PHL-11

PHL-11
Type	Self-propelled rocket launcher Rocket artillery
Place of origin	China
Production history
Manufacturer	Norinco
Produced	2013 – present
Specifications
Mass	20 tons[1]
Crew	3
Caliber	122 mm (4.8 in) (missiles)
Barrels	40
Traverse	360°
Rate of fire	40 missiles in 30 seconds
Effective firing range	20 - 40 km
Maximum firing range	50 km (extended range ammunition)[1]
Main armament	122 mm rockets
Engine	Weichai WD615-77A diesel 206kW

The PHL-11 is a truck-mounted self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher (SPMRL) produced by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. It is a modernised replacement for the older PHL-81.

Development

The PHL-11 is derived from the SR-4 multiple rocket launcher designed for export which was, in turn, developed from the PHL-81 multiple rocket launcher. It was adopted by the People's Liberation Army under the PHL-11 designation.

The PHZ-11 shares similar armaments with the PHL-11, but with a tracked chassis.[2]

Design

Each PHL-11 is equipped with 40 122 mm rockets mounted on a swivel mount with 2 pods of 20 rockets each.[3] The SR-5 export version is fitted with 2 modular rocket pods able to carry either 20 122 mm or 6 220 mm rockets in each pod.

Each SR-4 launcher vehicle is usually paired with a reloading vehicle based on a Shaanxi 8x8 military truck fitted with a crane. It carries pods of rocket reloads and reloads the launcher vehicles. As such, reloading time has been cut from 10 minutes to 5 minutes.[4]

The vehicle is equipped with a fire control computer and CBRN protection for the crew.[3][4]

The PHL-11 can also fire 122mm DTI-2 rockets manufactured by Thailand's Defense Technology Institute.[3]

Chassis

The vehicle used is a 6x6 Shaanxi SX2190KA. The vehicle is equipped with a 206KW Weichai WD615-77A straight-six diesel engine paired with 9 speed manual transmission. The vehicle can reach a speed of 80 km/h and has off-road capability. Another variant features armor plates on windows, including fold up plates on side windows and blind curtain armor on the frontal windscreen.[1]

Variants

PHL-11

Base variant using 6x6 Shaanxi SX2190KA truck chassis

PHZ-11

Based on tracked vehicle chassis similar to PLZ-05 and PGZ-09.[1]

SR-4

Export version of PHL-11 using 6x6 Shaanxi SX2190KA truck chassis

SR-5

Export version with 2 modular rocket pods using 6x6 Taian TA5310 truck chassis.[4] Each pod is able to carry either 20 x 122 mm, 6 x 220 mm rockets, 1 x 610 mm King Dragon 300 ballistic missile, 1 x C-705 anti-ship missile, or various loitering munitions and drones.[5]

The SR-5 is a fully computerized and digitized system. It reduces operational costs by allowing multiple types of ammunition to be adapted to a single chassis using the same fire control and support systems.[6]

SR-7

The SR-7 is a lightweight, scaled-down variant, with either one pod of twenty 122 mm rockets or six 220 mm rockets.[7] The maximum range is 50 km for the 122 mm rocket and 70 km for the 220 mm rocket. First unveiled in IDEX 2017 mounted on a 6x6 assault vehicle (presumably Dongfeng Mengshi).[8]

PHL-20

Designation of SR-7 in PLAGF service.[9]

PHL-21

Truck chassis based on the FAW MV3 series of tactical trucks, specifically the 4x4 CTM-133 variant, similar to the ones used on PCL-161 lightweight howitzer.[10] It uses the same scaled down one pod of twenty 122 mm rockets as the SR-7. It has been observed in PLA service.[11][12]

Operators

 Algeria

• 40+ SR-5[13]

Deliveries were underway in late-2017.[14]

 Bahrain

• 4 SR-5[15]

 China

• People's Liberation Army Ground Force - As of 2022, 350 units of PHL-11; 120 units of PHZ-11; 30 units of PHL-20; 10+ units of PHL-21.[9]

 Jordan

• SR-5[16]

 Laos

• 12 SR-5[17]

 Thailand

• 4 SR-4[18]

4 SR-4 ordered in 2012 and delivered in 2013.[3]

 UAE

• SR-5[19]

 Venezuela

• 18 units of SR-5 variant.[4]

See also

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

References

1. "模块化飞火流星——中国PHZ11&PHL11式122mm火箭炮". 26 June 2020.
2. "New Chinese army PHZ-11 122mm MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System on tracked chassis". Army Recognition. 27 April 2020.
3. "Thailand conducts test-fire demonstration of its DTI-2 122mm rockets from SR4 MLRS | Defense News December 2020 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2020 | Archive News year".
4. "SR5 SR-5 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System GMLRS MLRS 122mm 220mm | China artillery vehicles and weapon systems UK | Chinese China army military equipment armoured UK". www.armyrecognition.com.
5. "Artillery: Dragon Pods". StrategyPage. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
6. SR-5 Retrieved 2017-11-29.
7. "IDEX 2017: China develops SR7 rocket launcher | Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
8. "IDEX 2017: SR5 and SR7 rocket launchers from NORINCO". 5 May 2017.
9. For Strategic Studies (Iiss), The International Institute (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003400226. ISBN 9781003400226. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
10. "西藏军区轻高机旅列装新型模块化轮式火箭炮(图)|西藏军区|火箭炮_新浪军事_新浪网".
11. Dominguez, Gabriel (27 July 2021). "New MRL system in service with PLA's Tibet Military Command". Janes.
12. "西藏军区轻高机旅列装新型模块化轮式火箭炮(图)". Sina News (in Chinese). 11 January 2021.
13. The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2022, p. 332.
14. Binnie, Jeremy (16 January 2018). "Algeria confirms Chinese MRL acquisition". IHS Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
15. The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2022, p. 335.
16. "Jordan Reveals Secret Acquisition of Chinese SR5 and WM-120 Rocket Launchers in Recent Video". armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
17. "70% are made in China! The Lao artillery equipment is on display, and its strength is second to none in Southeast Asia". 16 December 2019.
18. The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2022, p. 312.
19. "UAE reveals SR5 MRL acquisition". Janes.com.

Sources

• The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2022). The Military Balance 2022. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-27900-8.

External links