#18 - Chinese Man-Portable Air Defense Systems
#18 - Chinese Man-Portable Air Defense Systems
防空导弹 Fang2 Kong1 Dao3 Dan4 - Anti-Air Missile
The PRC is updating its arsenal of man portable air defense systems (MANPADS) in order to create a more robust short range air defense (SHORAD) network. These systems are cheap, lower signature than their vehicle mounted counterparts, highly survivable, and increase in effectiveness the lower target platforms fly to the surface.
HN Family: 1970s to 80s
The HN-5 (红缨-5) “Red Tassel” is the first and second generation of man portable air defense system (MANPADS) produced in China during the late 1970s/early 1980s. It was created by reverse engineering the Soviet Strela 2 (SA-7) and has several variants, the HN-5A, HN-5B (export), and HN-5C (vehicle mounted). The HN-5A is a shoulder mounted system that utilizes a passive infrared homing seeker and was built to target low altitude jet aircraft, propeller aircraft, and helicopters. The passive aspect is significant in that the MANPADS does not emit any radar signature to warn target aircraft before launch, the seeker simply stares at the sky searching for heat emissions.
This system has several major drawbacks that resulted in it being pulled from regular service and transitioned to a reserve only weapons system. Critically, the HN-5 is a tail-pursuit only weapon, meaning that operators can only target an aircraft after it has flown away from their position. This is because the IR seeker is very crude and needs a clear sight picture of the hottest signature on an aircraft (usually the jet engine exhaust or rotor engine exhaust mounted to the rear of the platform). In a scenario where a ground unit comes under attack by air, HN-5 operators would be forced to endure the air attack before hopefully surviving and pivoting to shoot the enemy aircraft as it exits its attack lane.
To add insult to injury, when the missile is launched from the system, the tail flame has a tendency to burn the operator. Updates through the HN-5’s lifespan eventually gave it all aspect attack capabilities, but even this can be easily defeated by employing flares, a very common counter-measure. Lastly, the infrared homing system had little resistance to solar heat, meaning that the missile has a tendency to begin tracking the sun if fired from the wrong angle.
This system is functionally obsolete as a modern anti-aircraft system and any employment of the HN-5 in combat between the US and China is an indicator that advanced MANPADS inventories are limited, depleted, or being held back. All existing HN-5 MANPADS within the PRC were transferred to reserve units. This is a growing problem for the reserves as they are largely equipped with antiquated equipment that is difficult to maintain.
HN-5A System Specifications:
System Mass: 15kg
System Length: 1.5m
Effective Range: 500m-4.4km
Effective Altitude: 50m-2.5km
Missile Flight Speed: 500m/s (likely in the 150-250m/s range, which is slower than most jet aircraft)
Guidance System: IR
For more information on the HN-5 - 航空知识 (CN)
FN Family: Mid 90s to Today
The FN-6 (飞弩-6) “Flying Crossbow” is a third generation MANPADS that entered service in the mid-90s. The FN-6 is often compared to the Stinger Block 1 and the Mistral S1. It is equipped with an upgraded passive digital infrared seeker that is resistant to solar heat, flares, and various technical countermeasures. The digital aspect is significant because the missile seeker can be re-programmed within certain parameters. It is capable of looking for a hotter or cooler target of one shape or another. Older systems are analog, meaning the seeker parameters are hard-encoded at the factory and are often not changeable.
The most important upgrade to the FN-6 over the HN-5 is the more robust all-aspect targeting capability and counter-measure rejection. The IR seeker is more optimally cooled, allowing operators to engage aircraft laterally or head-on, not relying on the hot engine exhaust for targeting. Since the seeker is better cooled, it can reject more counter-measures such as flares. Unless the flare is high-quality and burns at a very similar temperature as the target aircraft, it is unlikely the missile will bite on a flare. The reprogrammable capability likely allows FN-6 operators to better account for counter-measures by changing variables like temperature and speed of movement.
Additionally, the FN-6 can be outfitted with Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF) systems that prevent friendly fire. The FN-6 has two primary variants, the FN-6A (vehicle mounted), and the FN-16.
While initially built for export, the FN-6 and FN-16 are in use by the PLA and many export users, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Sudan, and several violent extremist organizations. There are reports (CN) of the FN-6 being used to shoot down Mi-8, Mi-17, and Mi-35 helicopters. In addition to this, there is speculation that Houthi rebels in Yemen used the FN-6 to shoot down a Royal Saudi Air Force F15, but this is unconfirmed.
The FN-6 and FN-16 continue to function as a test bed for the PRC as their export partners may employ them against US and allied equipment. Between 2017 and 2018, Pakistan purchased 295 FN-16 MANPADS from the PRC. It remains to be seen how effective these systems are against Indian aviation platforms.
FN-6 Specifications:
System Mass: 16kg
System Length: 1.49m
Effective Range: 500m-4.4km
Effective Altitude: 30m-3.8km
Missile Flight Speed: 500m/s
Guidance System: IR/UV (FN-16)
QW Family: Mid-90s to Today
The QW (前卫) “Vanguard” family of systems are the third (like the FN family) and possibly fourth generation of MANPADS developed by the PRC. The QW-1 (third generation) was unveiled in 1994 and was developed in conjunction with the FN-6. The QW-1, like the upgraded FN-6, utilizes all-aspect targeting via its passive digital infrared seeker and was built to intercept enemy fighters, helicopters, UAVs, and cruise missiles at low and very low altitudes.
QW-1 Specifications:
System Mass: 16.5kg
System Length: 1.53m
Effective Range: 500m-5000km
Effective Altitude: 15m-4.0km
Missile Flight Speed: 600m/s (munition travels the fastest of all PRC produced MANPADS missiles, based on out-pacing the speed of US air platforms)
Guidance System: IR
The QW-2 is an upgrade to the QW-1, featuring a larger missile, longer engagement range, and a lower effective altitude at 10m. Notably, as PLA MANPADS advance, the systems become heavier and longer. With the QW-2, a pair of PLA soldiers are required to carry a 40 lb system, multiple missiles (roughly 24 lbs each), and additional battery coolant units that are quite cumbersome. Here is a video of the QW-2.
QW-2 Specifications:
System Mass: 18kg
System Length: 1.59m
Effective Range: 500m-5000km
Effective Altitude: 10m-4.0km
Missile Flight Speed: 600m/s
Guidance System: IR
The QW-12 is the newest variant in the QW family and was unveiled in February 2022. This system is equipped with a more advanced IR sensor and has greater anti-jamming capabilities than the QW-1 and the QW-2. Here is a demonstration of the QW-12 engaging a drone simulating an attack helicopter. Note that this is a demonstration, not a test, as the drone is moving at 320m/s and is not using any evasive maneuvers in conjunction with countermeasures. The QW-12 takes infrared counter-countermeasures from the QW-18, adopting a dual-band infrared passive seeker which can see two different points on the IR spectrum (one hotter and one cooler) to more effectively lock on the target and reject flares.
Finally, the QW-12 also features a laser proximity fuse. This fuse emits multiple lasers from the missile body. When a physical object cuts the laser beam (such as an aircraft wing) within the distance of lethal effects, the fuze ignites the missile’s warhead, which is roughly the size of a coke can. Fragmentation effects combined with the laser proximity fuze turns a “close but miss” shot into a hit.
It is also possible but not confirmed that the QW-12 incorporates laser guidance, with a targeter employing a laser to lase the target, which the missile beam rides until contact or its fuel burns up.
System specifications have not been released for the QW-12. In addition to the QW-12, there is the QW-3, QW-4, QW-11, QW-18 and QW-19, but little information is publicly available for these systems. The QFJ-2 and QFXJ-2 are export variants of the QW-2. It is likely that the QW-4 is the PRC’s fourth or fifth generation MANPADS, but this has not been confirmed.
Consequences for Strategic Competition:
The US Army’s Chinese Tactics publication points out that MANPADS are fielded widely across PLA formations and groups of all types. The PLA takes the threat of US airpower very seriously. This means that in a future fight between US and PRC forces, the battlefield will hold aircraft, drones, and missiles from both sides at high risk. In the past twenty years of conflict, US forces have become accustomed to enjoying air dominance. This has allowed US ground forces to request air strikes at will or evacuate wounded within the golden hour proven to save lives. Due to equipment like MANPADS, neither of these critical capabilities can be counted on in a conventional war with the PRC.
As PRC defense firms continue to produce MANPADS en masse, we will see more FN-16s and QW variants in the hands of violent extremist groups and state actors such as Cambodia, Iran, and North Korea. We will also likely see continued advances in Chinese MANPADS technology as the Russians transfer captured US technology from the Ukraine battlefield to the PRC..