Burkina Faso acquires long-range MLRS capability with Chinese SR5 for the first time.

According to information published by Hammer of War on X on 7 August 2025, Burkina Faso has received a major shipment of Chinese-manufactured military equipment, including VN22B fire support vehicles, PLL-05 120 mm self-propelled gun-mortars, and SR5 multiple rocket launch systems. This acquisition represents a significant boost to Burkina Faso’s land warfare capabilities and highlights a deepening defense partnership with Beijing. The SR5 system, in particular, offers the ability to fire both guided and unguided rockets, providing operational flexibility for precision strikes or saturation bombardment depending on mission requirements. The delivery underscores the government’s determination to rapidly integrate these assets into service as part of a broader effort to strengthen the armed forces amid persistent insurgent threats across the Sahel region.
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Chinese SR5 modular rocket system capable of firing guided and unguided rockets up to 70 km (Picture source: Weibo China Social Network)

The VN22B fire support vehicle, developed by NORINCO, is a highly mobile 6×6 wheeled armored platform designed to provide direct-fire support to mechanized infantry formations. Equipped with a stabilized 30 mm autocannon and advanced electro-optical fire control systems, it can engage both lightly armored vehicles and fortified positions while on the move. The vehicle’s modular armor package offers protection against 14.5 mm armor-piercing rounds and artillery shell fragments, while its diesel powerpack ensures a road speed exceeding 100 km/h and a range of over 800 km, making it well-suited for rapid maneuver warfare in the varied terrain of the Sahel.

The PLL-05 120 mm self-propelled gun-mortar combines the functionality of an artillery piece and a direct-fire support weapon. Mounted on a 6×6 wheeled chassis, the weapon is capable of delivering high-angle indirect fire with a maximum range of approximately 13 km using extended-range projectiles, as well as engaging targets directly with armor-piercing or high-explosive rounds at closer ranges. Its semi-automatic loading system allows a sustained rate of fire of 8 to 10 rounds per minute, and its integrated fire control system, coupled with GPS and inertial navigation, allows rapid targeting adjustments for shoot-and-scoot tactics. The combination of mobility and firepower makes the PLL-05 particularly effective in counter-insurgency and border security operations.

The SR5 multiple rocket launch system is a modular artillery platform capable of firing a range of calibers, including 122 mm and 220 mm rockets, from interchangeable launch pods. Depending on the munitions selected, the SR5 can achieve ranges from 40 km for standard rockets up to 70 km for guided variants, which are equipped with satellite-aided inertial guidance for enhanced accuracy. The system’s rapid reload capability and crew protection features enable sustained operations in contested environments. Its adaptability to fire precision strike munitions or conduct area saturation makes it a flexible tool for both offensive and defensive operations.

Burkina Faso’s decision to acquire these systems comes against a backdrop of intense domestic and regional security pressures. Internally, the country is battling multiple insurgent factions affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, which have entrenched themselves in rural areas and frequently target both military positions and civilian populations. Externally, instability in neighboring Mali and Niger has created a fluid operational environment with porous borders that insurgents exploit for cross-border movement. Diplomatic tensions with Western partners following the 2022 coup and subsequent alignment with the Alliance of Sahel States have shifted Ouagadougou’s strategic orientation toward non-Western suppliers, particularly China and Russia. In this context, the procurement of Chinese platforms represents both an urgent response to the tactical realities of asymmetric warfare and a broader geopolitical statement of Burkina Faso’s intent to diversify its defense partnerships while asserting greater strategic autonomy in a region marked by competing spheres of influence.

This development also fits into China’s broader strategic play across Africa, where Beijing is steadily positioning itself as an alternative to traditional Western defense suppliers. Leveraging competitive pricing, rapid delivery timelines, and flexible financing terms, China has been able to displace established European and American defense industries in several African markets. By providing not only hardware but also training, maintenance support, and in some cases integrated security infrastructure, Beijing strengthens its long-term influence over recipient nations’ defense capabilities and policy orientations. The supply of advanced systems to Burkina Faso aligns with this strategy, enabling China to expand its footprint in the Sahel while reinforcing political and economic ties that challenge Western dominance on the continent.

This procurement is part of President Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s defense modernization strategy launched on 31 December 2023, aimed at transitioning Burkina Faso’s armed forces toward a high-mobility, networked, and better-protected force. The choice of Chinese suppliers reflects a pragmatic calculation based on cost-effectiveness, accelerated delivery schedules, and favorable financing arrangements. The acquisition also signals a gradual realignment of Burkina Faso’s defense partnerships, diversifying away from exclusive reliance on Western suppliers toward closer cooperation with Beijing. Once fully integrated and supported by trained crews, the VN22B, PLL-05, and SR5 systems will substantially enhance the country’s capacity for high-intensity combat operations across the Sahel, offering the ability to rapidly deliver concentrated firepower against insurgent positions, provide direct fire support to advancing troops, and conduct long-range interdiction of enemy movements.