New MRL system in service with PLA's Tibet Military Command

Chinese state-owned media has revealed that a new wheeled multiple rocket launcher (MRL) system has entered service with a combined arms brigade under the People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) Tibet Military Command.

In a news report released by China Central Television (CCTV) on 24 July several examples of the new 4×4 MRL were shown being used in a live-fire exercise at an undisclosed location on a Tibetan plateau alongside other assets, including Dongfeng Mengshi CSK181 armoured vehicles and several examples of the new self-propeller howitzer (SPH) commonly referred to as the PCL-161.

CCTV described the platform, the designation of which was not disclosed, as a “newly inducted modular MRL”.

No further details were provided about the new MRL, which appears to be based on the same truck chassis as the PCL-161. That said, the footage shows that it is fitted with a 20-tube launcher armed with what appear to be 122 mm rockets.

The launcher bears some similarities with those seen on the 6×6 SR7 MRL system, a model of which was displayed by the China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) at the 2017 IDEX international defence exhibition.

The SR7 was described at the time as a modular system capable of carrying either 20 122 mm rockets, or six 220 mm rockets. CCTV's reference to the MRL system seen in Tibet as also being “modular” may indicate that it is based on the SR7.