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China’s 107mm Type 63 Rocket Components Reportedly Found After Explosion at Russia’s 51st GRAU Arsenal

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Ivan_khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
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China’s 107mm Type 63 Rocket Components Reportedly Found After Explosion at Russia’s 51st GRAU Arsenal
Chinese troops fire 107mm rockets from Type 63 multiple launch rocket systems during a live-fire exercise. (Source: Defense Express)

Following the explosion at Russia’s 51st GRAU  arsenal on April 22, fragments of munitions scattered around the site were recorded and shared online. Among the debris, several video frames reportedly appeared to show components resembling 107mm unguided rockets.

According to Defense Express on April 23, while visual identification alone cannot provide conclusive evidence, the tail sections captured in the footage—particularly the absence of stabilizers typical of Soviet-made munitions—suggest these were imported rocket types.

Some sources have referred to the munitions as Iranian Fadjr-1 rockets. However, according to analysts, the design and characteristics of these munitions align more closely with the Chinese Type 63 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), which has been widely proliferated across Asia and Africa since its development in the 1960s.

107mm Rocket Debris and Warhead. (Source: Defense Express)
107mm Rocket Debris and Warhead. (Source: Defense Express)

The original Type 63 was based on the Soviet BM-14 system, with the caliber reduced from 140mm to 107mm. The system features 12 launch tubes and has served as a foundation for various localized variants, including North Korea’s Type 75 and Iran’s Fadjr-1.

In many cases, these rockets have also been deployed from improvised single-launch platforms by non-state actors such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Rockets compatible with the Type 63 system have an effective range of up to 8 km, with newer models extending this to 11 km. Each rocket typically weighs around 18–19 kg, with approximately 8 kg allocated to the warhead.

A mobile variant of the Type 63 rocket launcher mounted on a light military vehicle for rapid deployment and flexible targeting. (Source: Defense Express)
A mobile variant of the Type 63 rocket launcher mounted on a light military vehicle for rapid deployment and flexible targeting. (Source: Defense Express)

Although Russian forces have not previously been observed using 107mm rockets in combat, the reported discovery of these munitions at a GRAU storage site suggests that Russia may have obtained them through undisclosed channels. The precise origin remains unclear, but military observers consider both Iran and North Korea plausible suppliers.

Earlier, on April 17, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian intelligence had obtained evidence suggesting China is supplying Russia with gunpowder and artillery, and that Chinese entities may be involved in weapons production on Russian territory. He said further details would be released soon.

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Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense, responsible for the storage, supply, and maintenance of missile and artillery weapons.