Chinese ATGM discussion

_killuminati_ said:

Unsure if this is the appropriate thread,

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2066510710478176613

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Wait, is this actually the QN-202? Glad to see after eight years it's a working prototype after so many years.

Changing to a shoulder-launcher is an interesting choice. The original was more like 40mm grenade rifle.


I'm not a grognard so take this with a grain of salt. Wouldn't it be more useful to have a larger launcher with more barrels, akin to the M202 FLASH or Fliegerfaust? It'd be less bulky and simpler for the soldier, together with quicker follow-up shots.

Matcher6130 said:

Wait, is this actually the QN-202? Glad to see after eight years it's a working prototype after so many years.

Changing to a shoulder-launcher is an interesting choice. The original was more like 40mm grenade rifle.
View attachment 176691View attachment 176695

I'm not a grognard so take this with a grain of salt. Wouldn't it be more useful to have a larger launcher with more barrels, akin to the M202 FLASH or Fliegerfaust? It'd be less bulky and simpler for the soldier, together with quicker follow-up shots.View attachment 176693View attachment 176694

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I believe the size is due to the intent of being a weapon that replaces the traditional under barrel grenade launchers or rifle grenades of current loadouts but with more precision and range. Scaling it up will defeat the purpose of it being UBGL replacement and make it compete for weight and space of the RPG in the squad. Not saying it's impossible but the PLA planners will know what they want to procure anyways.

Hitomi said:

I believe the size is due to the intent of being a weapon that replaces the traditional under barrel grenade launchers or rifle grenades of current loadouts but with more precision and range. Scaling it up will defeat the purpose of it being UBGL replacement and make it compete for weight and space of the RPG in the squad. Not saying it's impossible but the PLA planners will know what they want to procure anyways.

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I think the thinking has evolved beyond that initial idea, and the current version makes far better sense for the user since it’s a slim, short and relatively low profit tube you can easily incorporate into your pack/kit with minimal inconvenience that you can rapidly deploy when needed. As opposed to a significant (as a proportion) additional weight permanently attached to the front of your rifle, adding weight where it will be felt most acutely and have the biggest impact on your soldiers’ ability to carry out their most basic combat tasks.

It seems to be anti-vehicle based and going for mobility kill at targets of opportunity since it has a small warhead, to be followed up by further strikes by other means.

_killuminati_ said:

Unsure if this is the appropriate thread,

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2066510710478176613

View attachment 176690
Lol

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These would actually be very useful if they add an anti-UAV mode. Infantry platoons will likely get small radars to detect UAVs, similar to how mortar attack detection radars are common in relevant units. These radars will be used to send a warning signal to the individual radios. All this infrastructure already exists to warn against incoming air, arty and mortar strikes.

BoraTas said:

These would actually be very useful if they add an anti-UAV mode. Infantry platoons will likely get small radars to detect UAVs, similar to how mortar attack detection radars are common in relevant units. These radars will be used to send a warning signal to the individual radios. All this infrastructure already exists to warn against incoming air, arty and mortar strikes.

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These probably could take on larger multi axial drones as is under certain conditions, but these are not anti-air weapons so it would be far more effective to develop dedicated micro SAMs if that is what’s needed.

The most hilarious use of these missiles could be to mate a multi-launch version to the robo-dogos.

Alternatively, a couple guys sitting in a Z20 spamming these out the open side door at ground targets would be a real Battlefield-in-real-life moment that opfor troopers could admire in their last seconds before being blooped by them.

Feels like there's a bit of overlap with the QLU-11 grenade launcher. Since you need to visually acquire a target anyhow whether you are lugging a tube and 6 smart missiles vs grenade rifle + shells wouldn't be a huge difference in weight in the end. Well unless you mag dump the missiles first chance you get.

tankphobia said:

Feels like there's a bit of overlap with the QLU-11 grenade launcher. Since you need to visually acquire a target anyhow whether you are lugging a tube and 6 smart missiles vs grenade rifle + shells wouldn't be a huge difference in weight in the end. Well unless you mag dump the missiles first chance you get.

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Except you don't get the precision, range, penetration, larger warhead, and most importantly, the ability to change course mid-flight to hit moving and hard-to-hit targets. It may overlap in some areas, but overall, I think the capabilities of this are different enough to stand on it own.

Matcher6130 said:

Wait, is this actually the QN-202? Glad to see after eight years it's a working prototype after so many years.

Changing to a shoulder-launcher is an interesting choice. The original was more like 40mm grenade rifle.
View attachment 176691View attachment 176695

I'm not a grognard so take this with a grain of salt. Wouldn't it be more useful to have a larger launcher with more barrels, akin to the M202 FLASH or Fliegerfaust? It'd be less bulky and simpler for the soldier, together with quicker follow-up shots.View attachment 176693View attachment 176694

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Guided missiles don't need the fire rate as flash as the goal is different.
Also there is a value in light and small otherwise M320 standalone would be pointless compared to M32 MGL.

BoraTas said:

These would actually be very useful if they add an anti-UAV mode. Infantry platoons will likely get small radars to detect UAVs, similar to how mortar attack detection radars are common in relevant units. These radars will be used to send a warning signal to the individual radios. All this infrastructure already exists to warn against incoming air, arty and mortar strikes.

Click to expand...

It seems QN-202 is better than Pike as
* QN-202 is True Fire-and-Forget: The QN-202 uses an Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker. The operator locks onto the target's heat signature, pulls the trigger, and can immediately duck into cover.
* Anti-Drone Capability: Because the QN-202 tracks the target itself via infrared, it is highly effective against erratic or fast-moving targets like FPV drones or hovering helicopters.
* No Wingman Required: It operates completely independently.

By contrast, the Pike uses Semi-Active Laser Homing (SALH). The target must be continuously "painted" with a laser designator by the shooter or a teammate until the missile impacts. If the person holding the laser has to duck into cover, the missile loses its target. Additionally, keeping a laser steady on a fast-moving drone at 2,000 meters is incredibly difficult, making the Pike less effective for air defense

But Pike is significantly lighter ~0.8kg while QN-202 is ~1.2kg.

So, even more capable I think QN-202 would be easily 5-10x cheaper than Pike .. considering how expensive of any weapons sytem in the US