PHL-81

Chinese self-propelled rocket launcher

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 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]

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

## Design and development[edit]

Rear view of Type 81 MLRS (SX250 chassis)

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[edit]

Type-81 MLRS of Myanmar Army.

Chad

* Chadian Ground Forces \- 5 units in service as of 2021[8]

China

* 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]

Gabon

* Gabonese Army \- 4 units of Type 90 were delivered in 2004[10]

Ghana

* Ghana Army \- 3 units in service as of 2021[11]

Indonesia

* Indonesian Marine Corps \- At least 4 units of Type 90b purchased in 2015[12]

Myanmar

* Myanmar Army \- 20 units of Type-81[13] and 20 units of Type-90[13]

Namibia

* Namibian Army\- at least 2 Units have been observed in public appearances.

Pakistan

* Pakistan Army \- 100+ Type 83 produced locally as the "Azar".[13][14]

Peru

* Peruvian Army \- 27 units of Type 90B purchased in January 2014[12]

Sudan

* Sudanese Land Forces \- In service as of 2023.[15]

## See also[edit]

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

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher". Fas.org. 1999-11-16. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ "BM-21 122-mm Multiple Rocket Launcher". globalsecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
4. ^ "Appraisal of PLA Artillery Modernisation". Centre for Land Warfare Study.
5. ^ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher".
6. ^ "CHINA DEVELOPS TYPE 90A 122 MM MULTIPLE SYSTEM, Archived". Jane's. 2009. Archived from the original on 15 Jan 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
7. ^ "NORINCO 122 mm (40-round) Type 90B multiple rocket system (China), Multiple rocket launchers". Jane's. 2009. Archived from the original on 13 Feb 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
8. ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 457.
9. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. p. 251\. ISBN 9781032012278.
10. ^ "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org.
11. ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 469.
12. ^ 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".
13. ^ a b c "SIPRI Trade Register". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
14. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 280\. ISBN 978-1032508955.
15. ^ https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/04/from-conflict-to-conflict-sudans.html

* International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. Vol. 121\. Routledge. ISBN 9781032012278.

## External links[edit]

* Technical data of the Type 81 SPRL

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Note: x = retired from service or has ceased development
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