Through multiple donations of military equipment, the People’s Republic of China has been consolidating its relations with countries in Africa. One such country is Ethiopia, which, in addition to the significant Russian/Soviet-origin material in its Armed Forces inventory, also has Chinese-origin equipment such as the 6×6 WZ551 APCs manufactured by Norinco (designated as Type 92 by the People’s Liberation Army).
Thus, through a series of official photographs taken during a visit by military authorities to the Main Defense Logistics Directorate facilities, an image emerged that caught the attention of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) specialists. Among various systems and platforms, such as the Soviet-origin BM-21 Grad, a series of WZ551 APCs equipped with artillery cannons were observed, transforming them into a kind of wheeled Self-Propelled Artillery Vehicle (SPAV).
In the photograph officially released by the Ethiopian Ground Forces, four modified APCs equipped with what appear to be Soviet-origin 122mm D-30 artillery cannons can be seen.
The release of this type of image, noted in an official publication from August, generated not only initial surprise but also various questions regarding the modifications made to these Chinese-origin APCs. More precisely, concerns were raised about the changes made to the hulls of the APCs to accommodate the 122mm artillery howitzers, as well as whether they have been fitted with stabilizers to prevent suspension damage caused by the recoil of the cannon when firing.
Another question raised is how many 6×6 WZ551 APCs have been subjected to these modifications, changing their primary role from armored personnel carriers to fire support vehicles, and whether the Main Defense Logistics Directorate of Ethiopia has received assistance from Norinco in carrying out these modifications. Based on estimates, the Ethiopian Armed Forces have a fleet of approximately 20 such vehicles.
Evidence shows that various versions developed from the WZ551 platform have been equipped with larger caliber cannons, but always with the addition of a turret for such purposes and modifications to the suspension of the wheeled armored vehicle. Among these, past examples include the PTL-87 and PTL-97 variants used as assault guns, or the PLL-05 equipped with a 120mm mortar.
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