In the 1980s, the
People's Liberation Army Ground Force planned to procure long-range multiple rocket launchers and explored options from several Chinese military corporations. Four companies bid in the competition: •
AR-1 rocket system developed by Changchun subsidiary of the
China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco). • A-100 rocket system developed by the
China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a subsidiary of the
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). •
WS-1 (
Weishi rockets) rocket system developed by Sichuan 7th Academy, a subsidiary of the
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). •
WM-80 rocket system developed by the Qiqihar subsidiary of the
China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco). In the end, the AR-1 multiple rocket launcher system was chosen by the
People's Liberation Army Ground Force, which received designation
PHL-03. After the competition, these companies started to export their products.
China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) did not participate in the bidding process due to time constraints, but CASIC revealed its first MLRS design,
SY-400, in the
Zhuhai Airshow 2008. The CALT planned to develop a reverse-engineered
BM-30 Smerch, similar to the technical approach done by the
AR-1 system. To set itself apart from the competition, CALT implemented the
gyroscope in the rockets for an accurate, guided strike. However, the integration of the gyroscope was unsatisfactory during the test, resulting in a lower accuracy compared to the winner, AR-1 (PHL-03); thus, the A-100 system was not chosen by the PLA. ==Rocket specifications==