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PF-98
The Type 98 (PF-98) is a 120mm unguided anti-tank rocket system developed by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army as a successor to the Type 65 and Type 78 recoilless guns. It is also known by its nickname, "Queen Bee". It can be equipped with a firing control system which can calculate and adjust for projectile drop before the rocket fires.
The PLA began to search for a successor for the Type 78 in the 1990s. The older, 1950s-era equipment began to show its age. The Type 98 was revealed with a garrison unit in Macao in 1999, while some elite units began to receive the weapon after 2000.
The design makes the accurate delivery of a 120 mm multi-purpose high-explosive or high-explosive anti-tank projectile with negligible recoil possible. The weapon can be tripod- or shoulder-fired.
PF-98 reusable tube launcher is a fibreglass-wrapped smoothbore gun and weighs under 10 kg (22 lb). Two variants, battalion-level and company-level, are available. Both variants share the same launch tube and rocket projectiles. Their difference in capabilities and usage lies in their sighting system and tripod mount. Both PF-98 variants are fitted with a proprietary rail mount that can be equipped with a fire control system, daylight optics, or night vision scope. The Battalion version features a fire control system, medium-range night vision scope, and large tripod. The tripod of the battalion version allows an elevation of +30° to −6°, and a horizontal traverse of 360°. The company version has daylight optics, close-range night vision scope, and a small fixed tripod to support the launcher in the prone position. The weapon can be operated by one soldier or a crew of two. The accessories can be mounted interchangeably.
The PF-98A is the improved variant of PF-98, which was incorporated into service in 2006. The PF-98A launcher's firing tube, tripod and carrying handle are modified to reduce weight. The new launcher weighs 7 kg (15 lb). It's also fitted with improved night-vision scope and fire control systems. The PF-98A launcher can be distinguished from its predecessor by its octagon-shaped forward and rear shock absorbers, which prevent the launcher from rolling on uneven surfaces.
The PLA deployed PF-98 to both Company and Battalion firepower units for direct infantry fire support, with iterative improvements such as new fire-control systems, lighter launcher tubes, and programmable munitions. Since the deployment of more sophisticated missiles at battalion/company-level firepower units, PF-98 launchers have been transferred to infantry squads of lower echelons. In late 2018, the lightweight PF-98A was deployed for infantry use on a squad level.
Three types of sight systems are available for PF-98 series: fire control systems, daylight (4×) telescopic sights, and night-vision scopes. PF-98 battalion version is fitted with the fire control system and night-vision scope, while the company version is fitted with the daylight telescopic sight and night-vision scope. An integrated fire control/night vision system is available for the PF-98A variants.
The fire-control of the battalion version Type 98 consists of a Y/MK/PF-98(Y)-120 (4×) optical sight, which includes a fire-control computer, a laser rangefinder, an outside display, an LED display inside the optical sight, and a keyboard with 25 buttons. After pressing the range-finding button on the extension cord, the system will automatically irradiate the target and make ballistic calculations. The operator can input additional information such as target speed, direction, crosswind, temperature and altitude using the keyboard. After calculating the lead of the moving target, the computer will put a light spot in the gunner’s optical sight. The soldier then uses the light spot as the crosshair to guarantee a hit. This mechanism reduces the reaction time and makes for increased accuracy. This fire control system went through two upgrades, Type 00 and Type 01. Type 00 features revised aiming reticles. Type 01 fire control system featured a smaller fire control unit with a new ballistic computer, a new rangefinder unit, and a revised keyboard layout with 12 buttons.
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PF-98 AI simulator
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PF-98
The Type 98 (PF-98) is a 120mm unguided anti-tank rocket system developed by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army as a successor to the Type 65 and Type 78 recoilless guns. It is also known by its nickname, "Queen Bee". It can be equipped with a firing control system which can calculate and adjust for projectile drop before the rocket fires.
The PLA began to search for a successor for the Type 78 in the 1990s. The older, 1950s-era equipment began to show its age. The Type 98 was revealed with a garrison unit in Macao in 1999, while some elite units began to receive the weapon after 2000.
The design makes the accurate delivery of a 120 mm multi-purpose high-explosive or high-explosive anti-tank projectile with negligible recoil possible. The weapon can be tripod- or shoulder-fired.
PF-98 reusable tube launcher is a fibreglass-wrapped smoothbore gun and weighs under 10 kg (22 lb). Two variants, battalion-level and company-level, are available. Both variants share the same launch tube and rocket projectiles. Their difference in capabilities and usage lies in their sighting system and tripod mount. Both PF-98 variants are fitted with a proprietary rail mount that can be equipped with a fire control system, daylight optics, or night vision scope. The Battalion version features a fire control system, medium-range night vision scope, and large tripod. The tripod of the battalion version allows an elevation of +30° to −6°, and a horizontal traverse of 360°. The company version has daylight optics, close-range night vision scope, and a small fixed tripod to support the launcher in the prone position. The weapon can be operated by one soldier or a crew of two. The accessories can be mounted interchangeably.
The PF-98A is the improved variant of PF-98, which was incorporated into service in 2006. The PF-98A launcher's firing tube, tripod and carrying handle are modified to reduce weight. The new launcher weighs 7 kg (15 lb). It's also fitted with improved night-vision scope and fire control systems. The PF-98A launcher can be distinguished from its predecessor by its octagon-shaped forward and rear shock absorbers, which prevent the launcher from rolling on uneven surfaces.
The PLA deployed PF-98 to both Company and Battalion firepower units for direct infantry fire support, with iterative improvements such as new fire-control systems, lighter launcher tubes, and programmable munitions. Since the deployment of more sophisticated missiles at battalion/company-level firepower units, PF-98 launchers have been transferred to infantry squads of lower echelons. In late 2018, the lightweight PF-98A was deployed for infantry use on a squad level.
Three types of sight systems are available for PF-98 series: fire control systems, daylight (4×) telescopic sights, and night-vision scopes. PF-98 battalion version is fitted with the fire control system and night-vision scope, while the company version is fitted with the daylight telescopic sight and night-vision scope. An integrated fire control/night vision system is available for the PF-98A variants.
The fire-control of the battalion version Type 98 consists of a Y/MK/PF-98(Y)-120 (4×) optical sight, which includes a fire-control computer, a laser rangefinder, an outside display, an LED display inside the optical sight, and a keyboard with 25 buttons. After pressing the range-finding button on the extension cord, the system will automatically irradiate the target and make ballistic calculations. The operator can input additional information such as target speed, direction, crosswind, temperature and altitude using the keyboard. After calculating the lead of the moving target, the computer will put a light spot in the gunner’s optical sight. The soldier then uses the light spot as the crosshair to guarantee a hit. This mechanism reduces the reaction time and makes for increased accuracy. This fire control system went through two upgrades, Type 00 and Type 01. Type 00 features revised aiming reticles. Type 01 fire control system featured a smaller fire control unit with a new ballistic computer, a new rangefinder unit, and a revised keyboard layout with 12 buttons.