PHL-81

Type 81 rocket launcher
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.

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

Design and development

Rear view of Type 81 MLRS (SX250 chassis)
122mm rockets used on the Type 81

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

The system forms the backbone of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force's combined arms brigade. Type 81 went through different iterations of modernization to improve the combat effectiveness.

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

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.
Type 83
Improved variant of Type 81. The Type 83 mounts a 24-round launcher on a 6x6 truck chassis.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Operators

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher". Fas.org. 1999-11-16. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  2. 1 2 "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. 1 2 Head, Jonathan; Luo, Lulu (25 July 2025). "Thailand warns clashes with Cambodia could 'move towards war'". BBC. Surin, Thailand. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 3 4 5 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.