the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), also referred to as the FDRE Defense Force, converted several Chinese-made WZ551 6×6 armored personnel carriers (APCs), originally designed for troop transport, into self-propelled howitzers by integrating Soviet-era D-30 122mm towed howitzers. This announcement follows ongoing efforts by the Ethiopian military to improve its combat readiness, a focus that has been prominent since August 1, 2016, under the leadership of the head of defense logistics.
These D-30 howitzers, typically used as towed artillery pieces, have been installed in a manner that allows for operation from within the troop compartment of the WZ551 APC. A new armor shield has been added to provide limited frontal protection for the operators. A photograph released on August 7 depicted at least four such modified vehicles, believed to be located at the Defence Engineering Industry Corporation near Bishoftu, a key facility in Ethiopia’s defense sector.
This effort to repurpose the WZ551 into a mobile artillery platform is consistent with previous Ethiopian military practices, where available resources have been adapted to meet specific needs. Historically, the Ethiopian armed forces have employed similar methods, such as mounting D-30 howitzers on T-55 tank chassis to create Soviet-style self-propelled guns. The current modification of the WZ551 appears to be a continuation of these earlier efforts, albeit executed in a more organized fashion.
The decision to modify these vehicles comes despite Ethiopia’s recent acquisition of modern artillery systems, such as the Russian 2S19 Msta-S. As reported in November 2023, Ethiopia also recently received 32 SH-15 155mm self-propelled howitzers from China North Industries Corporation (Norinco), a more advanced system compatible with precision-guided munitions such as the GP155 or GP1. This raises questions about the continued use of older Soviet-era howitzers, given the availability of more modern options. It may suggest a strategy focused on maximizing the use of existing military assets while exploring cost-effective ways to enhance artillery mobility.