Type 81 (rocket launcher)

The Type 81 is a self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher (SPMRL) produced by the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. It is a variant of the Soviet BM-21 Grad. The Type 81 was the first in a family of Chinese self-propelled 122 mm rocket launchers.

The spin-stabilized rocket fired by the Type 81 may be armed with a high explosive warhead or a steel fragmentation warhead.

Type 81
The Type 81 mounts a 40-round launcher on a OQ261 Honyan 6X6 truck chassis.

Azar variat used by Pakistan Army

Type 83
The Type 83 mounts a 24-round launcher on a 6x6 truck chassis.

Type 89
The Type 89 mounts a 40-round launcher on the armoured tracked chassis of the Type 83 self-propelled gun. The rockets may be fired in 20 seconds. The launcher is mounted at the rear with a reload pack in front.

Type 90
The Type 90 mounts a 40-round launcher on a Tiema SC2030 6X6 truck. The truck also carries a reload pack of 40 additional rockets; the launcher to be reloaded within 3 minutes.

Type 90A
The Type 90A is an upgrade of the Type 90. The 40-round launcher is mounted on a Tienna XC2200 6×6 truck, has improved fire control, and a battery may be remotely controlled by a command vehicle. It is manufactured by Norinco.

Type 90B
The Type 90B is an upgrade of the Type 90A. The 40-round launchers are mounted on a Beifang Benchi 2629 6×6 trucks. The system adds WZ551 reconnaissance vehiclea, and the command vehicle has improved command and fire control systems.

PR50 SPMRL
Latest version of the series, with fire power increased by 30% to 50 round from the original 40 rounds. Incorporate features of WS SPMRL series so that the operating cost and overall life cycle cost for both. Also incorporated is a feature originated in Type 90B, which is the adoption of rockets of different ranges, so PR50 has a wide range of 20 km to 40 km. The Chinese name for PR50 SPMRL is Sha Chen Bao (沙尘暴), meaning Sandstorm, and the system made its public debut in 2006 at the 6th Zhuhai Airshow.