Qianwei-12 / QW-12
The portable air defense missile weapon system QW-12 is equipped with an original mid-infrared dual-band seeker and a trigger/proximity composite fuze , and has the ability to damage small targets such as drones and cruise missiles . They are the perfect combination to provide field air defense protection when troops are maneuvering. The QW-12, an advanced portable air defense missile developed by China, demonstrated its outstanding performance in intercepting helicopters, jets and cruise missiles in a live-fire test, with Chinese experts saying that the weapon is world class, as it displayed an anti-decoy capability no foreign counterpart has ever shown.
The anti-jamming tests of the domestic "Qianwei"-12 shoulder-fired individual air defense missile impressed Chinese observers with its excellent performance, and its anti-jamming capability is in a leading position in the world. Under complex weather conditions, the Qianwei-12 can also accurately capture the target; in the program broadcast by the CCTV military channel, under the interference of 8 decoy bombs, the Qianwei-12 can still hit the target, reflecting the It has strong air defense capabilities and the ability to intercept cruise missiles and precision-guided bombs. After locking the target, the Qianwei-12 anti-aircraft missile was launched into the air, and the air target - the high-speed target drone, after the missile took off, continuously launched 8 infrared decoy bombs to deceive and counteract it, together with the target drone in the air.
The Qianwei-12 anti-aircraft missile missed the hot flame produced by the explosion of the decoy bomb with very strong infrared characteristics, and hit the target aircraft with infrared characteristics flying in the air without obvious hot flames accurately and impartially, showing the Qianwei-12 The ability to identify and strike targets under jamming conditions.
Under normal circumstances, under the deception and interference of decoy bombs, individual air defense missiles will leave the target and go straight to the hot flame with strong infrared characteristics. However, the Qianwei-12 can still eliminate the interference and deception in the face of the 8 jamming bombs released by the high-speed target drone, bite the target tightly, and explode it in the air.
The QW-12, an advanced portable air defense missile developed by China, demonstrated its outstanding performance in intercepting helicopters, jets and cruise missiles in a live-fire test, with Chinese experts saying on 14 February 2022 that the weapon is world class, as it displayed an anti-decoy capability no foreign counterpart has ever shown. Held at a target range in North China, the test saw the QW-12 missile successfully shoot down a specially designed target aircraft built to simulate an attack helicopter by mimicking its infrared signal, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on 12 February 2022.
As the QW-12 missile was approaching, the aircraft released eight decoy flares that resemble the infrared signal of the target aircraft in an attempt to disorient the missile. However, the missile ignored the flares and hit the aircraft, the CCTV footage shows. The process took only a few seconds. No other similar missile in the world has publicly demonstrated this capability, CCTV reported.
After examining the QW-12's capability to hit a slow target like a helicopter, the test challenged the missile to intercept a faster target, which is a 122-millimeter-caliber rocket simulating a jet or a cruise missile that flies at 360 meters a second, CCTV reported. In the second test, the QW-12 again successfully intercepted its target by meeting it head-on, the report said, noting that because of its speed, a direct impact was difficult, so the missile used its laser proximity detonator to detonate itself near the target, bringing the target down with shockwaves and fragments. The test showed the QW-12's abilities under a complex battlefield environment, as the missile is world class, Shi Hong, executive chief editor of the Chinese magazine Shipborne Weapons, told the Global Times.
China is one of only a few countries in the world to independently develop portable air defense missiles, and the QW-12 was designed with the most advanced technologies, giving it a small size, light weight and high firepower, CCTV said. While the QW-12 is a portable weapon, it can also be mounted on vehicles, which will give the missile very high mobility, Shi said, noting that each vehicle can carry several missiles, providing even more firepower.
China exhibited QW series missiles at defense expos, and they will offer many choices to the international arms market. The QW-2, a predecessor of the QW-12, was used by all participants in the air defense competition of the International Army Games. At present, the "Qianwei" individual air defense missiles have formed a series, starting from the "Qianwei"-1 to the "Qianwei"-18, which are equipped for China's Army, Air Force Airborne and Marine Corps, and penetrate into In the international arms market.
It has gained some practical experience in global hotspots such as the Middle East. The Houthis used the Qianwei-2, export number QW-2, to shoot down a number of world-famous AH-64 "Apache" armed helicopters that Saudi-led multinational forces participated in the Yemeni civil war. In addition, in the Kashmir conflict, the Pakistani army also used the Qianwei-2 individual air defense missiles to shoot down the MiG-21MF fighter jets and MiG-27 fighter jets equipped by the Indian Air Force, which dare not to lower the flight altitude for fear of being hit and shot down by Qianwei-2 anti-aircraft missiles.
Qianwei-2 adopts the passive infrared homing guidance mode. The maximum combat slant range is 500-6000 meters, and operator guidance is not necessary after the launch. As the Qianwei-2 individual air defense missile with the largest number of equipment, it is mainly used to attack low-altitude and ultra-low-altitude tactical targets such as fighter jets, attack aircraft, armed helicopters, and drones on the battlefield. The shooting height is 10 meters, and the maximum shooting height is 3500 meters. The performance of the Qianwei-2 is already very advanced. As a modified and upgraded version of the Qianwei-12, the attack range has been increased, and the maximum shooting height may have been increased to 5000-6000 meters. Has a very big threat.
China Precision Machinery Export Corporation has upgraded its technology in anti-jamming and deception. The mid-infrared dual-band multiple seeker on the missile has the ability to identify infrared targets. Therefore, the Qianwei-12 is given a sensitive sense of smell, can identify real and fake targets, is not deceived and interfered by fake targets, and goes straight to the real target to be attacked.
"Qianwei"-12 is just a single-soldier air defense missile, and its comprehensive combat performance is already very good. Then the "Red Flag"-9/16/17/22 and other medium and long-range air defense missiles will have stronger anti-jamming capabilities. The combat performance can be imagined, and it is outstanding in the world.
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