In the 2023 Sudan War, AH-4 howitzers were documented with the Rapid Support Forces: Yale HRL identified four artillery pieces consistent with AH-4s near El Fasher and Zamzam in December 2024 and assessed them as likely engaged in the RSF bombardment campaign, while Amnesty identified an AH-4 among weapons left by retreating RSF forces in Khartoum on 27-28 March 2025.
Artillery
AH-4 155 mm howitzer
Also known as
- AH4
- AH-4
- AH4 Lightweight Towed Howitzer
- AH4 155 mm/39
- AH-4 155 mm/39-caliber Lightweight Gun-howitzer
- Norinco AH4
The AH-4 is a Chinese Norinco 155 mm/39-caliber lightweight towed howitzer built around rapid emplacement, sling-load mobility, and export-compatible ammunition. Open sources describe a 4,500 kg gun with 25-40 km range depending on projectile type, while 2023 Sudan War evidence ties AH-4-class artillery to RSF fire-support positions near El Fasher and Zamzam and to RSF-abandoned materiel in Khartoum.
Role in Conflicts
Sudan Evidence
The Sudan evidence has two separate strands. Yale HRL used satellite imagery and expert review to identify four artillery pieces consistent with AH-4 howitzers northeast of El Fasher and within range of El Fasher and Zamzam in December 2024. Amnesty later identified an AH-4 in video of weapons left behind after RSF forces retreated from Khartoum on 27-28 March 2025.
Darfur position evidence
Four AH-4-consistent artillery pieces near El Fasher and Zamzam, assessed as likely engaged in the RSF bombardment campaign.
Source: Yale HRL RSF Artillery and Zamzam Evacuation.
Khartoum materiel evidence
An AH-4 identified in video of weapons left by RSF forces after their late-March 2025 Khartoum retreat.
Source: Sudan: Advanced Chinese weaponry provided by UAE identified in breach of arms embargo.
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- China
- Built by
- Norinco
- Type
- 155 mm lightweight towed howitzer
- Service note
- Publicly displayed in 2015; production-readiness reported in 2016; documented in 2023 Sudan War use from 2024-2025
- Designer
- Norinco
- Designed
- Publicly displayed in 2015; development reported complete in 2016
- Unit cost
- Not publicly established
- Produced
- Ready for production from 2016; UAE acquisition confirmed in 2019
- Number built
- Not publicly established
Specifications
- Caliber
- 155 mm / 39-caliber ordnance
- Weight
- 4,500 kg
- Crew
- 7, or 5 with a reduced detachment
- Deployment
- Ready to fire in under 3 minutes; towed position in about 2 minutes
- Elevation
- -3 to 72 degrees
- Traverse
- 22 degrees left and right
- Rate of fire
- About 5 rounds per minute maximum
- Range
- 25 km with ERFB-HB/HE; 30 km with ERFB-BB/HE; up to 40 km with ERFB-BB-RA/HE
- Guided projectile
- Norinco GP6 155 mm laser-guided projectile, reported with 6-25 km range and a manufacturer-claimed 90 percent first-round hit probability
- Ammunition
- ERFB-HB/HE, ERFB-BB/HE, ERFB-BB-RA/HE, NATO-standard 155 mm projectiles, and precision-guided 155 mm projectiles
- Carriage
- Body and saddle assembly with forward stabilizers, split trails, self-digging spades, and dampers
- Mobility
- Lightweight towed system designed for sling-load transport and rapid repositioning
Lightweight Gun Design
The AH-4 is built around a 155 mm/39-caliber ordnance package in a much lighter towed carriage than older heavy 155 mm guns. Army Recognition describes a body-and-saddle carriage with forward stabilizers, split trails, self-digging spades, and dampers, while The Diplomat reports a hydro-pneumatic suspension intended to let the crew emplace or leave a firing position quickly.
Emplacement
Ready to fire in under three minutes; ready to move in about two minutes.
Sources: China presents its AH4 155mm lightweight towed howitzer as counterpart of American M777; NORINCO AH4 155 mm howitzers for United Arab Emirates army.
Range drivers
25 km with ERFB-HB/HE, 30 km with ERFB-BB/HE, and up to 40 km with rocket-assisted ERFB-BB-RA/HE.
Range depends on projectile type and source assumptions about accuracy at maximum range.
Precision option
Norinco GP6 155 mm laser-guided projectile, reported with 6-25 km range.
The first-round hit probability figure is manufacturer-claimed in reporting, not independently verified combat performance.
Ammunition Fired
The AH-4 is documented as a 155 mm / 39-caliber howitzer that can fire western-made 155 mm rounds as well as Norinco-marketed ERFB and guided projectile families.
| Ammunition | Ammunition type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 155 mm artillery ammunition family | ODIN says the AH-4 can fire western-made 155 mm/39-caliber rounds, Army Recognition describes the gun as 155 mm / 39-caliber ordnance, and Army Recognition's 2015 show report says the AH4 can fire NATO 155 mm and precision-guided projectiles. Sources: AH-4 Chinese 155mm Towed Howitzer - ODIN, China presents its AH4 155mm lightweight towed howitzer as counterpart of American M777, NORINCO AH4 155 mm howitzers for United Arab Emirates army |
Timeline
AH-4 155 mm howitzer Key Events
AH4 displayed at Defense & Security 2015
Army Recognition reported Norinco's AH4 155 mm lightweight towed howitzer at the Defense & Security exhibition in Bangkok, describing it as a 155 mm/39-caliber system able to fire NATO 155 mm and precision-guided projectiles.
Development reported complete
The Diplomat, citing IHS Jane's International Defence Review, reported that Norinco had completed development of the AH-4 and said serial production could begin immediately.
UAE acquisition reported
Army Recognition reported that the United Arab Emirates had confirmed purchase of Norinco AH4 howitzers and had received at least one batch of six lightweight 155 mm/39-caliber guns.
Yale HRL identifies AH-4-consistent artillery in North Darfur
Yale HRL identified four artillery pieces consistent with Norinco AH4 howitzers northeast of El Fasher and within range of El Fasher and Zamzam, assessing them as likely engaged in the RSF bombardment campaign.
Amnesty identifies AH-4 after Khartoum retreat
Amnesty International said it identified a Norinco 155 mm AH-4 howitzer in video of weapons left by RSF forces after their 27-28 March 2025 retreat from Khartoum.
Media
AH-4 155 mm howitzer Images
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
China presents its AH4 155mm lightweight towed howitzer as counterpart of American M777Publisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports AH4 display at Defense & Security 2015, Norinco manufacturer context, 155 mm/39-caliber identity, NATO and precision-guided projectile compatibility, carriage details, deployment times, crew, and 25-40 km ammunition-dependent range. | Accessed: 2026-07-03China Will Soon Field New Lightweight Gun HowitzerPublisher: The Diplomat | Note: Supports development-complete and production-readiness reporting, rapid-reaction/lightweight design context, 40 km maximum range reporting, ERFB range distinctions, and GP6 projectile context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03NORINCO AH4 155 mm howitzers for United Arab Emirates armyPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports the AH-4 background, Norinco manufacturer context, UAE purchase, 4,500 kg weight, 7-person crew, deployment times, elevation, traverse, rate-of-fire, ammunition family, GP6, and CH-47F sling-load context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03AH-4 Chinese 155mm Towed Howitzer - ODINPublisher: U.S. Army ODIN | Note: Supports the AH-4 compatibility context by stating that the howitzer can fire all western-made 155 mm/39 caliber rounds. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Yale HRL RSF Artillery and Zamzam EvacuationPublisher: Yale School of Public Health Humanitarian Research Lab | Note: Supports 2023 Sudan War direct conflict-use: Yale HRL identified four artillery pieces consistent with Norinco AH4 155 mm howitzers near El Fasher and Zamzam, assessed them as likely engaged in the RSF bombardment campaign, and placed them within range of both locations. | Accessed: 2026-07-03El Fasher and Zamzam camp shelling: Yale HRL report confirms RSF heavy artillery presence in North DarfurPublisher: Dabanga Radio TV Online | Note: Supports 2023 Sudan War direct conflict-use by summarizing Yale HRL's identification of four AH4-consistent artillery pieces near El Fasher and Zamzam and the assessment that they were likely involved in RSF bombardment. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Sudan: Advanced Chinese weaponry provided by UAE identified in breach of arms embargoPublisher: Amnesty International | Note: Supports 2023 Sudan War direct conflict-use: Amnesty International identified a Norinco 155 mm AH-4 howitzer in video of weapons left by RSF forces after their 27-28 March 2025 Khartoum retreat and assessed the weapons as almost certainly re-exported by the UAE. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Photos of the day: Norinco AH-4 155 mm/39 calibre Lightweight HowitzerPublisher: China Defense Blog | Note: Supports image provenance for the selected AH-4 gallery images; the page embeds multiple AH-4 photographs and attributes them to Modern Weaponry, but does not provide open-license reuse terms. | Accessed: 2026-07-03