Vietnam’s defense industry has unveiled an upgraded variant of its PTH-130 self-propelled howitzer family, the PTH-130 Mk2, which mounts the Soviet-era 130 mm M-46 gun on a Russian KamAZ-6560 8×8 truck chassis. Images and reporting published on 4 October 2025 show the new layout offers a longer wheelbase, higher payload class (around 20 tonnes), and improved protection compared with the earlier KrAZ-255B-based prototype.
Key visible changes include an armored driver/commander cab rated to defeat 7.62 mm rounds, large deck ammunition stowage, and rear hydraulic stabilizers that partially lift the rear axle group on emplacement to reduce recoil transmission into the frame. Vietnamese engineers present these measures as improvements in mobility, survivability, and firing stability relative to the prior KrAZ-based configuration.
The gun itself remains the 130 mm M-46 — a long-barrel, separate-loading field gun with reported muzzle velocities near 930 m/s. Unassisted HE rounds have a practical range around 27–27.5 km, while ERFB-BB and rocket-assisted projectiles can push reach toward roughly 37–38 km depending on charge and munition type. Public material indicates Vietnam is producing 130 mm rounds comparable to Soviet 130×845 mm R ammunition, with projectile masses often cited in the low-30 kg range for some types.
Photographs and initial descriptions do not show an integrated digital fire control suite or an autoloading system; ammunition handling therefore appears largely manual and separate-loading. Historically, the towed M-46 could achieve short-burst cyclic rates of about 6–8 rounds per minute — practical sustained rates on the wheeled mount will depend on onboard stowage and handling arrangements. The addition of a semi-automatic loader and modern fire control would materially improve accuracy, delivery times, and sustained fire.
The PTH family reflects a long Vietnamese practice of mounting legacy towed guns on truck chassis, from early PTH-105 and PTH-85 experiments to the 2021 PTH-130 prototype. Development has involved military research institutions and state engineering facilities, and the shift to KamAZ components mirrors similar work seen on the PTH-152 project — a KamAZ-6560-based 152 mm truck-mounted howitzer showcased with armored cab, rotating mount, hydraulic jacks, and higher electronic integration.
Vietnam’s procurement of South Korean K9 Thunder tracked howitzers indicates a dual modernization strategy: reusing proven Soviet-era calibers while fielding modern 152/155 mm platforms. Initial inspections and firing-trial preparations for the PTH-130 Mk2 reportedly are underway, with senior leaders ordering accelerated testing prior to consideration of series production and unit acceptance.
If trials prove positive and further integration follows, the PTH-130 Mk2 could be marketed as a lower-cost, long-range wheeled artillery option that leverages existing 130 mm stockpiles and complements indigenous and imported 152/155 mm systems. Its operational and export value will ultimately hinge on decisions to add modern fire control, partial automation, counter-battery radar and UAV integration, and whether the program advances from prototype trials into full O-series production.
