China tests its HIMARS-like PCL-191 rocket system in high-altitude environment

Asia-Pacific, US July 24, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

China has successfully tested high altitude precision strike capacity for the PCL-191, its new Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).

The PCL-191 can strike a target with high precision from several hundred kilometers away. The rocket system shares a lot of similarities with the U.S.-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which is a medium/long-range rocket system that recently rose to fame due to its use in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

The PCL-191 system was also operated in the Xinjiang military district by an artillery brigade of the Western Theatre Command in April of last year. The brigade tested the system in the Himalayas at approximately 5,200 meters above sea level close to the Indian border.

China’s state-owned media outlet CCTV provided the details about the PCL-191 tests in the high-altitude regions while preceding the news of China’s recent talks with India over several issues related to the border conflict between the two countries. A border-related conflict between China and India broke out in 2020 in the Galwan valley of the Himalayas, leaving at least 20 Indian soldiers dead.

China plans to deploy its PCL-191 MLRS along the India-China border in the Himalayas as it would allow the People’s Liberation Army to target Indian bases as far as 500 kilometers away from the Line of Actual Control or LAC, the border between India and China.

China's People's Liberation Army testing its advanced rocket launch system at high altitude — *^{China’s People’s Liberation Army testing its advanced rocket launch system at a high altitude. (Image Credit: CCTV)}*

China’s sophisticated long-range missile system made its first public appearance in October 2019 during the National Day military parade in Beijing. In April 2021, China announced that the MLRS would be deployed in the Himalayan region across the Indian border. The latest test for PCL-191 came at a particular time when the 16th round of military talks between India and China were underway at the Chushul-Moldo on the Indian side in Ladakh.

The PCL-191 system can carry at least two 750mm Fire Dragon 480 Tactical Ballistic Missiles to the range of 500 kilometers. The system can also be integrated to carry eight 370mm rockets, with each rocket having a range of at least 350 kilometers.

Apart from deploying the PCL-191 system in the high-altitude borders between India and China, it is also expected that China would deploy the missile launching system across Taiwan with the 72nd Group Army of the Huzhou, Zhejiang province. The 72nd Group is one of the most active brigades under the Eastern Command of the People’s Liberation Army in terms of readiness and equipment. Deploying 500 kilometers range missile system across the 180 kilometers wide Taiwan strait would provide a significant advantage to the People’s Liberation Army in the region.

The current focus of the PCL-191, however, remains at the high-altitude borders along with India. Since the conflict between China and India in 2020, the People’s Liberation Army is relying on short-range artillery weapons like the Type PHL-03 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), which have a firing range of 70 to 130km, and PCL-181 vehicle-mounted howitzers to secure its border near the Indian territory.