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China NORINCO
PCL-181
A 6x6 truck-mounted 155 mm/52-caliber howitzer developed for PLA light and rapid-reaction artillery units, offering shoot-and-scoot mobility with an automated loading system. It has been publicly displayed at PLA parades and widely marketed for export.
In service since 2019 · 3 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
90
km/h
800
km range
155
mm gun
22,000
kg
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 3 operators
In service since 2019. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Max speed
Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.
- 90 km/h Stronger than 85% of artillery systems
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 800 km Top 6% of artillery systems
- Rate of fire
Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability.
- 6 rpm Stronger than 53% of artillery systems
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- 155 mm/52-caliber howitzer
- Caliber
Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better — ammunition commonality matters.
- 155 mm
- Max firing range
Maximum range of the main gun or rocket artillery (with assisted/extended-range munitions where noted). Higher extends reach.
- 53 km Stronger than 64% of artillery systems
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Combat weight
Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.
- 22,000 kg
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 5
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 3 Stronger than 42% of artillery systems
Specifications compiled from public NORINCO and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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MKE T-155 Fırtına Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the NORINCO PCL-181? +
The NORINCO PCL-181 has a maximum speed of 90 km/h.
What is the range of the NORINCO PCL-181? +
The NORINCO PCL-181 has a maximum range of 800 km.
How much does the NORINCO PCL-181 weigh? +
The NORINCO PCL-181 has a combat weight of 22,000 kg.
How many crew does the NORINCO PCL-181 require? +
The NORINCO PCL-181 requires a crew of 5.
What is the main armament of the NORINCO PCL-181? +
The NORINCO PCL-181's primary weapon is the 155 mm/52-caliber howitzer.
How many countries operate the NORINCO PCL-181? +
The NORINCO PCL-181 is operated by 3 countries.
How much does the NORINCO PCL-181 cost? +
NORINCO PCL-181: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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