China NORINCO
PHL-16
An 8x8 wheeled multiple-launch rocket system firing 370 mm guided rockets, giving PLA artillery brigades long-range precision-strike capability. It succeeds the earlier PHL-03 in Chinese and export service, with an export variant marketed as the AR3.
In service since 2019 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
90
km/h
650
km range
370
mm gun
39,000
kg
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2019. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Max speed
Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.
- 90 km/h Stronger than 85% of artillery systems
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 650 km Stronger than 74% of artillery systems
- Rate of fire
Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability.
- 1 rpm Bottom 4% of artillery systems
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- 8x 370 mm guided rocket launcher (or 750 mm short-range ballistic missile)
- Caliber
Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better — ammunition commonality matters.
- 370 mm
- Max firing range
Maximum range of the main gun or rocket artillery (with assisted/extended-range munitions where noted). Higher extends reach.
- 350 km Top 1% of artillery systems
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Combat weight
Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.
- 39,000 kg
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 4
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 1 Stronger than 17% of artillery systems
Specifications compiled from public NORINCO and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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What is the top speed of the NORINCO PHL-16? +
The NORINCO PHL-16 has a maximum speed of 90 km/h.
What is the range of the NORINCO PHL-16? +
The NORINCO PHL-16 has a maximum range of 650 km.
How much does the NORINCO PHL-16 weigh? +
The NORINCO PHL-16 has a combat weight of 39,000 kg.
How many crew does the NORINCO PHL-16 require? +
The NORINCO PHL-16 requires a crew of 4.
What is the main armament of the NORINCO PHL-16? +
The NORINCO PHL-16's primary weapon is the 8x 370 mm guided rocket launcher (or 750 mm short-range ballistic missile).
How many countries operate the NORINCO PHL-16? +
The NORINCO PHL-16 is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the NORINCO PHL-16 cost? +
NORINCO PHL-16: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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