US currently has 991 M270 tracked MLRS which is even bigger than the HIMARS, and also 540 regular HIMARS. That's almost 1500 long range MLRS capable of firing ATACMS. While PLA has just around 300 long range MLRS.
Also note that US army is almost half the size of PLAGF which has around 950k soldiers. So, despite that PLAGF long range MLRS count is so much lower.
I think the reason for this huge disparity is doctrinal.
China has long range MLRS and 155MM tube artillery only on the Group Army level. A group army is almost similar to a corps. They operate 122 MM MLRS for brigade level. Which is what limits their long range MLRS count. While US operates their long range MLRS on Division and corps level and they have no 122MM MLRS equivalent.
My numbers are well established from IISS military balance. Which is pretty much the only database containing military equipment for all countries in such detail and updated yearly. I don't think there is any other source that has numbers for both PLA and US military and can be compared in a similar way.
I think PHL 191 is such a powerful and useful capability that there should be more of it in the PLAGF service. So, if PLA has indeed formed dedicated MLRS brigades as some people have mentioned, that is great news. I am sure we will see that reflected in the IISS numbers in a few years if that is indeed true.
So, let's take the IISS numbers at face value (they are typically behind/out of date for the PLA, but whatever).
The reason I am saying that range and payload is important, is because the rockets that M270 and HIMARS use are in a somewhat different weight category to which PHL-03 and especially PHL-191 uses. I'll go over the various calibres and their respective ranges and payloads for leading/modern models below
M270 and HIMARS:
- 227mm: M31 GMLRS, 91kg warhead, 150km with 2024 tests (prior to that, production versions had ranges of 90+km)
- 610mm: ATACMS M57, 230kg warhead, 300km (older M39 has 591kg warhead and 165km range)
- 430mm: PRSM, 91kg warhead, 500km
PHL-191 (and PHL03 for 300mm specifically), ranges all circa early 2020s for export (from brochure below a few years ago at a defense expo -- note, their accuracy/CEP is also for export and thus not utilizing PRC military grade Beidou)
- 300mm: 160kg warhead, export range 130km, domestic range likely longer
- 370mm: 180kg warhead, export range 290km, domestic range definitely longer (often cited as in excess of 300km)
- 750mm: 480kg warhead, export range 290km, domestic range definitely longer (often cited as 500-600+ km)
So, if we compare the various calibres:
- PLA 300mm rocket (12 on a PHL03 or 8 on a PHL191) has nearly twice the payload as a leading 227mm rocket (12 per M270 or 6 per HIMARS) at similar (if not greater) range
- PLA 370mm rocket (8 on a PHL191) each has a warhead that is 78% the mass of a 610mm ATACMS (2 per M270 or 1 per HIMARS), at similar or greater range, or each PLA 370mm rocket has a warhead double the mass of a 430mm PRSM (4 per M270, or 2 per HIMARS) warhead but at about 70% the range -- note this means a single PHL191 with 8x 370mm rockets has almost the same lethality from a range/payload pov as four individual M270s if equipped with 2x ATACMs each, or eight HIMARS if equipped with one ATACMs each.
- PLA 750mm rocket/SRBM (2 per PHL191) each has a warhead that is over double the mass of a 610mm ATACMS warhead at nearly double the range, or over five times the mass of a 430mm PRSM at the same range
.... which is why it's difficult to compare like with like.
Of course, it is still true that the PLAGF's MLRS force has room to expand, and I expect them to standardize to PHL-191 in time, and perhaps even expand the size of LR MLRS battalions in their standard artillery brigades (as well as establish additional LRRBs to other theater commands).
And of course the PLAGF's maneuver brigades have 122mm MLRS for shorter range duties organic to the maneuver brigades too, which is indeed partly a doctrinal difference... but the PLAGF's LR MLRS forces are also configured differently to that of the US Army.
The PLAGF's LR MLRS are less focused on oceanic or air strategic mobility (instead, focused on strategic road mobility), and their rockets are focused on range
and also payload/warhead mass.
The US Army's LR MLRS are focused more on oceanic and air strategic mobility, and their rockets are increasingly focused on range, but at a relative expense of payload/warhead mass compared to the PLAGF's rockets.
Both the PLAGF and US Army's rockets of course will benefit from world class satellite guidance that their respective nations have.
@Blitzo Couldn't find this reference earlier, but finally dug it up now. From US military intelligence:
Interesting.
I am not aware of all theater commands having a LRRB, but it's certainly possible that they are all established by now. Though I wonder if it's just that document making an assumption at this point.
