PHL-81

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Type 81 rocket launcher[1]
TypeSelf-propelled rocket launcher
Rocket artillery
Place of originChina
Service history
Wars
Production history
Designed1987
ManufacturerJinxi Machinery Factory
Hubei Jiangshan Machinery Factory
Produced1989–present
Specifications
Mass18 to 30 tons
Length9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Width3.24 m (10 ft 8 in)
Height3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) with AAMG
Crew5
Caliber122 mm (4.8 in) (missiles)
Barrels40
Traverse360°
Main
armament
122 mm rockets
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun
EngineWR4B-12V150LB 12-cyl diesel
520 hp (382 kW)
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
450 km (280 mi)
Maximum speed55 km/h (35 mph)

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]

The PHL-81 is being replaced by the modernised version PHL-11.

Design and development

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Rear view of Type 81 MLRS (SX250 chassis)

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

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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

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 Cambodia
 Chad
 China
 Gabon
 Ghana
Hezbollah
 Indonesia
 Myanmar
 Namibia
 Pakistan
 Peru
 Sudan
 Togo

See also

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  • PHL-03: Chinese truck-mounted 300 mm multiple rocket launcher.
  • PHL-16: Chinese truck-mounted 370 mm multiple rocket launcher.

References

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  1. ^ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher". Fas.org. 1999-11-16. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  2. ^ a b "Missiles and Rockets of the Hezbollah". Missile Threat. Washington, D.C.: Center for Strategic and International Studies. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b Head, Jonathan; Luo, Lulu (25 July 2025). "Thailand warns clashes with Cambodia could 'move towards war'". BBC. Surin, Thailand. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "BM-21 122-mm Multiple Rocket Launcher". globalsecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Appraisal of PLA Artillery Modernisation". Centre for Land Warfare Study. 7 April 2020. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher".
  8. ^ "CHINA DEVELOPS TYPE 90A 122 MM MULTIPLE SYSTEM, Archived". Jane's. 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2013.[dead link]
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ a b c d e International Institute for Strategic Studies (11 February 2025). "Chapter Five: Asia". The Military Balance. 125 (1). Taylor & Francis: 206–311. doi:10.1080/04597222.2025.2445477. ISSN 1479-9022. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e International Institute for Strategic Studies (11 February 2025). "Chapter Eight: Sub-Saharan Africa". The Military Balance. 125 (1). Taylor & Francis: 440–509. doi:10.1080/04597222.2025.2445480. ISSN 0459-7222. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  13. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (11 February 2025). "Chapter Seven: Latin America and the Caribbean". The Military Balance. 125 (1). Taylor & Francis: 380–439. doi:10.1080/04597222.2025.2445479. ISSN 1479-9022. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
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