The PHL-81 is a truck-mounted self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher (SPMRL) produced by the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force.[2]
| Type 81 rocket launcher[1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Self-propelled rocket launcher Rocket artillery |
| Place of origin | China |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1987 |
| Produced | 1989 – present |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 18 to 30 tons |
| Length | 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in) |
| Width | 3.24 m (10 ft 8 in) |
| Height | 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) with AAMG |
| Crew | 5 |
| Caliber | 122 mm (4.8 in) (missiles) |
| Barrels | 40 |
| Traverse | 360° |
Main armament | 122 mm rockets |
Secondary armament | 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun |
| Engine | WR4B-12V150LB 12-cyl diesel 520 hp (382 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 450 km (280 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 55 km/h (35 mph) |
The PHL-81 is being replaced by the modernised version PHL-11.
Design and development
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It is a variant of the Soviet BM-21 Grad.[3] The Type 81 was the first in a family of Chinese self-propelled 122 mm rocket launchers.[2]
The system forms the backbone of People's Liberation Army Ground Force's combined arms brigade. Type 81 went through different iterations of modernization to improve the combat effectiveness.[4]
The spin-stabilized rocket fired by the Type 81 may be armed with a high explosive warhead or a steel fragmentation warhead.[2]
Variants
edit- Type 81
- Designation: PHL-81. The Type 81 mounts a 40-round launcher on an Hongyan CQ261 6X6 truck chassis. The truck was later changed to a Shaanxi SX250 in 1975.[5][2]
- Type 83
- Improved variant of Type 81. The Type 83 mounts a 24-round launcher on a 6x6 truck chassis.[2]
- Type 89
- Designation PHZ-89. This is an improved variant of the original Type 81 MRL system. It was adopted by the PLA in 1989. The Type 89 mounts a new type of 40-round box launcher on the armored tracked chassis of the Type 83 self-propelled gun. The rockets may be fired in 20 seconds. The launcher is mounted at the rear with a reload pack in front.[2]
- Type 90
- Designation PHL-90. The Type 90 shares the 40-round launcher with PHZ-89, but the rockets are mounted on a Tiema SC2030 6X6 truck. The truck also carries a reload pack of 40 additional rockets; the launcher to be reloaded within 3 minutes.[2]
- Type 90A
- Designation PHL-90A. The Type 90A is an upgrade of the Type 90. The 40-round launcher is mounted on a Tiema XC2200 6×6 truck, has improved fire control, and a battery may be remotely controlled by a command vehicle. It is manufactured by Norinco.[6]
- Type 90B
- The Type 90B is an upgrade of the Type 90A. The 40-round launchers are mounted on a Beifang Benchi 2629 6×6 trucks. The system adds WZ551 reconnaissance vehicles, and the command vehicle has improved command and fire control systems.[7]
Operators
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- Chadian Ground Forces - 5 units in service as of 2021[8]
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force - 550 units of PHL-81/PHL-90; 350 unit of PHL-11; 375 units of PHZ-89; 700 units of PHL-81 in storage.[9]
- Gabonese Army - 4 units of Type 90 were delivered in 2004[10]
- Ghana Army - 3 units in service as of 2021[11]
- Indonesian Marine Corps - At least 4 units of Type 90b purchased in 2015[12]
- Myanmar Army - 20 units of Type-81[13] and 20 units of Type-90[13]
- Namibian Army- at least 2 Units have been observed in public appearances.
- Pakistan Army - Type 83 produced locally as the "Azar".[13][14]
- Peruvian Army - 27 units of Type 90B purchased in January 2014[12]
- Sudanese Land Forces - In service as of 2023.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher". Fas.org. 1999-11-16. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher". globalsecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ "BM-21 122-mm Multiple Rocket Launcher". globalsecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ "Appraisal of PLA Artillery Modernisation". Centre for Land Warfare Study. 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher".
- ^ "CHINA DEVELOPS TYPE 90A 122 MM MULTIPLE SYSTEM, Archived". Jane's. 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2013.[dead link]
- ^ "NORINCO 122 mm (40-round) Type 90B multiple rocket system (China), Multiple rocket launchers". Jane's. 2009. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 457.
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. p. 251. ISBN 9781032012278.
- ^ "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 469.
- ^ a b "Indonesian Marine Corps receives four Type 90B Multiple Launch Rocket Systems from China 22912162 | December 2016 Global Defense Security news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2016 | Archive News year". 29 December 2016.
- ^ a b c "SIPRI Trade Register". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 280. ISBN 978-1032508955.
- ^ "From Conflict to Conflict: Sudan's Fighting Vehicles".
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. Vol. 121. Routledge. ISBN 9781032012278.
External links
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