China's large number of rocket launchers appear on African streets, causing Western countries to take a deep breath: their level of advancement exceeds that of the US military!
In early January 2026, a scene that attracted the attention of observers appeared on the streets of Bamako, the capital of Mali: a column of military trucks slowly drove through the city center, carrying an entirely Chinese-made SR-5 modular multi-barrel rocket launcher and CS/SH1 122mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer. Dao Ge believes that this is not just a simple equipment delivery, but a technological transfer that quietly changes the battlefield situation in Africa and even challenges the traditional firepower advantages of the West.
The core advantage of the SR-5 rocket launcher lies in its "bullet-missile co-pier" and modular loading system. Unlike the US military's current M142 "HIMARS," which can only fire one caliber of rocket or missile, it can simultaneously accommodate 122mm unguided rockets, 220mm laser/GPS composite guided rockets, and 300mm or larger long-range precision strike munitions, and even carry loitering munitions. This means that an SR-5 can play multiple roles on the battlefield, such as suppression fire, pinpoint strikes, and reconnaissance strikes - while HIMARS has high accuracy, but a single type of ammunition, requires specialized cranes for reloading, and has a complex logistics system, making it less flexible than the SR-5.
More importantly, the entire SR-5 system is integrated on a 6x6 high-mobility chassis, with autonomous loading capabilities. After firing a round, it does not need to return to base; it can replace the entire launch module on-site, and from parking to firing again takes less than 10 minutes. This "fire and go, go and fire again" capability is almost custom-made for Africa in the vast and infrastructure-lacking areas of the Sahel region.
Looking at the CS/SH1 self-propelled howitzer, it uses a 122mm caliber, with a range of up to 22 km, and even further with base-bleed extended range shells. It is equipped with digital fire control, satellite positioning, and automatic gun adjustment systems, and can transition from marching status to combat status in just 90 seconds. In contrast, the US military still widely uses the towed M777 howitzer, which is lightweight but relies on manpower or cranes for deployment, has slow response speed, and weak survival ability. Even though the US military has been promoting the "Mobile Gun System" (MGS) project in recent years, it has made slow progress due to cost and technical issues.
African countries are skipping the "mechanization" stage and directly entering the "informationized firepower era." Countries such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Ethiopia have recently introduced Chinese long-range rocket systems such as the SR-5, A200, and S-25, forming a layered strike capability covering 40 to 300 kilometers. At the same time, the US military's deployment in Africa is still mainly composed of light infantry, drones, and a small number of special forces, with almost no heavy firepower.
This creates an interesting phenomenon: on the African battlefield, the remote firepower technology level of local armies may have already exceeded that of the US military stationed in Africa. If the US military encounters sudden conflicts, it would actually have to rely on air support or deploy firepower units from Europe, with a response speed far slower than the African government forces already deployed with SR-5.
Thanks to China's continuous breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, loitering munitions, and satellite guidance, the next generation of export rocket launchers may integrate AI target recognition and autonomous mission planning functions. And because African countries have no historical equipment burdens, they are more likely to accept new technologies, achieving a "bend-the-curve" leap forward.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856068492693580/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.