Type 63 multiple rocket launcher

The launcher's 12 tubes are arranged in three removable rows of four, mounted on a single-axle carriage with rubber tires. The Type 63 originally fired an 18.8 kilogram rocket (Type 63-2)^[6] with a 1.3 kilogram warhead.^[7] Ammunition for the Type 63 was later improved (Type 75 and Type 81 series), although the overall weight of the rocket remained the same.^[5] A fixed amount of propellant is contained in the rocket motor. The steel-cased rocket is stabilized with spin imparted by six angled nozzles in its base.^[8][9] The Type 63 was distributed on the basis of six per infantry regiment, or 18 per infantry division.^[10] For airborne and mountain units the lighter Type 63-I was developed.^[11]

The Type 63 and its copies can be mounted on different kinds of armoured and unarmoured vehicles, for example the MT-LB, the Safir, the Mamba, the RG-32 Scout, the GAZ-66 and the M113.

The Type 63 and its rockets are license-built in several countries including:

• Sudan – Taka.^[12]
• Iran – Fajr-1 of D.I.O. with Haseb-1 rocket.^[13]
• South Africa – RO 107 of Mechem Developments.^[14]
• North Korea – Type 75.^{[citation needed]}
• North Vietnam, Vietnam – H-12.^{[citation needed]}
• Turkey – T-107 of MKEK with rockets TR-107 "Anadolu" and TRB-107.^[15]
• Egypt – RL812/TLC of the Helwan Machinery and Equipment Factory (Factory 999).^[16][17]

NATO and western sources have used the Soviet-style designation BM-12 to describe this weapon system, and further even ascribe Soviet origin and initial manufacture of both launcher and rockets.^[18] However, there is no evidence in non-western sources of Soviet development or production, or of the BM-12 moniker being applied. Very similar Type 50-5 or Type 488 102mm rockets were manufactured in China and used in the Korean War prior to development of the Type 63.^[19]

It appears the systems designated BM-12 (for example in Afghanistan and Libya) were or are all of Chinese origin, being merely used or cross-traded by Soviet interests.

• The Chinese Type 81 SPMRL 107mm is a self-propelled export version, based on the Nanjing NJ-230 truck.^[20]
• North Korea has developed versions with 18 and 24 launch tubes that are mounted on vehicles such as the tracked VTT-323 or the wheeled M1992.^[20]
• ROKETSAN of Turkey has designed an improved 107mm multiple rocket launch system, consisting of a HMMWV with two 12-round launch modules and a fire control system. The system uses the TR-107 and TRB-107 rockets but the range has been increased to 11 km.^[21]
  • T-107M, Vehicle Mounted, 12 Steel Tube MBRL^[22]
  • T-107SPM, Vehicle-mounted 2 × 12 Tubes Disposable MBRL with Insulated Pod^[22]
  • T-107/122, Vehicle Mounted 3 × 20 Tubes Disposable MBRL with Insulated Pod^[22]

A number of countries have developed single-tube, man-portable rocket launchers that fire the same type of rockets:

• China: Type 85 with an empty weight of 22.5 kg.^[20]
• Egypt: PRL-81, similar to the Type 85 system.^[23]
• South Africa: Inflict of Mechem Developments with an empty weight of 26 kg.^[24]
• Iran: Karkhe, Single shot disposable launcher.^[25]

•  Afghanistan^[26]
•  Albania – 270.^[20]
•  Azerbaijan^{[citation needed]}
•  Burkina Faso – ~4 as of 2021^[update][27]
•  Cambodia^[28]
•  Chad^[29]
•  People's Republic of China^[30]
•  Congo-Kinshasa – 12 as of 2021^[update][31]
•  Djibouti^[32]
•  Egypt - Manufactured locally as RL812/TLC
•  Ethiopia – 25
•  Gabon - 25 as of 2021^[update][33]
•  Ghana – ~3 as of 2016^[update][34]
•  Indonesia^{[citation needed]}
•  Iran – 1,300 as of 2020^[35]
  • Liwa Fatemiyoun^[36]
•  Iraq^[37]
  •  Iraqi Kurdistan^[38]
  • Popular Mobilization Forces^[39]
•  Jordan^{[citation needed]}
•  North Korea^[40]
•  Libya^[41]
•  Mauritania – 4 as of 2016^[update][42]
•  Myanmar – 30 as of 2016^[update][43]
•  Nicaragua – 33 as of 2016^[update][44]
•  Pakistan – Type-81 variant in service as of 2021^[update][45]
• Palestine Liberation Organisation^[20]
• People's Defense Units (YPG)^[46]
•  South Africa – (Launchers captured in Angola, rockets manufactured locally)^[3]
•  South Sudan^[47][4]
•  Sudan – 477 as of 2016^[update][48]
•  Syria^[49]
•  Turkey – Manufactured locally as TR-107.
•  Somaliland: estimated12 ^[50]
•  Venezuela - Fajr 1^[51]
•  Vietnam – Fielded during the Vietnam War.^[52] 360 as of 2016^[update][53]
•  Zimbabwe – 16 as of 2016^[update][54]

•  Bosnia and Herzegovina – Former user^[20]
•  Lebanon
  • Lebanese Forces^[55]
  • People's Liberation Army
  • Amal Movement
• Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam: 2^[56]
•  Malaysia – retired
• Tigray Defense Forces^[57] − Surrendered to the Ethiopian forces in the aftermath of the Tigray War^[58]

• T-122 Sakarya – (Turkey)
• Fajr-5 – (Iran)
• 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 – (Nazi Germany, Germany)

• (JAA) Jane's Armour and Artillery 1981–82, Christopher Foss (ed.), London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1981. ISBN 0-7106-0727-X.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (2006). The Military Balance 2006. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-85743-399-9.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). The Military Balance 2016. Vol. 116. Routlegde. ISBN 9781857438352.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. Vol. 121. Routledge. ISBN 9781032012278.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Type 63 multiple rocket launcher.

• OrData report on 107-mm rocket projectile
• GlobalSecurity on the Type 63 and Type 81
• Mao's Rockets and the Eastern Afghan Border War, Part I Part II Part III, article series about the use of Type 63 rockets in Afghanistan.