QW missile
The QW-1 Vanguard is a Chinese all-aspect man-portable surface to air missile.
It was first publically shown at the 1994 Farnborough Air Show. A helicopter launched version of the missile was shown at the 1998 Zhuhai air show and is designated TY-90, with a reported range of 10,000 m.
Description
The missile is similar in many respects to the FIM-92 Stinger and SA-18 Igla missile systems. 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.
Specifications
- Length: 1.532 m
- Missile and launcher weight: 16.5 kg
- Velocity: 600 m/s
- Warhead: 1.5 kg HE-fragmentation
- Engagement range: 500 to 5000 m
- Engagement altitude: 30 to 4000 m
- Deployment time: 10 seconds
- Reaction time: 3 seconds
Variants
- Pakistan has produced a missile, the Anza Mk II, which is believed to incorperate components from the QW-1 Vanguard.
See also
References
- Jane's Land Based Air Defence 2005-2006.