QW-1 Vanguard

The People's Republic of China developed QW-1 Vanguard (Qian Wei in Chinese) is an all-aspect man-portable surface to air missile, from which a series of missiles were developed.

QW-1

It was first publicly shown at the 1994 Farnborough Air Show as a successor to HN-5 series MANPAD.

Description

The missile reportedly is the Chinese version of 9K310 (SA-16 Gimlet) Igla-1 missile systems incorporating some features of FIM-92 Stinger. According to many domestic Chinese media sources and some sources outside China, Chinese obtained the Soviet samples via Zaire from UNITA captured 9K310 (SA-16) Igla-1 missile from Angola governmental forces. The missile is operated by a two man team. Once a target is visually detected the assistant selects the launch site and removes end caps from the front and back of the launcher. The gunner then partially depresses the trigger, which activates the electronic battery and opens the coolant bottle, cooling the seeker to operating temperature.

The gunner tracks the target visually, until the missile locks onto the target, indicating this with both a flashing light and an audio tone. The gunner then provides target lead and depresses the trigger all the way. This triggers the booster section of the missile, which projects the missile a safe distance away from the operator before the sustainer motor ignites.

The missile is guided by proportional navigation to the approximate impact point, before switching to a terminal guidance mode that attempts to steer the missile to the most vulnerable point of the target.

pecifications

Foreign Variant

* Pakistan has produced a missile, the Anza Mk II, which is believed to incorporate components from the QW-1 Vanguard.

QW-1M

QW-1M is a development of QW-1, and first revealed in Zhuhai Air Show. The missile is considered as a third generation MANPAD by Chinese, and many domestic Chinese media sources claim that it is the Chinese equivalent of Soviet SA-18 Grouse, which it strongly resembles. Like its predecessor QW-1, QW-1M also appeared to incorporate technologies of FIM-92 Stinger. Various western sources have postulated that China had likely obtained FIM-92 Stinger samples from either Afghan guerrilla or Pakistan, or even Iran, but such claims have yet to be confirmed. The missile is slightly heavier than QW-1, weighing at 18 kg for the entire system, and it is claimed to have better ECCM capability and better capability to engage low-flying missiles in comparison to QW-1.

QW-1A

QW-1A is a derivative of QW-1M, with the adaptation of man-portable radar weighing 30 kg and a range of 15 km, and it is carried by the observer. The associating fire control system enables various QW-1A units to be linked up and thus increasing the effectiveness by forming an air defense network, which in turn, could be integrated into large air defense network. The overall effectiveness of the QW-1A system is claimed by many domestic Chinese internet media sources as equal to or better than that of FIM-92A. Although the entire QW-1A system including radar / fire control system could be carried by a crew of 2-men team, it is often mounted on vehicles.

QW-11

QW-11 is a development of QW family that is specifically designed to engage terrain hugging cruise missiles, while retaining the capability of engaging low-flying aircraft. QW-11 was first revealed at Zhuhai Air Show in 2002 and many domestic Chinese media sources claim that it is at least equal to, and possibly better than, FIM-92B. A new combined impact and proximity fuse is developed to provide better capability against cruise missiles.
*Length: 1.477 m
*Missile weight: 10.69 kg
*System weight: 16.9 kg
*Warhead: 1.42 kg
*Range: 0.5 – 5000 m
*Altitude: 30 m - 4 km
*Reaction time: 10 sec

QW-11G

Improved version of QW-11 with enhanced ECCM capability was displayed at same Zhuai Air Show with QW-11 in 2002, many domestic Chinese media sources claim that it is the Chinese equivalent of FIM-92C in terms of overall combat effectiveness. The suffix G stands for "Gaijin" or "Gailiang" in Chinese, meaning improvement. The QW-11G system does not have dimensional changes physically so that QW-11 missile can be directly used for QW-11G.

QW-18

QW-18 is the development of the QW-11G with an improved seeker. QW-18 first appeared in Zhuai Air Show with QW-11 and QW-11G in 2002, many domestic Chinese media sources claim that it is the Chinese equivalent of FIM-92D. An enhanced dual band infrared seeker is developed so that the target is not only tracked via the exhaust heat, but also the temperature difference of the skin of the target. These improvements provided better capabilities against terrain-hugging cruise missiles at supersonic speed. Externally, QW-18 is identical to QW-11G / QW-11.

QW-2

QW-2 is a missile with all aspect attack capability and improved ECCM capability. There are two types of seeker for QW-2: the first is the dual band infrared passive seeker first revealed in 1998, and an imaging IR (ImIR) seeker has been designed sometimes later. The fuse is similar to that of QW-18. The minimum altitude is decreased to 10 m, thus further improving the capability against low-flying cruise missile and hovering helicopters that suddenly pop up from hiding. QW-2 is considered by many domestic Chinese media sources as the Chinese equivalent of FIM-92E.
*Range: 0.5 - 6 km
*Speed: > 600 m
*Diameter: 72 mm
*Length: 1.59 m
*Warhead: 1.42 kg
*Missile weight: 11.32 kg
*System weight: 18 kg
*Altitude: 10 m – 3.5 kmForeign Variant:
*Pakistan has license-produced QW-2 as Anza Mk. III

"See also: QW-2 Vanguard 2"

CQW-2

Vehicle mounted version of QW-2 mounted on a 4 x 4 high mobility armored vehicle with three crew members: commander, driver and gunner. The fire control systems mainly consisted of radar and electro-optical system. Once the target is acquired by radar, it is passed to the electro-optical system for tracking and engagement. The onboard system allows the gunner to fire either a single missile or two missiles at a time, and there is a total of 8 missiles. Inside the vehicle, there are another additional 8 missiles for reload. The missiles of CQW-2 are interchangeable with that of MANPAD version, but they cannot be directly interchanged in the field. The prefix "C" standards for "Che-zai" in Chinese, meaning vehicle mounted.

QW-3

This is the Chinese equivalent of French Mistral missile, with fuse developed from that of QW-2. The missile is unique among Chinese MANPAD in that this is the only surface-to-air missile that adopts the semi-active laser guidance similar to AGM-114 Hellfire. The gyro stabilized seeker provides very high degree of accuracy and is extremely effective against low altitude cruise missiles. The 15 degrees per second tracking rate of the seeker is relatively low in comparison for other MANPAD for supersonic targets in high g maneuver at very high altitudes, but this is by no means handicapping the performance because such targets are not intended to be for QW-3, which is specifically designed to engage terrain hugging helicopters and UAV’s and other fast flying targets at extremely low altitudes, including supersonic sea skimming cruise missiles.

The external look of the missile is similar to earlier QW missile with the exception of adding a booster with greater diameter than that of the missile. Due to the increased size and weight, the missile cannot be shoulder fired like other MANPAD, but must be fired from bipod or tripod like French Mistral missile and Swedish RBS 70.
*Length: 2.1 m
*Missile weight: 23 kg
*Range: 0.8 – 8 km
*Altitude: 4 m – 5 km
*Speed: > 750 m/s

FLS-1

Naval version of QW-3 with launcher looks very similar to that of RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile externally. Although many Chinese media sources claim that it is the equivalent of RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, with the total weight less than a ton (a single launcher containing missiles). When QW-3 missiles are used, the FLS-1 system actually lacks the fire-and-forget capability of the RAM. However, the FLS-1 system can also be used to deploy the infrared guided TY-90, and thus becoming a fire-and-forget capable SAM system like American RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile. The fire control system includes radar and electro-optics, that can be either dedicated or utilizing the existing systems on board the naval vessel. The FLS-1 system with QW-3 missiles has been retrofitted to fast attack craft of the PLAN, but FLS-1 system with TY-90 has not entered services (as of 2008) despite successfully completing acceptance tests and receiving state certification.

Although naval versions of other members of QW family have been successfully developed, they were not accepted into service with the exception of FLS-1. Instead, the Chinese deploy other QW missiles in the similar way United States Navy deploys FIM-92 Stinger missiles on board ships: sailors and marines on board ships were organized into MANPAD Gunnery Detachment to station on board ships, and fire the missile like the way the missiles are shoulder-fired on land.

QW-4

The newest member of QW series with the fuse similar to that of QW-2, and a new thermal imaging seeker. The new fully electric control surfaces provide smoother flight path curves, thus greatly improved accuracy. The missile is claimed by many domestic Chinese media sources as the Chinese equivalent of FIM-92G.
*Range; 0.5 - 6 km
*Speed: > Mach 2
*Max altitude: 4 km
*Min altitude: 4 metres above ground level, 2 metres above sea level

FLV-1

Vehicle mounted version for all QW series of missiles, development of CQW-2. In addition to QW series of missiles, other Chinese built MANPAD missiles such as HN-5 series and FN-6 series can also be used (though for QW-3, the launcher must be modified to accommodate the larger missile). The missiles are also mounted a high mobility 4 x 4 armored vehicle with same configuration, and the speed of the vehicle is greater than 85 km per hour and range is slightly greater than 600 km. The fire control system also works in the way similar to that of CQW-2, and the radar of FLV-1 has a range of 18+ km. The reaction of the entire system is less than 8 seconds. The missiles of FLV-1 can be directly removed from the vehicle mount and rapidly used by infantry in the field as shoulder fired missiles.
*Vehicle speed: > 85 km / hour
*Vehicle range: > 600 km
*Radar range: > 18 km
*Missile: Configuration of 2, 4, or 8 (usually 8)
*Reload: 8 total
*Reaction time: < 8 seconds

FLG-1

Development of FLV-1 with upgraded C4I system so that in addition to the missiles of FLV-1, up to half a dozen towed anti-aircraft artillery could also be controlled at the same time. Since the towed anti-aircraft artillery lacked fire control system and the FLV-1 system lacks any guns, the combined anti-aircraft artillery and air defense missile system overcomes the disadvantage for both and greatly improved the performance in comparison to separate individual system. The FLG-1 system can be integrated into larger air defense network.

ee also

* The FN-6 and HN-5 are other Chinese man portable surface to air missiles.

References

* Jane's Land Based Air Defence 2005-2006.
* Jane's Defense Weekly