PHL-11 explained

PHL-11
Origin:	China
Type:	Self-propelled rocket launcher Rocket artillery
Is Vehicle:	yes
Is Ranged:	yes
Is Artillery:	yes
Weight:	20 tons^[1]
Manufacturer:	Norinco
Production Date:	2013 – present
Caliber:	122mm (missiles)
Barrels:	40
Rate:	40 missiles in 30 seconds
Range:	20 - 40 km
Max Range:	50 km (extended range ammunition)
Traverse:	360°
Primary Armament:	122 mm rockets
Engine:	Weichai WD615-77A diesel
Crew:	3
Engine Power:	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. 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.^[3]

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

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

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.

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. 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6] 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).^[7]

PHL-20: Designation of SR-7 in PLAGF service.^[8]

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.^[9] It uses the same scaled down one pod of twenty 122 mm rockets as the SR-7. It has been observed in PLA service.^[10] ^[11]