QW-1 Vanguard - QW-3

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