PF-98

Norinco
Industry	Defense
Headquarters	China
Products	Type 98 (PF-98) anti-tank rocket launcher

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article PF-98, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 10 August 2025

The Type 98 (PF-98) is a 120mm caliber unguided anti-tank rocket launcher developed by Norinco to replace the Type 65 and Type 78 recoilless rifles within the People's Liberation Army. Commonly referred to as the "Queen Bee," this system can be outfitted with a fire control unit that computes projectile trajectory adjustments prior to firing.

Development

During the 1990s, the PLA aimed to find a modern replacement for the outdated Type 78. The Type 98 was publicly revealed in Macao in 1999 and began deployment among elite forces after the year 2000.

This weapon system allows precise delivery of multi-purpose high-explosive or anti-armor rounds while producing minimal recoil. It is designed for firing from both shoulder positions and mounted tripods.

Launcher

The PF-98 employs a reusable smoothbore launcher tube wrapped in fiberglass, with a weight under . Two primary variants exist—battalion-level and company-level—that utilize identical launch tubes and rockets but differ in their sighting apparatus and tripod configurations. Both versions incorporate proprietary rail mounts compatible with fire control devices, daylight optics, or night vision scopes. The battalion model is equipped with a fire control system, medium-range night vision capability, and a large tripod allowing elevation adjustments from +30° to −6° as well as full horizontal rotation. Conversely, the company model features daylight telescopic sights, short-range night vision, and a smaller fixed tripod. Operation can be conducted by one or two personnel, with interchangeable accessories between variants.

Introduced in 2006, the upgraded PF-98A variant offers a lighter launcher (), an altered tripod design, and improved night vision and fire control technologies. It is identifiable by octagonal shock absorbers designed to prevent rolling over uneven surfaces.

The PLA fields the PF-98 within Company and Battalion firepower units providing infantry support. Continuous enhancements include upgrades to fire control systems, reductions in launcher weight, and the introduction of programmable munitions. As more advanced missile systems have been assigned to higher command levels, PF-98 launchers have transitioned into use at lower infantry squad levels. Since late 2018, the lightweight PF-98A has been distributed at squad level for infantry operations.

Sights

The PF-98 family offers three categories of sighting equipment: fire control systems, daylight telescopic sights with 4x magnification, and night vision optics. The battalion variant comes standard with both a fire control system and a night vision scope, whereas the company variant includes daylight telescopic and night vision scopes. The PF-98A models integrate fire control and night vision into a single unit.

Fire control systems

The battalion-level fire control system (Y/MK/PF-98(Y)-120) comprises a 4x optical sight coupled with an onboard fire-control computer, laser rangefinder, external display panel, an LED readout inside the sighting device, and a 25-button keypad. When activated, the laser rangefinder automatically illuminates the target and computes ballistic data. Operators can manually enter variables such as target velocity, direction of movement, crosswind conditions, ambient temperature, and altitude to enhance aiming precision. The system projects a light spot serving as an aiming reticle to decrease response time and increase hit likelihood.

This fire control technology has undergone several iterations:

The Type 00 version introduced updated aiming reticles.
The Type 01 variant added a compact unit featuring a new ballistic computer, enhanced rangefinder, and a simplified 12-button keypad.

The Type 98A system incorporates an advanced laser rangefinder alongside speed measurement components and ballistic computation capabilities. It supports automatic target tracking and calculates aiming assistance based on range data, target speed, selected ammunition type, environmental temperature, and altitude.

In 2018, during PLAGF exercises, a newly integrated fire control system was unveiled featuring an overhead night vision scope and repositioned keypad on the left side of the device. This upgrade enables programming for airburst munitions.

PF-98 Fire Control Systems
Name	Introduction	Description
Type 98	1998	Initial fire control system.
Type 00	2000	Updated version with revised reticles.
Type 01	2001	Enhanced Type 00 including new ballistic computer, rangefinder; smaller form factor; revised keypad.
Type 98A	2006	Added automatic tracking and target speed measurement.
Integrated FCS	2018	Combined night vision with airburst programming capability.

Optical sights

The Type 98 variant issued to companies is equipped with a Y/MK/PF-98(L)-120 (4x) telescopic sight, featuring an illuminated aiming point to facilitate lead estimation. This sight utilizes the same ranging indicators and reticle patterns as found on the PF-89. Both company-level and battalion-level PF-98 models are compatible with dedicated night vision scopes, with the battalion variant capable of longer detection distances. In the updated PF-98A model, both versions employ an identical night vision scope, which enhances battery endurance from 7 up to 40 hours and reduces the scope’s weight from 2.85 kg to 1.2 kg.

Projectiles

The Type 98 High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) round, designated DZP-98, incorporates a tandem warhead with an electronically controlled fuse, enabling it to defeat reactive armor by achieving approximately 800 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) penetration at a 90-degree angle after encountering ERA. This projectile is effective at ranges up to 800 meters and has a maximum reach of 2000 meters. The original HEAT round weighs 8.03 kg. The upgraded Type 98A HEAT projectile reduces mass to 7.91 kg and includes a booster charge casing equipped with a drogue parachute, enhancing safety in the backblast zone.

The Type 98 Multipurpose High Explosive Incendiary (HEI), known as DZY-98, contains around 2000 steel ball bearings combined with zirconium incendiary compounds. It can penetrate armor up to 400 mm thick and produces lethal fragments within a radius of 25 meters. Its maximum effective range is between 1800 and 2000 meters when paired with fire control systems, or up to 800 meters when using daylight optical sights. This round weighs approximately 7.6 kg. The Type 98A HEI variant lowers the weight to about 7.42 kg while preserving other performance characteristics.

The Type 98 Thermobaric (FAE) projectile, DZT-98, delivers a thermobaric warhead capable of affecting an area roughly equal to 90 cubic meters and shares similar range capabilities as the HEI rounds. The thermobaric round remains unchanged in the Type 98A upgrade.

The Type 98A Bunker Buster round, DZD-98A, can penetrate roughly 100 mm of RHA at a 60-degree impact angle or approximately 0.8 meters of C35 concrete. Its maximum range aligns with other projectiles when utilized alongside fire control equipment.

PF-98 Projectiles
Designation	DZP98	DZP98A	DZY98	DZY98A	DZT98	DZD98A	DZR98A
Ammunition type	High-explosive anti-tank	High-explosive anti-tank	Multipurpose incendiary	Multipurpose incendiary	Thermobaric	Assault/bunker buster	Airburst incendiary
Cartridge diameter	120 mm	120 mm	120 mm	120 mm	120 mm	120 mm	120 mm
Cartridge weight	8.03 kg (17.7 lb)	7.91 kg (17.4 lb)	9.15 kg (20.2 lb)	7.42 kg (16.4 lb)	7.42 kg (16.4 lb)	8.6 kg (19 lb)	N/A
Cartridge length	970 mm	970 mm	827 mm	827 mm	825 mm	942 mm	N/A
Effective range (FCS)	800 m (2,600 ft)	800 m (2,600 ft)	2,000 m (6,600 ft)	2,000 m (6,600 ft)	2,000 m (6,600 ft)	2,000 m (6,600 ft)	N/A
Effective range (optics)	400 m (1,300 ft)	400 m (1,300 ft)	800 m (2,600 ft)	800 m (2,600 ft)	800 m (2,600 ft)	800 m (2,600 ft)	N/A
Minimum range	40 m (130 ft)	40 m (130 ft)	40 m (130 ft)	40 m (130 ft)	40 m (130 ft)	60 m (200 ft)	N/A
Penetration (RHA)	800 mm/90° 230 mm/68°	800 mm/90° 230 mm/68°	400 mm/90° 44 mm/55°	400 mm/90° 44 mm/55°	N/A	100 mm/60° ^{[convert: needs a number]} of C35 concrete	N/A
Velocity	Template:Convert 246 m/s (ft/s)	246 m/s (ft/s) }}	205 m/s (ft/s) }}	205 m/s (ft/s) }}	N/A	N/A	N/A

Variants

PF98: Designed for use at battalion and company echelons.
PF98A: A lighter variant equipped with advanced fire control systems, night-vision optics, and a tripod mount.

Users

- Bangladesh Army
- Cameroon Armed Forces
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force

External links

PF-98 on SinoDefence