PHL-81

Type 81 rocket launcher[1]
TypeSelf-propelled rocket launcher
Rocket artillery
Place of originChina
Service history
Wars2025 Cambodia–Thailand clashes[2]
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 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.[3]

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

Design and development

Rear view of Type 81 MLRS (SX250 chassis)

It is a variant of the Soviet BM-21 Grad.[4] The Type 81 was the first in a family of Chinese self-propelled 122 mm rocket launchers.[3]

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.[5]

The spin-stabilized rocket fired by the Type 81 may be armed with a high explosive warhead or a steel fragmentation warhead.[3]

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.[6][3]
Type 83
Improved variant of Type 81. The Type 83 mounts a 24-round launcher on a 6x6 truck chassis.[3]
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.[3]
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.[3]
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.[7]
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.[8]

Operators

 Cambodia
 Chad
 China
 Gabon
 Ghana
 Indonesia
 Myanmar
 Namibia
  • Namibian Army- at least 2 Units have been observed in public appearances.
 Pakistan
 Peru
 Sudan

See also

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

References

  1. ^ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher". Fas.org. 1999-11-16. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  2. ^ Noir, War. "#Cambodia / #Thailand 🇰🇭🇹🇭: "Royal Cambodian Army" launched a rocket strike against Thai positions near the border. Cambodian Forces used a possible #China-made 🇨🇳 PHL-81 (Type 81) 122mm Self-Propelled Multiple Rocket Launcher (SPMRL) with SHE-40 artillery rockets". x.com. War Noir. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "BM-21 122-mm Multiple Rocket Launcher". globalsecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher".
  7. ^ "CHINA DEVELOPS TYPE 90A 122 MM MULTIPLE SYSTEM, Archived". Jane's. 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ IISS 2025.
  10. ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 457.
  11. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. p. 251. ISBN 9781032012278.
  12. ^ "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  13. ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 469.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ a b c "SIPRI Trade Register". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Archived from the original on 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  16. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 280. ISBN 978-1032508955.
  17. ^ "From Conflict to Conflict: Sudan's Fighting Vehicles".

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