OVERVIEW: The 300mm BRC4 is an unguided artillery rocket carrying dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM), intended for use with the Chinese PHL-03 multiple launch rocket system. It is designed for area saturation with anti-armor and anti-personnel submunitions at extended ranges.

DETAILS: The BRC4 is part of China’s 300mm-caliber artillery rocket family developed for the PHL-03, which is derived from the Russian BM-30 Smerch. It uses a solid-fuel rocket motor and stabilizing fins, with a maximum range typically reaching 130 km. The warhead section is designed to eject submunitions mid-flight using a pre-set time fuze or mechanical activation. The rocket’s body is compatible with standard 12-tube launch modules of the PHL-03 system.

The BRC4 differs from earlier variants primarily in the improved efficiency and reliability of its DPICM payload. It carries hundreds of anti-armor/anti-personnel submunitions with shaped charges and fragmentation effects. These submunitions are designed to defeat soft vehicles, disrupt infantry concentrations, and deny terrain use through wide-area dispersion.

The rocket is launched from the PHL-03’s vehicle-based platform with fire-control systems that input mission parameters before launch. Launchers can fire individual rockets or full salvos, with reloads performed manually or with support vehicles. The BRC4 is optimized for preemptive strikes, suppression of enemy defenses, and large-area neutralization of high-value tactical zones.

NOTE:
IOC: 2000s
Operators: China, UAE, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Morocco
Platforms: PHL-03
Conflict used in: Not publicly confirmed

SOURCE:
U.S. Air Force Armament Museum: https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil ; Jane’s Weapons: Air-Launched ; Department of Defense: https://www.defense.gov, Historical Munition Fact Sheets ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS): https://fas.org ; U.S. Navy Weapon Systems Explosive Ordnance Disposal publication: https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NUWC-Newport/What-We-Do/Undersea-Warfare-Systems/Weapon-Systems/