WS-1
SCAIC began to develop an unguided large-calibre multiple launch rocket system for the PLA ground forces in the late 1980s. The resulted Weishi-1 (WS-1) 302mm, 4-tube multiple rocket system was first tested in 1990. However, the weapon system failed to impress the PLA, and no production order was received. The ground equipment of the WS-1 comprises: a rocket launch truck, a transport and loading truck and a firing command truck.
A WS-1 rocket battalion is equipped with:
- DZ-88B firing command truck (4 men): 1;
- MF-4 rocket launch truck (3 men): 6~9;
- QY-88 transport and loading truck (3 men): 6~9;
- High-altitude meteorological radar (3 men): 1;
- Rockets per launch truck: 40~60 ;
WS-1B
SCAIC continued the WS-1 development in the 1990s and introduced the improved WS-1B in the late 1990s. The WS-1B mainly targeted the foreign customers and was actively marketed by Beijing-based China National Precision Machinery Corporation (CPMIEC). Again the weapon system failed to attract any buyer. Compared to the WS-1, the WS-1B features an increased range of 180 km.
A WS-1B rocket battalion is equipped with:
- DZ-4B firing command truck (5 men): 1;
- HF-4B rocket launch truck (3 men): 6~9;
- QY-4B transport and loading truck (3 men): 6~9;
- Type 702 high-altitude meteorological radar (3 men): 1;
- Rockets per launch truck: 40~60;
WS-1E
The WS-1E is the 122mm multiple rocket system developed by SCAIC as a successor to the PLA’s current Type 81 122mm rocket system. It is similar to the Type 90 122mm rocket system and did not enter production. A WS-1E rocket battalion is equipped with:
- DZ-88B firing command truck (5 men): 1;
- MF-40 rocket launch truck (3 men): 6;
- Rockets per launch truck: 120~160;
WS-2
During the 2004 Zhuhai Air Show, SCAIC revealed its latest WS-2 multiple launch rocket system. The weapon is fitted with 6 box-shape launchers and fires 400mm rockets to a maximum range of 400 km, which is long enough to travel through the Taiwan Strait and attack Taiwan targets should a war break out. It is speculated that WS-2 is going to be a cheaper alternative to the expensive short range ballistic missiles in Chinese inventory. The WS-2 is fitted with a primitive cascade inertial terminal guidance to compensate the degraded accuracy caused by the long distance flight of the rocket. In 2008, it was revealed that sub-munitions are developed for WS-2, including a specialized anti-radar version, which is a rocket containing three UAVs. Once the rocket is fired to the target area, the UAVs are released the same way like other sub-munitions. The seekers would seek out target radar signals as UAVs begun to cruise, and once locked on to the radar, UAV would home in and attack. Some domestic Chinese military enthusiasts have claimed such technology was based on the principle of Israeli Harpy anti-radar UAVs, but this could not be confirmed by independent sources outside China.
A WS-1E and WS-2 rocket battalion shared the same equipment and is armed with:
- Firing command truck (5 men): 1;
- Rocket launch truck (3 men): 6;
- Transport and loading truck (3 men): 6~9;
- Rockets per launch truck: 30~48;
- Preparation time (from traveling to firing) < 12 minutes
- Firing density: better than 1/600 m
- Accuracy: better than 0.3%
Armament
The free rocket used by the WS-1 and WS-1B consists of the warhead and fuse, an FG-42/43 rocket motor and the tail section. The FG-42/43 rocket motor is a single chamber, solid rocket motor with an advanced hydroxy-terminated polybutadine (HTPB) composition rocket propellant. The rocket of the WS-2 system features four control surfaces in the middle section of the rocket for terminal guidance.
The rocket can be fitted with various types of warheads including anti-armour/personnel submunition, blasting, fuel air explosive (FAE), and high-explosive (HE). The ZDB-2 blasting warhead is loaded with steel balls and prefabricated fragments. The SZB-1 submunition warhead is designed to destroy large area targets such as armour formation and infantry troops. When the SZB-1 submunition warhead detonates, around 500 bullets are expelled under high pressure.
Launch truck
The launch truck is available in a number of variants. The MF-4 launch truck is based on a Chinese indigenous 6X6 truck chassis. The HF-4 launch truck is based on the more capable Tiema XC2200 6X6 truck. The WS-2 uses a heavier 8X8 Taian TAS-5380 truck chassis. The launch tubes have an elevation range of 0° to 60° and azimuth range of -30° to +30°. The truck is equipped with four hydraulically operated stabilisers which are lowered in preparation for the rocket launch.
