PLA Ground Forces news, pics and videos

The QW-12, an advanced portable air defense missile developed by China, recently demonstrated its outstanding performance in intercepting helicopters, jets and cruise missiles in a live-fire test, with experts saying on Monday 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 recently, 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 Saturday.

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 on Monday.

China exhibited QW series missiles at defense expos, and they will offer many choices to the international arms market, Shi said.

The QW-2, a predecessor of the QW-12, was used by all participants in the air defense competition of the International Army Games.

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.

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by78 said:

Firearms training in the Tibet Military District.

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Strangelove said:

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In order to have weapons and equipment to play their intended roles in real combat, they must go through tests and assessments in realistic, diverse and complex battlefield environments, Song said.

The new regulations are of significance in that they are expected to set higher standards and requirements for weapons and equipment to be used by the PLA, so the weapons and equipment can further boost the troops' combat capabilities and win wars, Song said.

Eyeing realistic combat-oriented test requirements of equipment, the regulations adjusted work procedures for experiment and assessment, as the work flow now consists of capability testing, status appraisal, combat testing, design finalization and in-service assessments throughout the entire life spans of the equipment, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Saturday.

This means that new military equipment will go through tough, scientific and combat-oriented testing not only before they are commissioned, but also during their service, analysts pointed out, noting that more problems and room for improvements can only be found during actual use.

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Aniah said:

I wonder what a QBZ 191-1 would change.

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The Observer said:

When I see any picture of QBU-10 firing, I instinctively flinch, the result of seeing videos of shooters (sort of) getting punched in the eye socket by the scope.

Something like... this.

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