MATADOR vs Type 63 multiple rocket launcher

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ARockets & launchers

MATADOR

Recoilless gun

Type 63 multiple rocket launcher — licensed reference photograph

BRockets & launchers

Type 63 multiple rocket launcher

Multiple rocket launcher

Credit

Bình Giang · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

MATADORLength

1 m

Length source ↗

Type 63 multiple rocket launcherLength

2.9 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

MATADORlarger figure on 0 of 3

None

Type 63 multiple rocket launcher

Measured figures

Head to head

11 of 74 rows sourced on both sides

2.9m

Length+190%

All recorded figures & sources

1 m

Length

Single source

1 m (3 ft 3 in )^[source]

2.9 m

Length

Single source

Configuration

Details

MATADOR and Type 63 multiple rocket launcher configuration
Specification	MATADOR	Type 63 multiple rocket launcher
Type	Recoilless gun^[source]	Multiple rocket launcher^[source]
Place of origin	Germany Israel Singapore^[source]	China^[source]
In service	2000–present^[source]	—
Used by	See Operators^[source]	See Operators^[source]

Wars	Gaza War (2008–09) Russo-Ukrainian War Russian invasion of Ukraine Gaza war^[source]	Vietnam War Lebanese Civil War Sino–Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan war Iran–Iraq War KDPI insurgency (1989-1996) Second Sudanese Civil War Yugoslav Wars Iraq War Iraqi insurgency Somali Civil War First Libyan Civil War Central African Civil War Syrian Civil War South Sudanese Civil War War in Iraq (2013-17) Second Libyan Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War Russian invasion of Ukraine Tigray War Sudanese civil war (2023–present) Gaza war^[source]

Designer	Singapore Armed Forces , Rafael Advanced Defense Systems , Defence Science and Technology Agency^[source]	—

Designed	1999^[source]	1961^[source]

Manufacturer	Dynamit Nobel Defence^[source]	State Factory 847^[source]

Unit cost	~€5,000^[source]	—

Feed system	Single-shot, disposable^[source]	—

Sights	Integral optical sights Night vision device on a Picatinny rail^[source]	—

Produced	—	1963–?^[source]

Variants	—	Type 81 SP version on truck^[source]

Shell	—	HE, HE-I and HE-frag^[source]

Carriage	—	Split trail^[source]

Elevation	—	−3° to +57°^[source]

Traverse	—	32°^[source]

Former operator · Afghanistan	—	Afghanistan^[source]

Former operator · Bosnia and Herzegovina	—	Bosnia and Herzegovina^[source]

Former operator · Lebanon	—	Lebanon^[source]

Former operator · Lebanese Forces	—	Lebanese Forces^[source]

Former operator · Syrian Social Nationalist Party	—	Syrian Social Nationalist Party^[source]

Former operator · Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam	—	Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam^[source]

Former operator · Tigray Defense Forces	—	Tigray Defense Forces^[source]

Role	—	towed, 12-tube, 107mm rocket launcher^[source]

Source measurement	—	The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher is a towed, 12-tube, 107mm rocket launcher produced by the People's Republic of China in the early 1960s and later exported and manufactured globally. Although no longer serving with active infantry units, the Type 63 is still in People's Liberation Army service with specialized formations such as mountain infantry units and special forces detachments. The Type 63 was widely used in the PLA until the late 1980s. It was adopted as the successor of the Type 50-5 of 102mm.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage China has also developed a Type 63 multiple rocket launcher of 130mm . The RPU-14 is a Soviet 140mm MRL of similar design to the Type 63.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 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) with a 1.3 kilogram warhead. Ammunition for the Type 63 was later improved (Type 75 and Type 81 series), although the overall weight of the rocket remained the same. 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. The Type 63 was distributed on the basis of six per infantry regiment, or 18 per infantry division. For airborne and mountain units the lighter Type 63-I was developed.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 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. 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.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · BM-12 nomenclature issue; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Chinese Type 81 SPMRL 107mm is a self-propelled export version, based on the Nanjing NJ-230 truck.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Variants / Multiple rocket launchers; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 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. T-107M , Vehicle Mounted, 12 Steel Tube MBRL T-107SPM , Vehicle-mounted 2 × 12 Tubes Disposable MBRL with Insulated Pod T-107/122, Vehicle Mounted 3 × 20 Tubes Disposable MBRL with Insulated Pod^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Variants / Multiple rocket launchers; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage China: Type 85 with an empty weight of 22.5 kg.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Variants / Single-tube rocket launchers; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage South Africa: Inflict of Mechem Developments with an empty weight of 26 kg.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Variants / Single-tube rocket launchers; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

—

The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher is a towed, 12-tube, 107mm rocket launcher produced by the People's Republic of China in the early 1960s and later exported and manufactured globally. Although no longer serving with active infantry units, the Type 63 is still in People's Liberation Army service with specialized formations such as mountain infantry units and special forces detachments. The Type 63 was widely used in the PLA until the late 1980s. It was adopted as the successor of the Type 50-5 of 102mm.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

China has also developed a Type 63 multiple rocket launcher of 130mm . The RPU-14 is a Soviet 140mm MRL of similar design to the Type 63.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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) with a 1.3 kilogram warhead. Ammunition for the Type 63 was later improved (Type 75 and Type 81 series), although the overall weight of the rocket remained the same. 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. The Type 63 was distributed on the basis of six per infantry regiment, or 18 per infantry division. For airborne and mountain units the lighter Type 63-I was developed.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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. 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.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · BM-12 nomenclature issue; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Chinese Type 81 SPMRL 107mm is a self-propelled export version, based on the Nanjing NJ-230 truck.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Variants / Multiple rocket launchers; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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. T-107M , Vehicle Mounted, 12 Steel Tube MBRL T-107SPM , Vehicle-mounted 2 × 12 Tubes Disposable MBRL with Insulated Pod T-107/122, Vehicle Mounted 3 × 20 Tubes Disposable MBRL with Insulated Pod^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Variants / Multiple rocket launchers; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

China: Type 85 with an empty weight of 22.5 kg.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Variants / Single-tube rocket launchers; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

South Africa: Inflict of Mechem Developments with an empty weight of 26 kg.^[source]Type 63 multiple rocket launcher · Variants / Single-tube rocket launchers; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Country of origin	—	China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 3, cell 4; revision 1353719247; retrieved 2026-10-02 China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 6, cell 4; revision 1347912314; retrieved 2026-10-02 China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 5, cell 4; revision 1341802473; retrieved 2026-10-02 China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 3, row 3, cell 2; revision 1365890955; retrieved 2026-10-02 China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 7, row 3, cell 4; revision 1354896551; retrieved 2026-10-02 China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 3, row 5, cell 3; revision 1375425982; retrieved 2026-10-02 China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 7, row 13, cell 5; revision 1377604549; retrieved 2026-10-02 China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 9, row 17, cell 3; revision 1377876238; retrieved 2026-10-02 China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 9, row 12, cell 4; revision 1376804306; retrieved 2026-10-01 China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 5, cell 3; revision 1367329605; retrieved 2026-10-01

Country of origin

—

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 3, cell 4; revision 1353719247; retrieved 2026-10-02

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 6, cell 4; revision 1347912314; retrieved 2026-10-02

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 5, cell 4; revision 1341802473; retrieved 2026-10-02

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 3, row 3, cell 2; revision 1365890955; retrieved 2026-10-02

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 7, row 3, cell 4; revision 1354896551; retrieved 2026-10-02

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 3, row 5, cell 3; revision 1375425982; retrieved 2026-10-02

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 7, row 13, cell 5; revision 1377604549; retrieved 2026-10-02

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 9, row 17, cell 3; revision 1377876238; retrieved 2026-10-02

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 9, row 12, cell 4; revision 1376804306; retrieved 2026-10-01

China^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 4, row 5, cell 3; revision 1367329605; retrieved 2026-10-01

Origin reported by inventory	—	China Ethiopia^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 14, row 9, cell 4; revision 1377417310; retrieved 2026-10-02 China Sudan^[source]Inventory Country of origin column; table 4, row 6, cell 3; revision 1377317374; retrieved 2026-10-01

Origin reported by inventory

—

China Ethiopia^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 14, row 9, cell 4; revision 1377417310; retrieved 2026-10-02

China Sudan^[source]Inventory Country of origin column; table 4, row 6, cell 3; revision 1377317374; retrieved 2026-10-01

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