
107 mm shells for Chinese Type 63 MLRS found at Russia’s 51st GRAU arsenal
Despite being labeled as Iranian Fadjr-1 rockets, the origin of these 107mm unguided munitions and their corresponding MLRS systems may not necessarily be Tehran
After the explosion at Russia’s 51st GRAU arsenal on April 22, local footage began circulating online, showing munition fragments scattered across a wide area, Defense Express reports. Among the debris, several videos captured what appeared to be components of 107mm unguided rockets.
While it's impossible to be certain from video evidence alone—especially without clear scale references—the visible design features, such as the tail section and the lack of stabilizing fins typical of Soviet-made rockets, suggest these are imported munitions. However, identifying them solely as Iranian Fadjr-1 rockets, as some sources have done, could be misleading.
According to Defense Express, these 107mm rockets actually trace back to Chinese origins and are commonly known as the Type 63. Originally developed by China in the 1960s as a scaled-down version of the Soviet BM-14 system (which used 140mm rockets), the Type 63 became widely exported and locally replicated around the world. Today, the term “107mm rocket” is broadly used, especially since groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and ISIS have utilized them in improvised single-launch platforms.
The original Type 63 system is a 12-tube multiple launch rocket system with a firing range of up to 8 km, while more modern variants can reach as far as 11 km. Each rocket weighs approximately 18–19 kg, with around 8 kg dedicated to the warhead.
Over 30 countries, particularly across Africa and Asia, have the Type 63 or its variants in their arsenals. Besides Iran’s Fadjr-1, there is also a North Korean version known as the Type 75. The exact origin of the rockets found at the Russian arsenal remains unknown, but both Iranian and North Korean supply routes are plausible.
So far, there is no confirmed footage of Russian forces using these 107mm rockets in a standard MLRS configuration. However, that doesn’t rule out their use in portable launchers, improvised setups, or even mounted on light vehicles.
- Co-founder and executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation said Russia could have been storing over 260,000 tons of ammunition at the 51st GRAU arsenal — not 106,000 tons as some media have reported.
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