ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) has issued asignificant tender on 21 January 2026 for long-lead high-value forgingsunder Project P251, marking a key milestone in the development of a 155mm/52-calibre Truck Mounted Artillery Gun System (TMAGS). This wheeledself-propelled howitzer (SPH) is being designed as an original indigenoussystem primarily for Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), highlightingstrengthened bilateral defence ties and Pakistan’s growing role in advancedartillery manufacturing. The move underscores HIT’s capability to meethigh-standard requirements for export markets.
The project traces its origins to at least 2021, when HIT publiclydisclosed efforts to develop an indigenous 155 mm artillery gun. Initialannouncements focused on the gun’s development without specifyingconfiguration, but subsequent testing proved successful. According to theMinistry of Defence Production (MoDP) Yearbook covering 2022-2024, thesepositive trials paved the way for SAMI to select HIT as the primecontractor in 2022 for a full-fledged SPH system.
Project P251 represents a continuation and escalation of that earlier work,transitioning from a standalone artillery piece to a complete truck-mountedself-propelled platform. The TMAGS design emphasises mobility, firepower,and compatibility with modern operational demands, positioning it as aversatile asset for armoured and mechanised forces in diverse terrains.
A notable feature of the recent tender is the procurement of specifichigh-quality European-grade alloys, including 40NiCrMoV15, 35NiCrMoV12-5,35NiCrMoV12-5Mod, and notably 35NiCrMoV15Mod. These materials arerecognised for their application in next-generation 155 mm howitzersystems, offering superior strength, durability, and resistance to extremestresses during firing.
The choice of these alloys strongly suggests that SAMI has mandated thedevelopment to align with NATO or near-NATO standards. Such specificationsensure interoperability with standardised ammunition and components,enhancing the system’s appeal for Saudi forces and potential export toother militaries adhering to similar benchmarks.
The tender specifically targets components for critical subsystems: sevenitems for the recoil mechanism, three for breech assembly, and two for thecarriage structure. Strikingly, the barrel is excluded from theserequirements, as Pakistan possesses indigenous manufacturing capability for155 mm barrels, a testament to HIT’s established expertise in artilleryproduction.
This selective outsourcing of long-lead items allows HIT to focus on coreintegration and assembly domestically while sourcing specialised forgingsthat demand advanced metallurgical processes. The approach optimises cost,technology transfer, and local value addition in the overall project.
An important technical detail in the tender is the requirement for alloysto maintain performance tolerances down to -40°C. This extreme cold-weatherresilience goes beyond the typical demands of the hot Arabian Gulfenvironment, indicating broader operational ambitions.
The specification likely reflects Saudi military requirements forversatility across varied climates, possibly for deployments in diverseregions or joint exercises. Alternatively, it may anticipate future needsof the Pakistan Army, which could adopt the TMAGS to modernise itsartillery fleet with a wheeled, highly mobile system.
Wheeled SPHs offer distinct advantages over tracked variants, includinghigher road speeds, reduced logistical footprint, and easier strategicmobility. These features make them suitable for rapid deployment inexpeditionary scenarios or vast desert theatres, aligning well with Saudioperational priorities.
The collaboration between HIT and SAMI exemplifies growing defenceindustrial partnerships between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. It builds onlongstanding military cooperation, potentially opening avenues for furtherjoint ventures in advanced weaponry.
Success in Project P251 could enhance Pakistan’s defence export profile,demonstrating capability to deliver sophisticated systems to discerningclients. For the Pakistan Army, indigenous development reduces reliance onforeign suppliers and strengthens self-reliance in critical defencetechnologies.
As the tender process advances, with bids due by early March 2026, ProjectP251 stands poised to contribute significantly to regional artillerymodernisation efforts.
Military Industries
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