaanxi truck chassis. Its ability to fire both NATO-standard and GPS-guided munitions, combined with a range of up to 53 kilometres and shoot-and-scoot capability, makes it a key feature of Pakistan's artillery modernisation. Significantly, some military analysts in Pakistan claim the system is capable of launching tactical nuclear shells – a claim that remains untested on the battlefield. However, military experts in India are dismissive of the SH-15's effectiveness when compared with the home-deployed K-9 Vajra. Developed in collaboration with South Korea and inducted into the Indian Army in 2018, the K-9 Vajra boasts similar range but superior rate of fire – 6 to 8 rounds per minute – and enhanced targetting through a robust digital fire control and inertial navigation system. Its 50-tonne tracked chassis provides greater battlefield endurance and mobility across deserts and mountainous terrains, giving it a significant edge over Pakistan's wheeled SH-15. Currently, India has nearly 100 K-9 Vajra units which are backed by the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launch system, giving the Army a comprehensive tactical advantage. The Pahalgam massacre, in which terrorists reportedly executed tourists based on their religion, drew sharp condemnation and raised public and political calls for a forceful response. As India and Pakistan bolster their positions along the LoC, the specter of war looms larger than it has in recent years. First Published: May 02, 2025, 15:07 IST