China would have delivered SR5 rocket launchers to Algeria.

According to pictures released on the website MenaDefense, Algeria has received the SR5 rocket launcher systems from China. The SR5 is a Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) designed and manufactured in China by the Company NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation).

Chinese-made SR5 GMLRS Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems in an undisclosed area in Algeria. (source picture MenaDefense website)

According to the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) arms trade database, China has already delivered 18 SR5 GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) to Venezuela in 2014/2015 and 4 SR5 to Bahrain in 2016.

The SR-5 GMLRS was unveiled for the first time to the public with a scale model showed at Eurosatory defense exhibition in June 2012. The vehicle is now in service in the Chinese army since 2013.

The SR5 launcher vehicle is equipped at the rear with traversable platform fitted with two pods of launcher tubes which can launch surface-to-surface rockets. One pod has six 220mm rockets in the ready-to-launch position, while the other pod has 20 of 122mm guided or unguided rockets in the ready-to-launch position.

The SR5 GMLRS can fire different types of rockets including the King Dragon 60 GR1 220 mm terminal-guided rocket and the Fire Dragon BRE7 122mm guided rocket. The GR1 laser terminal guided rocket is an accurately guided rocket adopting INS+GPS+laser homing guidance system launched on the SR5 GMLRS.

The King Dragon 60 GR1 GMLRS 220mm rockets have a maximum range of 70 km and can also be fitted with a GPS/INS laser terminal guidance system for increased accuracy. The 122mm rockets are equipped with global position system/inertial navigation system (GPS/INS) guidance system, which is claimed to provide a circular error of probability of 25 m at a minimum range of 20 km and maximum range of 40 km. The Fire Dragon 40 BRE7 guided rocket is applicable not only to NORINCO Type 81, Type 90B, SR4 and SR5 MLRS, but also to the Russian-made BM-21 MLRS.