PHL-81
Chinese self-propelled rocket launcher
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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.[4]
PlaceoforiginChina
Designed1987
| Type 81 rocket launcher[1] | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Self-propelled rocket launcher Rocket artillery |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1987 |
| Manufacturer | Jinxi Machinery Factory Hubei Jiangshan Machinery Factory |
| 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
It is a variant of the Soviet BM-21 Grad.[5] The Type 81 was the first in a family of Chinese self-propelled 122 mm rocket launchers.[4]
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.[6]
The spin-stabilized rocket fired by the Type 81 may be armed with a high explosive warhead or a steel fragmentation warhead.[4]
Variants
- 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.[7][4]
- Type 83
- Improved variant of Type 81. The Type 83 mounts a 24-round launcher on a 6x6 truck chassis.[4]
- 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.[4]
- 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.[4]
- 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.[8]
- 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.[9]
Operators
- Royal Cambodian Army − 20 PHL-81 and some PHL-90B (Type 90B[3]) as of 2025[update][10]: 239
- Chadian Ground Forces − 5 units in service as of 2025[update][11]: 463
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force − 200 units of PHL-81/PHL-90; 375 units of PHZ-89; 1,000 units of PHL-81 in storage as of 2025[update][10]: 242
- Gabonese Army − 4 units of Type 90 were delivered in 2004[12]
- Ghana Army − 3 units in service as of 2025[update][11]: 476
- Origin unknown. Approximately 118 rockets were fired during the 2006 Lebanon War[2]
- Indonesian Marine Corps − 4 PHL-90B as of 2025[update][10]: 261
- Myanmar Army − Type 81. Unknown number in service as of 2025[update][10]: 282
- Namibian Army − 3 units in service as of 2025[update][11]: 488
- Pakistan Army − 52 Type 83 as of 2025[update]. Produced locally as the Azar[10]: 287
- Peruvian Army − 27 units of Type 90B as of 2025[update][13]: 431
- Sudanese Land Forces − PHL-81. Unknown number in service as of 2025[update][11]: 501
- Togolese Army − Type 81. Unknown number in service as of 2025[update][11]: 505