Vietnam modernizes its artillery forces with new PTH-152 self-propelled howitzer.

As reported by the X account T-54BVT on August 25, 2025, Vietnam has developed a new 8x8 self-propelled howitzer designated PTH-152, which was publicly shown during the 80th Anniversary National Achievements Exhibition held in Hanoi from August 28 to September 5, 2025. The system was produced by Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group and combines a Soviet-designed 152 mm D-20 howitzer with a KamAZ-6560 8×8 chassis.
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The PTH-152 centers on a KamAZ-6560 8×8 truck with a bullet-proof cabin and a rotating mount for the D-20, stabilized by four large hydraulic legs that address recoil and enable rapid emplacement. (Picture source: X/@EFFERCETAMOL)

This new self-propelled howitzer is fitted with an armored cab, a rotating gun mount, and stabilization jacks. Its display coincided with Viettel presenting more than 50 civil and military products at the 80th Anniversary National Achievements Exhibition, which also included UAVs, air-defense radar systems, missile complexes, and secure communication technologies. The self-propelled artillery system was officially described as “Make in Vietnam” and intended to provide long-range fire support for infantry and armored formations through higher mobility than towed systems. The PTH-152 features several integrated systems beyond the main gun. Technical information from the exhibition materials highlights the inclusion of an automated fire-control system, electronic warfare equipment, a power distribution unit, and a communication suite.

Crew protection is rated to STANAG 4569 standards, with seating for five to six personnel inside the protected cab. For additional defense, the platform is fitted with a remote weapon station armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, a set of four laser-warning receivers angled upwards to detect aerial threats, and smoke-grenade launchers configured to provide full 360° coverage. The total combat weight is reported to be under 34 tons, and the maximum speed is listed as not less than 20 km/h, though other reports indicate road speeds up to 70 km/h are feasible on its 8×8 wheeled base. The system’s barrel control has an automatic elevation and azimuth accuracy of 0.06 degrees, and the maximum rate of fire is at least four rounds per minute.

The artillery piece itself is the M1955 D-20 152 mm howitzer, which retains the same ballistic characteristics as the towed version. The gun is capable of ranges around 17 kilometers with standard high-explosive shells and up to 24 kilometers when using rocket-assisted projectiles. Observers identified the D-20 from the muzzle brake design and barrel profile, and the system is described as “short-barreled” compared to modern 155 mm artillery. The D-20 uses separate-loading ammunition and, in its towed form, typically requires a crew of eight, though in the PTH-152 configuration, crew size has been reduced due to partial automation and protected vehicle integration. The vehicle’s hydraulic stabilizers are necessary to absorb recoil during firing, reflecting the relatively high stresses generated by this ordnance. The rotating turret design allows for quicker laying compared to towed versions, but ammunition handling remains manual, limiting the sustained rate of fire.

Vietnam has a history of adapting towed artillery into mobile systems. Earlier projects include the PTH-105, which mounted U.S. M101 howitzers on Ural and M548 chassis, and the PTH-130, which placed the Soviet M-46 130 mm gun on a KrAZ-255B truck frame and was first displayed in 2021. Experiments to mount the D-20 on trucks date back to the 1980s and 1990s, when improvised builds were trialed on GAZ-63 and other platforms. These early efforts often required major modifications, such as removing cabs and moving shields forward to accommodate the gun, and they remained semi-autonomous rather than standardized production models. The PTH-152 reflects a continuation of these earlier attempts, but with the addition of modern features such as protected cabins, laser warning sensors, electronic warfare integration, and digital fire control. Alongside the PTH-152, the PTH-130 prototype was also shown at the exhibition, underlining Vietnam’s incremental development path in truck-mounted artillery.

Official statements confirm that the General Department of Defense Industry has completed manufacturing and assembly of the new self-propelled howitzer and has conducted initial inspections. According to reports dated August 30, 2025, the system met technical and tactical requirements during internal evaluation, and preparations for trial firing are underway. Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam, Deputy Minister of National Defense, directed further acceleration of research, production of an O-series batch, and unit-level testing before considering mass production. He also instructed that after the completion of the production phase, the results should be submitted for review by an evaluation council under the Ministry of National Defense. The announcement came shortly after the establishment of a new Artillery-Missile Command on August 20, intended to streamline and modernize Vietnam’s artillery structure, with emphasis on compact force organization, new weaponry, and expanded tasks.

The introduction of the PTH-152 occurs in parallel with Vietnam’s procurement of modern artillery from abroad, most notably the South Korean K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. This indicates a dual-track modernization approach, in which legacy calibers like the D-20 continue to be adapted into mobile formats for cost efficiency, while new long-range systems are acquired to extend capability. Analysts have drawn comparisons to similar evolutions in other countries, such as Yugoslavia and later Serbia’s NORA program, where a 152 mm D-20 derivative formed the basis for successive truck-mounted artillery that eventually transitioned to 155 mm calibers for export markets. In Vietnam’s case, the PTH-152 could provide dispersed mobility and increased survivability under counter-battery fire, while allowing existing 152 mm ammunition stocks to remain in use. The system thus reflects a balance between resource constraints, available stockpiles, and the need to align with modern operational requirements.

Looking forward, the PTH-152’s relevance will depend on how it integrates with modern battlefield enablers such as counter-battery radars, UAV reconnaissance, and digital communications. While the ordnance limits range compared to modern 155 mm systems, the mobility and protection improvements address key survivability issues faced by towed artillery. Its place in Vietnam’s order of battle may be as a bridge capability, offering cost-conscious modernization while more advanced systems are introduced. The development also illustrates Vietnam’s broader pattern of combining indigenous production with selective imports, expanding its domestic defense industry while diversifying its artillery fleet. By reviving and reconfiguring the D-20 for self-propelled use, Vietnam extends the utility of an older but still widespread caliber, aligning its artillery modernization with global trends in truck-mounted systems designed to withstand counter-battery pressures and enhance operational flexibility.