The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently conducted a live-fire test of long-range rocket artillery and anti-tank missiles against various maritime targets in Bohai Bay, state media Global Times reported on Sunday.
Based on a report by state broadcaster CCTV, multiple PHL-03 long-range rocket launcher systems were deployed onshore, firing multiple rockets at targets while troops used drones to conduct long-range reconnaissance.
Experts said that the army may be deployed with the navy, air force, and rocket force in anti-ship missions against hostile warships.
Earlier in May, China accused the US of threatening peace and stability around the Taiwan Strait after US guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur sailed through the strait.
More Tests Conducted
The PLA Army Academy of Artillery and Air Defense has also recently tested its HJ-10 anti-tank missile system against maritime targets on the Yellow Sea, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Several dozen PLA JH-7 fighter bombers also dropped thousands of munitions during a South China Sea exercise last week.
Earlier this month, China’s Shandong aircraft carrier task group conducted an exercise in the South China Sea, a drill it described as routine training and part of the Chinese Navy’s “annual work plan.”
PHL-03 Rocket Launcher
The PHL-03, also called the Type 03, is a 12-tube 300 mm long-range multiple rocket launcher used by the PLA to engage remote strategic targets such as airfields, command centers, support facilities, and air defense batteries.
The weapon is the Chinese version of the Soviet BM-30 Smerch, and is considered one of the world’s most powerful multiple launch artillery rocket systems. Its variants include the AR1, AR1A, AR2, and AR3.