The PLA is developing a family of long-range MLRS that will provide artillery units with the ability to engage enemy targets at "strategic" ranges, complementing the niche typical of short-range ballistic missiles.
The China Precision Engineering Export-Import Corporation (CPMIEC) and Sichuan Aerospace Industries have developed a new WS-2D MLRS (Wei-Shi / Guardian-2D) with a 400 km firing range. The installation belongs to the WS-2 MLRS family, which were adopted by the PLA in 2004.
According to reports from Chinese websites, the WS-2D is heavier than the base variant. The missile is 8.1 m long and 425 mm in diameter compared to 7, 15 m and 400 mm, respectively, for the WS-2. The firing range is 400 km (200 km - for the WS-2), which makes it possible to position this MLRS as having the greatest firing range in the world.
MLRS WS-2D is equipped with a guided missile. Reportedly, the missile's circular probabilistic deviation at maximum range is less than 600 m. For comparison, the WS-2 KVO is 600 m at a range of 200 km. Like the WS-2, the WS-2D can be equipped with various types of warheads, including a new type of cluster that carries three special UAV / homing projectiles. Sources note that the launcher can carry 6 to 9 missiles in transport and launch containers.
Information about the WS-2D system makes it possible to relate with great confidence to the earlier messages about another version of the WS-2 MLRS. In 2007, Chinese sources announced the development of a WS-2C version with a range of 300 km. According to them, the installation was intended primarily to destroy the radar, as well as ships and ground targets. The rocket projectile was equipped with a passive radar seeker used in the final section of the trajectory.
According to available information, in 2007-2008. a batch of MLRS WS-2 was sold to the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The increased attention to the development of long-range MLRS is evidenced by the demonstration firing of the MLRS PHL-03, which was equipped with a package of 12 tubular guides with 300-mm rockets, carried out on July 25 this year at the training ground located on the coast of the Yellow Sea. The artillery part of the installation resembles a package of guides for the Russian MLRS "Smerch", which the PLA, according to media reports, bought in small quantities in the 1990s. The firing range of the MLRS PHL-03 is 130 km.
According to a number of experts, the appearance of long-range MLRS in the PLA artillery units will reduce the tension around the deployment of ballistic missile launchers in the Taiwan Strait, without significantly reducing the PLA's firepower. Currently, Taiwanese sources claim up to 1,500 launchers of Chinese missiles aimed at the island, including Dongfeng-11 and Dongfeng-15 short-range ballistic missiles and Donghai-10 land-based cruise missiles, are stationed in the area. Taking into account the fact that the width of the Taiwan Strait is from 130 to 220 km, MLRS with a firing range of up to 400 km will be able to partially replace the short-range missile launchers deployed in the Taiwan region.
