Wikipedia

QW missile

(Redirected from QW-3)

The QW or Qianwei (simplified Chinese: 前卫; traditional Chinese: 前衛; pinyin: Qian Wei; lit. 'vanguard')[4] is a series of man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) developed by the Chinese defense corporation China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).[2][5]

QW-1
Members of the Indonesian Quick Reaction Forces Command (Kopasgat) inspecting a QW series MANPADS launcher
TypeMan-portable air-defense system
Place of origin China
Service history
In service1992-present
Production history
ManufacturerLiuzhou Changhong Aerospace of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC)[1][2]
Specifications
MassQW-1: 16.5 kilograms (36 lb)
QW-2: 18 kilograms (40 lb)
QW-3: 21 kilograms (46 lb)
QW-4: 21 kilograms (46 lb)
Warhead1.42 kg (3.1 lb) high-explosive fragmentation (HE-Frag)
Detonation
mechanism
QW-1: impact
QW-2/3/4: impact and laser proximity
EngineRocket motor
Operational
range
QW-1: 0.5–5 km (0.31–3.11 mi)
QW-2: 0.5–6 km (0.31–3.73 mi)
QW-3/4: 0.8–8 km (0.50–4.97 mi)
Flight ceilingQW-1: 30–4,000 m (98–13,123 ft)
QW-2: 10–4,000 m (33–13,123 ft)
QW-3/4: 4–5,000 m (13–16,404 ft)
Guidance
system
QW-1: Infrared homing (IR)[3]
QW-2: Infrared homing (IR)
QW-3: Semi-active laser homing (SALH)
QW-4: Imaging infrared homing (IIR)
Launch
platform
MANPADS & surface

History and development

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China's first man-portable air-defense system is the HN-5, revealed at Chinese national day parade in 1984.[6] The HN-5 is a reverse-engineered Soviet 9K32 Strela-2. The QW-1 is developed from the HN-5, and the configuration is either copied or derived from the Soviet 9K310 Igla-1 MANPAD.[5] The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) believed QW-1 reached initial operational capability (IOC) in 1992.[7] The QW-1 was first revealed at the 1994 Farnborough International Airshow[8][9][10] and showcased again on the Zhuhai Airshow in 1996.[6] In 1997, the QW-1 was equipped for the frontline units of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).[9] The QW-1 was exported to many countries and saw combat and kill results in Pakistan and Yemen.[10] The QW-1 was considered a typical "second-generation" MANDPADS on the market, roughly equivalent to the early versions of the FIM-92 Stinger.[10]

In the late 1990s, China developed the third-generation QW-2 missile based on the QW-1.[9] The QW-2 was unveiled at the 1998 Zhuhai Airshow. Unlike QW-1, the QW-2 featured a new infrared filter and the true all-aspect targeting capability. It also featured a longer slant range, a lower minimal engagement altitude, and improved counter-countermeasure capability.[6][9][10][11] A distinct difference of the QW-2 when compared with the previous generation missile is the drag-reducing aerospike in front of the missile seeker. CASIC claimed the QW-2 has equal or better performance than the FIM-92 Stinger and Mistral missiles.[6][10]

The QW-3 was revealed at the Zhuhai Airshow 2002. Unlike most MANPADS, which are infrared guided, the QW-3 utilizes a unique semi-active laser (SAL) homing system, which is highly resistant to infrared countermeasures.[12][13] It is the only MANPADS in the world to operate under this guidance mode.[14] The missile is used by the Indonesian Air Force for air defense.[2] The QW-3 can also be carried by surface warships and vehicles, known as the FLS-1 sea-based air defense system and FLV-1 vehicle-mounted air defense system.[6] The FLV-1 can also carry QW-1, QW-2, and QW-4 system.[15] The QW-1A, an upgraded QW-1, was also unveiled at the 2002 Zhuhai Airshow. It was a QW-1 connected with an infantry-carried surveillance radar.[6]

The concept of the QW-4 appeared at the 2002 Zhuhai Airshow.[6] The QW-4 featured a multi-element imaging IR (ImIR) seeker, offering better all-aspect tracking capability.[16] It entered PLA service in 2007.[17]

CASIC began to develop the upgrades to QW-1 after it entered PLA service.[9] At the 2006 Zhuhai Airshow, the QW-11 and QW-18 were both revealed.[18] The QW-11 was also known as the QW-1G, an improvement on the previous QW-1 missiles with a proximity fuse for engaging smaller targets. The QW-18 is a further improved variant with a dual-band passive infrared seeker that can track the target's body and plume simultaneously, offering better counter-countermeasure capability.[9][19]

At the 2014 Zhuhai Airshow, the CASIC revealed QW-12, an upgarde to QW-2.[20] The QW-19 was also revealed, which is an improved QW-18.[21][22][23]

Variants

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TD-2000B air defense system, the vehicle-mounted QW missiles
QW-18A of the Bangladesh Army
QW-1
Original variant (NATO reporting name: CH-SA-7).[24]
QW-1M
Modernized version. Also used by Kata'ib Hezbollah.[25][26]
QW-1A
The QW-1A system was showcased in 2002, which includes both the launcher and an infantry radar.[6]
Anza-2
Version developed or produced in Pakistan.[3]
Misagh-1
Version developed or produced in Iran.[3]
Misagh-2
Version developed or produced in Iran.[3] According to some sources, the Misagh-2 may be a copy of the QW-1M.
QW-11
Showcased in 2006. Improved QW-1M, also known as the QW-1G.
QW-18
Showcased in 2006. The QW-18 (NATO reporting name: CH-SA-11[27]). It is an all-weather MANPADS system. It uses a dual-band infrared seeker.
QW-19
Unveiled in 2014. The QW-19 is an upgrade of QW-18, featuring a new digital seeker and a contact-proximity fuse with four control fins (instead of two on QW-18). It features inertial guidance mode, permitting fire before lock.[21]
QW-2
The QW-2 (NATO reporting name: CH-SA-8.[4]) was unveiled in 1998.[7]
QW-12
Unveiled in 2014.[20] Upgrade of the QW-2.[28]
QW-3
Unveiled in 2002. Semi-active laser homing missile. The only MANPADS with SAL homing guidance in the world.
TD-2000
Vehicle-mounted QW missiles.
QW-4
Concept unveiled in 2002. A variant with a multi-element imaging IR (ImIR) seeker.[16]

Specifications

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QW-series missile specifications[7][9][10]
QW-1[29] QW-11 QW-18[30] QW-19[22][23] QW-2[31] QW-12[32] QW-3[33] QW-4[34]
Introduction 1992 2006[18] 2006[18] 2014[35] 1998 2014 2002 2002-2007[17]
System weight 16.5 kg (36 lb) 16.9 kg (37 lb) 18 kg (40 lb) 18 kg (40 lb) 18.4 kg (41 lb) 23 kg (51 lb) 23 kg (51 lb)
Missile weight 10.7 kg (24 lb) 10.69 kg (23.6 lb) 11.32 kg (25.0 lb)
System length 1.576 m (5.17 ft) 1.645 m (5.40 ft) 2.1 m (6.9 ft) 2.1 m (6.9 ft)
Missile length 1.532 m (5.03 ft) 1.477 m (4.85 ft) 1.526 m (5.01 ft) 1.526 m (5.01 ft) 1.590 m (5.22 ft) 1.590 m (5.22 ft)
Warhead 1.42–1.5 kg (3.1–3.3 lb) 1.42 kg (3.1 lb)
Warhead type High-Explosive Fragmentation (HE-Frag)
Fuze type Impact Impact and laser proximity
Missile diameter 71–72 mm (2.8–2.8 in)
Range 0.5–5 km (0.31–3.11 mi) 0.5–6 km (0.31–3.73 mi) 0.8–8 km (0.50–4.97 mi)
Altitude 30–4,000 m (98–13,123 ft) 15–4,000 m (49–13,123 ft) 10–4,500 m (33–14,764 ft) 10–4,000 m (33–13,123 ft) 4–5,000 m (13–16,404 ft)
Missile speed 600 m/s (Mach 1.8) 600–660 m/s (Mach 1.8 – Mach 1.9) >600 m/s (Mach 1.8) 750 m/s (Mach 2.2)
Seeker type Ammonia-cooled InSb sensor, two-color infrared (IR) seeker with IR Counter-Counter Measures (IRCCM) Dual-band passive infrared (IR) seeker Semi-active laser homing (SALH) Imaging IR (ImIR) seeker
Note Developed from HN-5. Quasi-all-aspect targeting (deadzone is the target's frontal 30-degree angle). Additional laser sensors for proximity fuse;[36] digital processor Improved QW-11; lower minimal engagement altitude and dual-band IR seeker to improve IRCCM[37] Improved QW-18; all-aspect targeting, new firing unit, digital seeker, revised battery, and improved cooling system All-aspect targeting; fitted with IR filters.[38] Improved QW-2; fitted with mid-infrared (Mid-IR) dual-band filtering seeker[39] The only SAL homing MANPADS in the world; an additional booster can be fitted behind the missile Added multi-element imaging IR (ImIR) seeker, offering all-aspect targeting acquisition and tracking.[16]
Equivalences 9K310 Igla-1/SA-16;
Misagh-1 (Iranian copy);[40]
Anza-MK II (Pakistani copy);[3][40]
Early FIM-92		 Misagh-2 (Iranian copy) Misagh-3 (Iranian copy) 9K38 Igla/SA-18;
Anza Mk III (Pakistani copy);[40]
FIM-92E;
Mistral		 9K338 Igla-S/SA-24[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ China News Service (16 June 2017). ""利剑"出鞘 看航天科工如何打造便携式防空导弹". Sina News. Archived from the original on 3 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Kajal, Kapil (4 June 2024). "Indonesian Air Force trains personnel on Chinese QW MANPADS". Janes.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 SIPRI Yearbook 2007: Armaments, Disarmament, and International Security. Oxford University Press. 2007. p. 684. ISBN 9780199230211.
  4. 1 2 Dominguez, Gabriel (15 January 2018). "Footage suggests QW-2 MANPADS has entered service with Turkmenistan Army". Janes. Archived from the original on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  5. 1 2 Chinese Tactics (2021): page C-3
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "从2002年珠海航展看中国便携式防空导弹". 兵器知识. 23 September 2021 – via WeChat Official Account.
  7. 1 2 3 "QW missiles". WEG. TRADOC.
  8. ↑ Small Arms Survey (2012). "Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia". Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets. Cambridge University Press. p. 327. ISBN 978-0-521-19714-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 兵工科技. ""前卫"：国产单兵 防空导弹"引领者"". Changsha Evening News. Archived from the original on 6 June 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "《士兵突击》罕见错误！我军单兵防空导弹射程4500千米，能从敦煌打到莫斯科？". Guancha. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "西北望，射天狼——中国便携式防空导弹发展史". Netease News. 25 April 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "印尼试射4枚中国产前卫-3型导弹准确命中目标". Jungong. 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 6 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "QW-3". deagel.
  14. ↑ Zeigler, Sean M.; Hou, Alexander C.; Martini, Jeffrey; Norton, Daniel M.; Phillips, Brian; Schwille, Michael; Strong, Aaron; Vest, Nathan (2019). Acquisition and Use of MANPADS Against Commercial Aviation: Risks, Proliferation, Mitigation, and Cost of an Attack (PDF). Santa Monica, California: RAND Corporation. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-9774-0418-3. RR-4304-DOS.
  15. ↑ "国产四款新型近程机动防空导弹系统对比(图)". Sina News. 4 January 2006. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 "前卫-4". China Military.
  17. 1 2 3 François Auran, Jean (9 November 2021). "Mobile / Manoeuvre SHOrt-Range Air Defence". Euro SD.
  18. 1 2 3 "航展新武器：QW-11单兵导弹露面专打巡航导弹". Sina News. 2 November 2006. Archived from the original on 5 June 2026.
  19. ↑ O'Halloran, J.C. (November 2006). "China displays latest QW man-portable SAMs". ResearchGate.
  20. 1 2 Shukla, Parth; Udoshi, Rahul (16 February 2022). "China tests QW-12 missile capabilities". Janes. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  21. 1 2 "China Defense Close-Up". Aviation Week. 1 December 2014. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021.
  22. 1 2 "QW-19". WEG. TRADOC.
  23. 1 2 "前卫-19入选马来西亚，将成为其应对低空空中威胁的新一代防御屏障". Tencent News. 23 June 2025.
  24. ↑ The International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge.
  25. ↑ Iraq: Turning a blind eye: The arming of the Popular Mobilization Units (PDF) (Report). Amnesty International. 5 January 2017. p. 26. MDE 14/5386/2017.
  26. ↑ "图文：前卫-1和前卫-1W防空导弹系统". Sina News. 4 January 2016.
  27. ↑ "Chapter Five: Asia: Regional trends in 2024". The Military Balance 2025. 125 (1): 206–311. 2025. doi:10.1080/04597222.2025.2445477.
  28. ↑ "QW-12 Anti-aircraft Missile". China Defense.
  29. ↑ Whitmire, James C. (December 2006). Shoulder Launched Missiles (a.k.a. MANPADS): The Ominous Threat to Commercial Aviation (PDF) (Report). The Counterproliferation Papers. Vol. 37. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: United States Air Force Air University. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  30. ↑ "中国前卫18导弹亮相海外 曾在利比亚击落米格23(图)". Sina News. 18 December 2018.
  31. ↑ "QW-2". WEG. TRADOC.
  32. ↑ "QW-12". WEG. TRADOC.
  33. ↑ "前卫三号防空导弹". Xilu Military.
  34. ↑ "QW-4". WEG. TRADOC.
  35. ↑ Arthur, Gordon (13 November 2014). "Airshow China: missile proliferation at Zhuhai". Shephard Media.
  36. ↑ "QW-11". China Military.
  37. ↑ "前卫-18". Xilu military.
  38. ↑ "中国便携防空导弹为何能出口中亚 能击落美巡航导弹". Sina News. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022.
  39. ↑ "中国单兵防空系统，无视干扰直扑目标精准击杀". Xilu. 13 June 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2026.
  40. 1 2 3 Controlling the Transfer of Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (2010): page Appendix

Bibliography

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