Pakistan Shows Interest In Denel's T5-52 Self-Propelled Howitzer: Display at IDEAS 2016

Pakistan has shown interest in buying Denel’s T5-52 truck-mounted self-propelled howitzer that would be displayed at the IDEAS 2016, held from 22 November in Karachi, Pakistan.

It is speculated that Pakistan would buy T5-52 howitzer in the wake of India last week having approved a $737 million purchase of BAE Systems 145 M-777 ultra-light howitzers from the US. 

In August, defenceWeb reported that Pakistan as possible client of the T5-52 owing to the fact that over the past decade the Pakistan Army has been in the process of modernizing its artillery assets.

In 2008, the Pakistan Army had procured two SH-1 truck-mounted 155 mm howitzers from China for testing. However it is unclear if additional units had been ordered since.

Denel’s T5-52 presentation at IDEAS could mark the start of a concerted marketing and sales campaign for the system (and potentially its sibling systems) in Pakistan. If successful, it would mark the first open big-ticket sale between the South African defence giant and the Pakistani armed forces.

The Denel T5-52 is a 155 mm/52 calibre gun mounted to a Tatra T815-7 8×8 truck. The T5-52 can begin firing within one minute of the truck stopping. Its maximum range is 30 km with standard shells, 42.5 km with base bleed shells, and 55 km with velocity enhanced projectiles.

The full system weighs 38 tons and can reach a top speed of 85 km/h. In general, a truck-mounted artillery system can be used in rapid-deployment and asymmetrical combat scenarios (e.g. counterinsurgency).

Denel Group will also be exhibiting hardware and services from its other divisions, e.g. Denel Dynamics, at IDEAS. The Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy had expressed interest in the A-Darter within-visual-range air-to-air missile and Umkhon to surface-to-air missile, respectively.

The M-777 deal between India and US would be signed within the next two to three weeks. The Pentagon’s Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LoA) to India is valid till November 20, but the same can be extended by another 10 to 15 days, if needed, Defense ministry officials were quoted as saying by Tehelka Thursday.