QW-2 (missile)

QW-2
QW-2 of the Bangladesh Army on display
TypeMan-portable air-defense system
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
Used bySee Operators
Production history
ProducedAfter 1998
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass11.32 kg (25.0 lb)
Length1.59 metres (5.2 ft)
Diameter72 mm (2.8 in)
Operational
range
0.5–6 kilometres (0.31–3.73 mi)
Flight ceiling0.01–4 kilometres (0.0062–2.4855 mi)
Guidance
system
Infrared homing
Launch
platform
MANPADS
Ground vehicles

The QW-2 (NATO reporting name: CH-SA-8) is a Chinese man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM) MANPADS. The system has improved performance against targets flying faster and at lower-altitude than the QW-1.

History and development

The QW-1 is the first missile in the QW missile series, first revealed at the 1994 Farnborough International Airshow and showcased again on the Zhuhai Airshow in 1996. The QW-1 was considered a typical "second-generation" MANDPADS on the market, roughly equivalent to the early versions of the FIM-92 Stinger. In the 1990s, Chinese engineers planned to upgrade the QW-1.

QW-2 is the third-generation improvement based on QW-1. 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. 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.

In 2014, the CASIC revealed QW-12, an upgrade to QW-2.

Variants

QW-12
QW-2
Development of the QW-1.
QW-12
It uses a laser proximity detonator. Unveiled in November 2014.
Anza Mk III
Pakistani copy of QW-2.

Operators

Bangladesh Army QW-2 during victory day parade

Specifications

QW-2 missile specifications
QW-2 QW-12
Introduction 1998 2014
Missile length 1.590 m (5.22 ft) 1.590 m (5.22 ft)
System length 1.645 m (5.40 ft)
Missile weight 11.32 kg (25.0 lb)
System weight 18 kg (40 lb) 18.4 kg (41 lb)
Missile diameter 72 mm (2.8 in) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Warhead 1.42 kg (3.1 lb) 1.42 kg (3.1 lb)
Warhead type HE-fragmentation (HE-Frag) HE-Frag
Fuze Impact and laser proximity Impact and laser proximity
Seeker All-aspect dual-band passive infrared (IR) seeker Mid-infrared (Mid-IR) Dual-band passive infrared (IR) seeker
Flight speed 600 m/s (Mach 1.8)
Range 0.5–6 km (0.31–3.73 mi) 0.5–6 km (0.31–3.73 mi)
Altitude 10–3,800 m (33–12,467 ft) 10–4,000 m (33–13,123 ft)

See also

References

  1. ↑ DeClerq, David (October 1999). Trends in Small Arms and Light Weapons Development: Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Dimensions (PDF) (Report). Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada. p. 29. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 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 1 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 Chinese Tactics (2021): page C-2
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 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.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "《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.
  7. 1 2 3 "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.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. 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.
  10. ↑ "QW-12 Anti-aircraft Missile". China Defense.
  11. ↑ Controlling the Transfer of Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (2010): page Appendix
  12. ↑ Michael Ashkenazi; Princess Mawuena Amuzu; Jan Grebe; Christof Kögler; Marc Kösling (February 2013). MANPADS - A Terrorist Threat to Civilian Aviation? (PDF) (Report). BICC brief. Vol. 47. Bonn International Center for Conversion. p. 43. ISSN 0947-7322. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  13. ↑ "QW missiles". WEG. TRADOC.
  14. ↑ "QW-2". WEG. TRADOC.
  15. ↑ "QW-12". WEG. TRADOC.

Bibliography