Chinese Army release a short clip of the PHL-03 rocket launcher. In the video this heavy 300 millimeter rocket launcher demonstrated its maximum fire power.

The rocket launcher is also referred as the Type 03. It is a multiple launch rocket system based on Soviet BM-30 launcher, but it has received major upgrades, bringing it into digital data network age, and with highly précised guided rockets achieving accuracy below 1 meter.

Currently the PHL-03 is one of the most powerful multiple launch artillery rocket systems in the world. The launcher is also being exported to middle east and north Africa countries, including Morocco and Ethiopia. Some launchers were in action during Ethiopia battle with Tigray military groups.

The PHL-03 retains most of the original Soviet system configuration, 12 launch tubes for 300 mm rockets are carried by an off-road vehicle. The new variant of the family has modular launcher tubes packed into two modules.

A standard rocket weights around 800 kg and has a 280 kg warhead. Maximum range is 70 to 130 km. Rockets can carry High Explosive, cluster warheads with anti-armor and anti-personnel submunitions. Satellite positioning correction technology makes the rocket highly accurate, Chinese Army released multiple videos proving the accuracy is roughly one meter.

The first major upgrade of the PHL-03 rocket is to deploy longer range rocket variants. It is possible newer production batches are not compatible with original Soviet rockets. And digital fire control system and battlefield network technology were added.

A reloading vehicle is based on the same off-road chassis, however the process is not as efficient as U.S. M270 system. The AR1 rocket launcher variant addresses this issue with re-arranged rocket tubes, reducing reload time required. Two modules of total 8 tubes can be swapped within minutes. The AR1A variant has a total of 10 launch tubes.

The AR2 is an export designation of the PHL-03.

The latest export variant, the AR3 has a 8 launch tubes holding 370 mm guided rockets. They are arranged in 2 modules. The guided rockets have a maximum range of 220 km and have capabilities similar that of short-range ballistic missiles. Currently the AR3 is one of the most powerful artillery rocket systems in the world, and some reports indicate Chinese Army have deployed a domestic version of AR3 rocket system.

Photo and video: Wiki common, Xibuzhanqu wechat, CCTV7 site, Norinco website

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