Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective

PHL-03

Chinese multiple rocket launcher From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

PHL-03
Remove ads

The PHL-03 is a truck-mounted self-propelled 12-tube 300 mm long-range multiple rocket launcher of the People's Republic of China.

Quick facts Type, Place of origin ...

The system is beginning to be replaced by the more modular and newer PHL-16.

Remove ads

History and development

Summarize
Perspective

In the 1980s, the People's Liberation Army Ground Force planned to procure long-range multiple rocket launchers and explored options from several Chinese military corporations. Four companies bid in the competition:

In the end, the AR-1 multiple rocket launcher system was chosen by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, which received designation PHL-03. After the competition, these companies started to export their products. China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) did not participate in the bidding process due to time constraints, but CASIC revealed its first MLRS design, SY-400, in the Zhuhai Airshow 2008.[2]

AR-1 (PHL-03) was considered to be the most conservative option in the competition, as the system was a derivative of the BM-30 Smerch multiple launch rocket system, with reverse-engineered technology, though PHL-03 was not a pure copy of BM-30, as both systems were not compatible in ammunition and fire controls.[2] The reverse-engineer made the AR-1 the most mature option out of the competition, ensuring fast-tracked delivery to the PLA.[2] To improve the capability of the PHL-03, Norinco Changchun also developed Fire Dragon guided rocket series.[2]

Remove ads

Design

Summarize
Perspective

The design is based on the Soviet-made BM-30 Smerch rocket artillery system. The main role of this multiple rocket launcher is to engage strategic targets such as large concentrations of troops, airfields, command centres, air defense batteries, and support facilities. It is also used to engage in counter-battery fire missions.

The PHL-03 has the same configuration as the original Soviet counterpart with 12 launch tubes for 300 mm artillery rockets, along with a computerised fire-control system (FCS) incorporating GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou.

Rockets

The PHL-03 uses the 300 mm (12 in) rockets of the BRE family, namely the BRC4, BRE2, and the guided Fire Dragon 140A, which have a range of 130 km (81 mi).[3]

A standard weight for each rocket is 800 kg (1,800 lb) with a 280 kg (620 lb) warhead. Maximum firing range depends on warhead type, with around 70–130 km (43–81 mi). Standard warheads are high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG), fuel-air explosive, and cluster warheads with anti-armor and anti-personnel submunitions. Cluster warheads can also carry self-targeting anti-tank munitions. A full salvo of this system could potentially cover an area of up to 67 hectares (170 acres). In October 2020, it was reported that a new type of rocket was being deployed on the PHL-03 with a range 30 km (19 mi) longer than normal, suggesting a range of 160 km (99 mi).[3]

Remove ads

Variants

  • PHL-03 – Chinese military designation
  • AR-1 – Initial version of the PHL-03.[2]
  • AR-1A – Chinese development of the AR-1. A 10-round version of the AR-1, with two launching modules with each containing five rocket tubes.[4]
  • AR-2 – Development of the AR-1. Export version.[2][5]
  • AR-3 – Development of the AR-1.[2] Export version with 300 mm (12 in) or 370 mm (15 in) rockets[6]

Operators

 People's Republic of China
 Cambodia
 Morocco
 Ethiopia
 Armenia - AR-1A (Reported)[12]

See also

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Remove ads