Saudis test PLZ-45 from China

[drg]

Woohoo! Here:
http://upiasiaonline.com/Security/2008/08/05/china_to_export_guns_to_saudi_arabia/3615/
Article not only good but also gives name of Chinese copy of Krasnapol.
Scuuoop!

[DavidDCM]

Nice, but he got a bit confused about the calibers. The Chinese PLZ-45 as well as the Russian 2S19 Msta-S use the 152 mm caliber instead of 155 mm. It's only the PLZ-05 SPH that is designed for Western style 155mm ammo. The article gives the impression as if all Chinese and Russian SPHs would use the same munitions as the NATO systems.

[Gollevainen]

Nope

PLZ-45 has also 155mm calbre weapon derivated from the chinese copy of GNH-45. The difference in the PLZ-05 and PLZ-45 weapon is that the latter has 45cal tube unlike it's succesor PLZ05 which has 52cal tube.

[tatra]

Besides, 2S19M1-155 comes with a computerised fire control system and a NATO standard 155 mm gun

http://topgun.rin.ru/cgi-bin/units.pl?lng=eng&unit=2071

http://www.deagel.com/Self-Propelled-Howitzers/MSTA-S_a000354001.aspx

(For logistical reasons, I doubt Saudi Arabia would switch from current - western - 155mm to - russian - 152mm, when they have the option of a russian system in 155mm)

[eckherl]

Woohoo! Here:
http://upiasiaonline.com/Security/2008/08/05/china_to_export_guns_to_saudi_arabia/3615/
Article not only good but also gives name of Chinese copy of Krasnapol.
Scuuoop!

That article inregards to the U.S protesting the sale to Kuwait is false, most likely the same case with Saudi Arabia also, these are not what we deem big ticket items in which we get to sell plenty of that to both countries. Also a little tid bit, Saudi Arabia has already purchased 3 Al Khalids for testing purposes.

[eckherl]

Here is a few photos of China`s little gem, I would also like to state that this is a pretty system and Kuwait has nothing but praise for them..