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The '''PF-89''' or '''Type 89''' is a portable, disposable, unguided, [[Engineering:Shoulder-fired missile|shoulder-launched]], anti-tank [[Engineering:Rocket-propelled grenade|rocket-propelled]] [[Engineering:Rocket launcher|rocket launcher]]. Developed by [[Company:Norinco|Norinco]] for the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the PF-89 was designed to replace the obsolete [[Engineering:Type 69 RPG|Type 69 RPG]], providing a man-portable, single-use assault weapon system that could be used mainly by infantry squads to engage and defeat [[Engineering:Armoured fighting vehicle|light armour]] and bunkers.<ref name="mt_89"/>

Its design permits accurate delivery of a rocket-propelled 80mm [[Engineering:High-explosive anti-tank|high-explosive anti-tank]] (HEAT) warhead, with negligible recoil. The PF-89 entered mass production in 1993, and generally replaced the [[Engineering:Type 69 RPG|Type 69 RPG]] in the PLA throughout the 1990s.<ref name="mt_89"/> Since 2010, the system has been used along with the more advanced [[Engineering:DZJ-08|Type 08]] recoilless gun.<ref name="mt_08"/>

==Description==
The PF-89 is a lightweight, self-contained, anti-armour weapon comparable to the Swedish AT4 (U.S. Designation M136). However, unlike the AT4, the PF-89 is a rocket-propelled weapon instead of a recoilless gun, making the PF-89 more similar to the [[Engineering:M72 LAW|M72 LAW]] and the RPG-26. The weapon consists of a free-flight, fin-stabilized, rocket-propelled cartridge packed in a one-piece, one-off, fiberglass-wrapped tube.<ref name="data">{{cite web|website=NetEase News |language=zh |url=http://war.news.163.com/09/0724/00/5EUS8IS000011232.html |title=成熟适用的PF89式80毫米系列单兵火箭筒 |date=24 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629203132/http://war.news.163.com/09/0724/00/5EUS8IS000011232.html |archive-date=29 June 2011}}</ref>

It is [[Engineering:Man-portable anti-tank systems|man-portable]] and is fired from the right shoulder only. The launcher is watertight for ease of transportation and storage. The PF-89 has a simple 2.5x, 12° field of view optical sight for aiming, with no night combat ability.<ref name="data_2">{{cite web|website=NetEase News |language=zh |url=http://war.news.163.com/09/0724/00/5EUS8IS000011232_2.html |title=成熟适用的PF89式80毫米系列单兵火箭筒 (2) |date=24 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630135422/http://war.news.163.com/09/0724/00/5EUS8IS000011232_2.html |archive-date=30 June 2011}}</ref>

The user must be able to see and identify the target and estimate the range to it. The round of ammunition is self-contained in a disposable launch tube. The system weighs only eight pounds and can be used effectively with minimal training.<ref name="mt_89">{{cite web|url=http://www.military-today.com/firearms/pf_89.htm |title=PF-89 Single use anti-tank rocket launcher|website=Military Today}} </ref>

The problem of back blast became prominent after the PF-89's adoption. Collateral damage is especially concerning for the PLA, which uses motorized infantry fighting tactics. To address this, China developed the [[Engineering:DZJ-08|Type 08]] multipurpose recoilless gun with a countermass balance mechanism to replace the PF-89, especially the multipurpose PF89A variant.<ref name="mt_08">{{cite web|url=http://www.military-today.com/firearms/dzj_08.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815085627/http://www.military-today.com/firearms/dzj_08.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |title=DZJ-08 |website=Military Today}}</ref>

==Development==
The development of the PF-89 was initiated in 1984, and the rocket launcher was certified in 1989, receiving the designation PF-89. By 1993, the launcher entered serial production and large-scale active service within the PLA. Between 1991 and 1993, China developed the PF-89A, a multipurpose incendiary round designed to engage structures, personnel, and light vehicles. PF-89A has a new telescopic sight attached that features a reticle range up to 1000 meters. Between 1994 and 1998, China developed a tandem HEAT version of the rocket for engagement against targets with reactive armour, which received the designation PF-89B.<ref name="gunsworld">{{cite web|url=http://pewpewpew.work/china/rl/pf89/pf89.htm |title=PF-89 |language=zh |website=Gun's World |date=10 September 2004}}</ref>

In 2002, China certified WPF-89-1, a variant with a thermobaric warhead. WPF-89-1 variant has a reusable launcher, which is cumbersome to reload. In the same year, China developed a single-use version called WPF-89-2, with an additional tandem-charged warhead for better thermobaric performance.<ref name="wpf89">{{cite web|url=https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2007-05-06/0847442796.html |title=攻坚神锤：中国新型80毫米单兵云爆火箭(组图) |website=Sina News |date=6 May 2007 |author=兵器知识 }}</ref>

==Variants==
The PF-89 has six variants, with each variant corresponding to a specific type of ammunition. The earliest variant, simply called the PF-89, uses high-explosive double [[Engineering:Shaped charge|shaped charge]]s (with 8701 explosives) to achieve 628mm of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) penetration at 90° angle in static tests. In kinetic tests, the RHA penetration is more than 400mm at 0° angle or 180mm at 68° angle.<ref name="data_2"/><ref name="gunsworld"/>

The second variant, the PF-89A, employs specialized multipurpose incendiary rounds. These multipurpose rounds can penetrate 300mm of reinforced concrete, and release steel fragments and [[Chemistry:Zirconium|zirconium]]-based incendiary composition to kill targets and light up wood and fabric upon impact.<ref name="mt_89"/><ref name="data_2"/>

The third variant, known as the PF-89B or PF-89-1, uses tandem-charge HEAT warheads to improve penetration against [[Engineering:Reactive armour|reactive armour]].<ref name="data"/><ref name="gunsworld"/>

The WPF-89-1 is the thermobaric version of the PF-89. The WPF-89-1 is reusable, but it did not see much use due to its complex reload process. China developed WPF-89-2, a single-use self-contained version, to replace WPF-89-1. The fuel air explosion (a type of thermobaric reaction) is most effective within confined space, thus, the WPF-89-2 warhead features a tandem charge function, allowing the warhead to penetrate the structure wall or light armour first, then trigger the fuel air explosion within the target space.<ref name="wpf89"/>

A training replica version is also available for operational practice.<ref name="data"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+ PF-89 variants
! Designation 
! PF-89
! PF-89A
! PF-89B
! WPF-89-1<ref name="data"/>
! WPF-89-2<ref name="wpf89"/>
|-
! Ammo type
| [[Engineering:High-explosive anti-tank|High-explosive anti-tank]] (HEAT)
| Multipurpose incendiary
| HEAT tandem-charge
| Thermobaric 
| thermobaric tandem-charge
|-
! {{nowrap|Cartridge diameter (mm)}}
| 80
| 80
| 80
| 80
| 80
|-
! Cartridge weight (kg)
| 1.84
| 2.35
| 2.5
| >4
| >4
|-
! Launcher weight (kg)
| 1.85
| 1.85
| 1.85
| 1.85
| 1.85
|-
! Full mass (kg)
| 3.7
| 4.2
| 4.7
| 6.5
| 6.5
|-
! Length (mm)
| 900
| 900
| 900
| 900
| 900
|-
! Length w/o cover (mm)
| 880
| 880
| 880
| 880
| 880
|-
! Zeroing
| {{convert|200|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|180|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! Sight range
| {{convert|400|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| N/A
| {{convert|850|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|850|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|-
! Penetration
| 628 mm/90°<br/> >400 mm/0°<br/>180 mm/65°
| 20 mm/65°
| Higher than PF-89
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! Velocity
| {{convert|147|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|147|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|140|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|120|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|120|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
|-
! Arming distance
| 
| {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 
| {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|}

==Users==
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->

* {{flagcountry|Cambodia}}: Used by the Royal Cambodian Army.<ref name="Report">{{Cite web| title=China’s exports of small arms and light weapons | url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/171425/SIPRIPP38.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802071307/https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/171425/SIPRIPP38.pdf | archive-date=2018-08-02}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|China}}: Used by the People's Liberation Army.

===Non-state actors===
* {{flagcountry|Libya}}: WPF-89-2s used by Fajr Libya.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saisie d'armes à El Oued: l'empreinte de Fadjr libya|date=11 March 2016|website=menadefense.net|url=https://www.menadefense.net/afnord/saisie-darmes-a-el-oued-lempreinte-de-fadjr-libya/}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{lwc|PF-98}}
* {{lwc|DZJ-08}}
* {{lwc|M72 LAW}}
* {{lwc|AT4}}
* {{lwc|RPG-26}}
* {{lwc|Kestrel (rocket launcher)|Kestrel}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080321220241/http://www.sinodefence.com/army/small_arms/pf89.asp ''PF-89''] at SinoDefence

{{Modern Chinese Infantry Weapons}}

[[Category:Anti-tank rockets]]

{{Sourceattribution|PF-89}}