China deploys PHL-03 300mm rocket launcher vehicles in Tibet region

[Cabatli_TR]

According to a video released on the Internet on September 21, 2020, the Chinese army has deployed PHL-03 300mm MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) in the Tibet region. This artillery system is able to fire unguided and guided rockets with a maximum range of 130 km.

The PHL-03 also referred to as Type 03, is a 300mm Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), a Chinese version of the Soviet-made BM-30 Smerch. This artillery system is developed and manufacture by the Chinese company NORINCO for the Chinese Navy. An export version is also available for the international market under the name of AR2.

The PHL-03 is based on a Wanshan WS2400 8x8 military truck chassis with a crew can at the front and the rocket launcher system at the rear. The 300 mm 12 rocket tubes arrangement is two separate banks of four with a connecting roof of the remaining four tubes overlying the inner tubes of the banks.

The PHL-03 is equipped with a computerized fire control system (FCS) incorporating GPS/GLONASS/Beidou. It can fire three types of rockets equipped with cluster warheads with a range from 20 to 70 km, warhead containing 414 sub-munitions with a range from 60 to 130 km, and high-explosive fragmentation warhead with a range from 60 to 130 km.

In June 2017 tensions rose between China and India following Chinese plans to extend a road on the Doklam Plateau between Tibet. Since January 2019, the Chinese army increased the deployment of troops and military equipment in the Tibet region. China has developed combat vehicles and aircraft specially designed to conduct combat operations in the mountainous regions of Tibet.

China has developed the new light tank Type 15 able to run in low oxygen environments as the mountainous region of Tibet. Chinese troops in Tibet have also been equipped with new vehicle-mounted howitzers, which further expands Beijing’s military capability in the region.

China deploys PHL-03 300mm rocket launcher vehicles in Tibet region | Defense News September 2020 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2020 | Archive News year

Chinese army has deployed PHL-03 300mm MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) in the Tibet region.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Gary]

I haven't heard any India positioning of Pinaka's .
@Nilgiri did I miss something??, one thing I know about mountain warfare is it uses a lot of artillery exchange

Also drones will be key in winning grounds in this treacherous landscape

 

[Nilgiri]

I haven't heard any India positioning of Pinaka's .
@Nilgiri did I miss something??, one thing I know about mountain warfare is it uses a lot of artillery exchange

Also drones will be key in winning grounds in this treacherous landscape

We don't have enough of either (rocket artillery, drones, even general artillery) to advertise where they are being "moved"... like CCP/PLA chooses to do for media psy-ops (they also did so with lining up H-6 bombers on airfields etc) and also to send message to our decision makers through our own remote sensing + intel etc. Flexing at front of gym mirror basically...knowing the rival chap on the bench press is ramping up his weight max.

We are well behind in raw numbers on certain things, no beating around bush on that one.... there is not much point to get it covered in media noise...ours is nowhere near a problem of plenty to signal some dramatic chess moves like China. Our particular set of strength, expertise and resolve lies elsewhere for now...bench press "catch up" to beef up the chest and triceps is not the only thing out there...as important as they are too.

@Joe Shearer @Paro @Gautam @Maximilian Veers @Zapper @Milspec

 

[Gautam]

I haven't heard any India positioning of Pinaka's .

Probably moved in. But haven't been talked about. Also, there has been no mention of the K-9 tracked artillery units. However the movement of towed artillery like F-77B Bofors, BAE M777, OFB Dhanush etc, have been seen. Not sure of the status of ATAGS. Curiously, a few days back a C-17 unloaded a WhAP & other armoured vehicles on the tarmac of the Ladakh airport. Not sure what to make of this. The WhAP is not yet in official service.

one thing I know about mountain warfare is it uses a lot of artillery exchange

Also drones will be key in winning grounds in this treacherous landscape

Thanks to Pakistan we have plenty of experience in using drones and laser targeting from heights for directing artillery fire. Much of our artillery warfare tactics have been refined on the LoC. The drones used are probably the Army's IAI Heron. Army has some 50 of them, Navy also has an unknown quantity. Not sure if Navy would lend a few to the Army, but the Navy is involved. Navy's P-8Is are frequently seen in the air around the northern border.

 

[Gary]

Thanks to Pakistan we have plenty of experience in using drones and laser targeting from heights for directing artillery fire. Much of our artillery warfare tactics have been refined on the LoC. The drones used are probably the Army's IAI Heron. Army has some 50 of them, Navy also has an unknown quantity. Not sure if Navy would lend a few to the Army, but the Navy is involved. Navy's P-8Is are frequently seen in the air around the northern border.

I'm well informed about that, but isn't the reaction time of using drone directed artillery fire is not as quick as that of an UCAV, the Idlib turkey shot almost a year ago demonstrate the horrifying effectiveness of an armed UCAV even in a IADS relegated environment. The most worrying thing is the likely presence of Chinese drones, although I don't know if the thin air in the near Himalaya's could support heavily armed combustion engine UAV

 

[Gautam]

I'm well informed about that, but isn't the reaction time of using drone directed artillery fire is not as quick as that of an UCAV, the Idlib turkey shot almost a year ago demonstrate the horrifying effectiveness of an armed UCAV even in a IADS relegated environment. The most worrying thing is the likely presence of Chinese drones, although I don't know if the thin air in the near Himalaya's could support heavily armed combustion engine UAV

UCAVs are a problem, no doubt. The soldiers on the ridges do have Igla MANPADs with them, forces below also have AAA guns with them. There was news of ground based AD & EW systems deployment. We have deployed microwave and lasers for anti-drone missions in the past. Not sure if they are deployed now. Then there are the attack helos and fighters circling around.

I am no expert but I don't think the Chinese would wait/have meetings/post so many propaganda videos on social media if they thought it was going to be a turkey shoot.

 

[Maximilian Veers]

We don't have enough of either (rocket artillery, drones, even general artillery) to advertise where they are being "moved"... like CCP/PLA chooses to do for media psy-ops (they also did so with lining up H-6 bombers on airfields etc) and also to send message to our decision makers through our own remote sensing + intel etc. Flexing at front of gym mirror basically...knowing the rival chap on the bench press is ramping up his weight max.

We are well behind in raw numbers on certain things, no beating around bush on that one.... there is not much point to get it covered in media noise...ours is nowhere near a problem of plenty to signal some dramatic chess moves like China. Our particular set of strength, expertise and resolve lies elsewhere for now...bench press "catch up" to beef up the chest and triceps is not the only thing out there...as important as they are too.

@Joe Shearer @Paro @Gautam @Maximilian Veers @Zapper @Milspec

That would depend on the scale of the conflict. If the conflict is limited to Ladakh, it's quite possible that we can bring in artillery from other theatres and deploy them in Ladakh. If the war extends till chickens Neck, NE, LOC, and other areas. Then we will experience a shortage of Artillery and other equipment. This is probably where the Pakistanis might come in. IAF sortie rate will possibly make up for any deficiency of artillery, assuming there is one.

In case of a large conflict, the Chinese will need to mobilize at least 9-10 Divisions. This means bringing in forces from their eastern theatre as the WTC only has around 4 divisions. We are yet to see any mobilization along the NE as far as I know.

The Chinese will not fight a war, they want to keep pushing and pushing and pushing nonstop until you give up. Fighting a war/conflict and risking defeat/humiliation is not something Xi is willing to do right now.

Either way, if the Chinese did smell blood, they would have gone in for the kill. Chinese and Pakistanis are not the sort of people to not take advantage of when sensing a weakness. Obviously, things are not going as expected and I feel that the Chinese are actually looking for a face-saving exit. Will be interesting to see how they fare during the winter.

 

[Nilgiri]

That would depend on the scale of the conflict. If the conflict is limited to Ladakh, it's quite possible that we can bring in artillery from other theatres and deploy them in Ladakh. If the war extends till chickens Neck, NE, LOC, and other areas. Then we will experience a shortage of Artillery and other equipment. This is probably where the Pakistanis might come in. IAF sortie rate will possibly make up for any deficiency of artillery, assuming there is one.

In case of a large conflict, the Chinese will need to mobilize at least 9-10 Divisions. This means bringing in forces from their eastern theatre as the WTC only has around 4 divisions. We are yet to see any mobilization along the NE as far as I know.

The Chinese will not fight a war, they want to keep pushing and pushing and pushing nonstop until you give up. Fighting a war/conflict and risking defeat/humiliation is not something Xi is willing to do right now.

Either way, if the Chinese did smell blood, they would have gone in for the kill. Chinese and Pakistanis are not the sort of people to not take advantage of when sensing a weakness. Obviously, things are not going as expected and I feel that the Chinese are actually looking for a face-saving exit. Will be interesting to see how they fare during the winter.

They are aware of major deterrence India has, very much by concentrating our assets on our side in specific areas as you have said (given we are not reliant on tibetan plateau logistics problem, rather we have our own heartland logistics flexibility closeby to back up these theatres).

They are not stupid, its a game of flexing they do...and even that is becoming predictable. But we must obviously never rest easy and get off our guard. Always have every situation mapped out, especially worst case scenarios.

 

[Milspec]

We don't have enough of either (rocket artillery, drones, even general artillery) to advertise where they are being "moved"... like CCP/PLA chooses to do for media psy-ops (they also did so with lining up H-6 bombers on airfields etc) and also to send message to our decision makers through our own remote sensing + intel etc. Flexing at front of gym mirror basically...knowing the rival chap on the bench press is ramping up his weight max.

We are well behind in raw numbers on certain things, no beating around bush on that one.... there is not much point to get it covered in media noise...ours is nowhere near a problem of plenty to signal some dramatic chess moves like China. Our particular set of strength, expertise and resolve lies elsewhere for now...bench press "catch up" to beef up the chest and triceps is not the only thing out there...as important as they are too.

@Joe Shearer @Paro @Gautam @Maximilian Veers @Zapper @Milspec

Yupp, Indian arty is in pretty bad shape.