According to Hammer of War on November 16, 2023, the Ethiopian Armed Forces recently showcased a part of their 32 SH-15 155mm self-propelled howitzers manufactured by the Chinese company Norinco. According to open sources, the unit price of the SH-15 is estimated to be around $2.1 million, based on a previous export order.
In the early 2000s, China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) commenced the development of a series of self-propelled howitzers, drawing inspiration from the French CAESAR artillery system. The aim was to manufacture a range of artillery platforms mounted on truck chassis specifically for export purposes.
Introduced in 2017 as a successor to the SH-1, the SH-15, a 6×6 155mm self-propelled howitzer, gained recognition as an export success. It secured significant orders from Pakistan, ranging between 236 to 300 units, and Ethiopia procured 32 units. Subsequently, it became part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) arsenal, designated as Pào Che Liúdànpào 181 (PCL-181).