- Images show China shipping Type 59 130mm towed artillery systems by sea to an undisclosed foreign customer, with delivery already underway.
- Regional sources say the shipment may be destined for the Middle East and could be transferred to proxy forces, raising concerns about the spread of heavy artillery in active conflict zones.
China has shipped a batch of Type 59 130mm towed artillery systems to a foreign customer, with images confirming the weapons loaded aboard a cargo vessel and prepared for export, according to open-source visuals recorded during offloading operations.
Footage circulating on social media shows multiple Type 59 artillery pieces secured on wheeled carriages and covered with protective tarps while being transported by sea.
The video was reportedly recorded more than two weeks ago during unloading operations, indicating the delivery is already in progress. The destination has not been officially disclosed, but several regional sources state the shipment is headed to the Middle East.
Chinese arms export contracts are typically classified, and official details are rarely released by Beijing. In most cases, information about deliveries emerges only after systems appear in operational use or are visually documented during transport. This shipment follows that pattern, with no public announcement from Chinese authorities or state-owned defense companies.
According to regional defense sources, the artillery systems may have been ordered by the United Arab Emirates and intended for use by aligned proxy forces operating in the region. Some reports suggest the guns could be transferred onward to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, where heavy artillery has played a central role in ongoing ground fighting. These claims have not been confirmed by the Chinese government or the UAE.
The Type 59 130mm artillery system is based on the Soviet-era M-46 field gun and remains one of the longest-range conventional towed artillery pieces in service. Designed during the Cold War, the gun fires 130mm shells to ranges exceeding 27 kilometers with standard ammunition and further with rocket-assisted projectiles. Despite its age, the system remains in use across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East due to its simplicity, reliability, and ability to deliver heavy fire support.
China has continued producing and exporting variants of the Type 59 for decades, positioning the system as a low-cost option for states and non-state partners that require long-range artillery without advanced fire control or digital integration. The gun is typically deployed in static or semi-mobile roles and is often used to provide area fire rather than precision strikes.