Vietnam unveils homegrown PTH-152: Strategic blend of old firepower, new mobility

Vietnam has taken a major step in its artillery modernisation drive with the debut of the PTH-152 self-propelled howitzer. Unveiled during the 80th Anniversary National Achievements Exhibition in Hanoi, the system represents a significant leap in Vietnam’s long-running efforts to adapt legacy artillery into more survivable and mobile formats.

Developed by Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group, the PTH-152 integrates the Soviet-designed 152 mm D-20 howitzer with a KamAZ-6560 8×8 chassis, marking a striking example of Vietnam’s dual strategy of domestic innovation alongside foreign procurement, The Army Recognition outlines in its article. 

The new system is more than just another truck-mounted gun. Its design incorporates a protected cabin, rotating gun mount, hydraulic stabilisation jacks, and a host of electronic enhancements.

According to official specifications, the vehicle can carry five to six crew members in an armoured compartment rated to STANAG 4569 standards. For self-defence, the platform mounts a remote weapon station with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, laser-warning receivers to detect aerial threats, and 360° smoke grenade launchers.

At under 34 tons, the vehicle combines protection with relative mobility, reportedly capable of speeds up to 70 km/h on roads—though its minimum operational requirement is a modest 20 km/h.

Central to the system is the D-20 howitzer, a weapon with a storied history dating back to the 1950s. While often labelled “short-barreled” compared to modern NATO 155 mm artillery, the gun still provides effective ranges of 17 km with standard shells and 24 km with rocket-assisted rounds.

Observers quickly identified the gun from its distinctive muzzle brake and barrel profile. The use of separate-loading ammunition slows sustained fire compared to autoloaded systems, but automation within the PTH-152 has reduced crew size and improved accuracy, with the fire-control system capable of elevation and azimuth accuracy of 0.06 degrees.

Vietnam’s push toward truck-mounted artillery is not new. Earlier initiatives, such as the PTH-105 and PTH-130, reflected an ongoing ambition to increase the mobility of legacy calibers. Improvised truck mounts for the D-20 were tested as early as the 1980s, but these lacked protection, stability, and standardised production.

The PTH-152, however, integrates digital fire-control, laser warning sensors, and electronic warfare suites—features that elevate it beyond makeshift solutions and align it with contemporary survivability requirements.

Official statements suggest the program is moving beyond the prototype stage. The General Department of Defence Industry has reportedly completed initial inspections, with trial firings planned.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam has directed production of an O-series batch for unit-level testing before mass production decisions are made. This announcement follows the August 20 establishment of Vietnam’s Artillery-Missile Command, signaling a wider institutional effort to streamline artillery modernisation.

Strategically, the PTH-152 complements rather than replaces Vietnam’s foreign acquisitions. Hanoi is simultaneously procuring South Korea’s K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, a state-of-the-art system with ranges exceeding 40 km.

The contrast highlights a dual-track approach: extending the life of existing 152 mm stockpiles through domestically built platforms while investing in modern Western-standard firepower. Analysts have compared this trajectory to Serbia’s NORA program, which evolved from 152 mm truck mounts into a family of 155 mm systems for global markets.

The benefits of the PTH-152 are clear: enhanced mobility, increased survivability under counter-battery fire, and continued use of readily available ammunition. Its shortcomings are equally evident—limited range compared to 155 mm systems and reliance on manual ammunition handling.

Nonetheless, its integration of modern electronics and protected mobility represents a pragmatic adaptation for a country balancing cost constraints with the demands of modern warfare.

Looking ahead, the PTH-152’s operational relevance will depend on how well it integrates with enablers such as UAV reconnaissance, counter-battery radars, and digital communication networks. As armies worldwide shift from static artillery to dispersed, mobile fires, Vietnam’s latest project underscores a broader global trend: keeping legacy calibers relevant by marrying them to modern platforms.

By reviving the D-20 in a self-propelled format, Vietnam demonstrates both resourcefulness and strategic foresight. The PTH-152 is less about matching peer competitors’ cutting-edge artillery than about creating a cost-effective, survivable, and mobile system that bridges the gap between past stockpiles and future acquisitions.

In this sense, the “Make in Vietnam” PTH-152 is not merely a new gun on wheels—it is a statement of Vietnam’s evolving defence industry and its commitment to balancing tradition with modernisation.

By Sabina Mammadli