PF97 Thermobaric Rocket Launcher

Last updated: 21 February 2007

In 2000 the PLA introduced the 93mm PF97 thermobaric rocket launcher, which is a licensed production version of the Russian 93mm RPO-A Shmel.

The PF97 is a lightweight, self-contained, recoilless weapon used primarily by infantry squad for engagement of ‘soft’ targets. It fires an 93mm thermobaric rocket, with negligible recoil.

The weapon consists of a free-flight, fin-stabilised, rocket-type cartridge packed in an one-piece, one-off, fibreglass-wrapped tube. The launcher is watertight for ease of transportation and storage, with an optical sight for aiming. The round of ammunition is self-contained in a disposable launch tube, and is fired by a separate solid rocket motor.

Thermobaric weapons distinguish themselves from conventional explosive weapons by using atmospheric oxygen, instead of carrying an oxidizer in their explosives. They are also called high-impulse thermobaric weapons (HITs), fuel-air explosives (FAE) or sometimes "fuel-air munitions", "heat and pressure" weapons, or vacuum bombs. The individual thermobaric rocket used by the PLA is called the ‘danbing yunbaodan’, which translates to ‘individual solder exploding cloud round’.

Specifications

Calibre: 93mm
Barrel length: 920mm
Weight, launcher (loaded): 12kg
Weight, pack of two: 24kg
Weight, pack of two with carrying case: 39kg
Effective range: 200m
Maximum range: 850m
Minimum range: 25m
Operational temperature range: -40 to +50ºC
Shelf life: 9 years

PF97 Thermobaric Rocket in Service: Chinese state TV news showed that the PF97 is now in service with the PLA ground forces in Nanjing Military Region (Source: CCTV footage)