{
  "id": "qw-family-of",
  "name": "QW Family (QW-1, QW-2, QW-3) of",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "missile",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Man-portable infrared guided surface-to-air missiles",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1992,
  "operators": [
    "BGD",
    "CHN",
    "IDN",
    "MYS",
    "PAK",
    "SSD"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 7,
  "summary": "The QW-1 (Qianwei-Advanced Guard) Vanguard infrared-guided surface-to-air missile (SAM) is similar in appearance to the U.S. FIM-92 Stinger. It was first developed as a replacement for the HN-5 shoulder-launched SAM (the Chinese version of the Russian SA-7 Grail), but is also can be deployed on light helicopters.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Propulsion",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Rocket; Solid",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Guidance",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Infrared Imaging Guidance System",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-1: speed",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Mach 1.81",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-1: minimum engagement altitude",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "30 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-1: maximum engagement altitude",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "4,000 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-1: minimum range",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "0.5km",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-1: maximum range",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "5 km",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-1: warhead",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "1.5kg HE / Frag",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-1: fuze",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Impact",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-1: self destruct time",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "14 - 18 seconds",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-1: battery life",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "50 seconds",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-1: ready from the march",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "In 10 seconds",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-2: speed",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Mach 1.81",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-2: minimum engagement altitude",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "10m",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-2: maximum engagement altitude",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "3,500m",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-2: minimum range",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "0.5 km",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-2: maximum range",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "6 km",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-2: warhead",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "1.42kg HE",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-2: fuze",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Active laser",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-3: speed",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Mach 2.2",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-3: minimum altitude",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "4 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-3: maximum altitude",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "5,000 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-3: minimum range",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "8 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Performance QW-3: maximum range",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "8,000 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Guidance System: qw-1 / qw-2",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Infrared",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Guidance System: qw-3",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Semi-active Laser",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Guidance System: qw-4",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Imaging Laser",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "QW-1M",
      "text": "QW-1M is a development of QW-1, and first revealed in Zhuhai Air Show. The missile is considered as a third generation MANPAD by Chinese, and many domestic Chinese media sources claim that it is the Chinese equivalent of Soviet SA-18 Grouse, which it strongly…",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "QW-1A",
      "text": "QW-1A is a derivative of QW-1M, with the adaptation of man-portable radar weighing 30 kg and a range of 15 km, and it is carried by the observer.",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "QW-11 (QW-1G)",
      "text": "QW-11 is a development of QW family that is specifically designed to engage terrain hugging cruise missiles, while retaining the capability of engaging low-flying aircraft. QW-11 was first revealed at Zhuhai Air Show in 2002.",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "QW-11G",
      "text": "Improved version of QW-11 with enhanced ECCM capability was displayed at same Zhuai Air Show with QW-11 in 2002. The suffix G stands for Gaijin or Gailiang in Chinese, meaning improvement.",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "QW-18",
      "text": "QW-18 is the development of the QW-11G with an improved seeker. QW-18 first appeared in Zhuai Air Show with QW-11 and QW-11G in 2002.",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "QW-2",
      "text": "QW-2 is a missile with all aspect attack capability and improved ECCM capability. There are two types of seeker for QW-2: the first is the dual band infrared passive seeker first revealed in 1998, and an imaging IR (ImIR) seeker has been designed sometimes…",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "QW-3",
      "text": "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.",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "QW-4",
      "text": "The newest member of QW series with the fuze similar to that of QW-2, and a new thermal imaging seeker. The new fully electric control surfaces provide smoother flight path curves, thus greatly improved accuracy.",
      "src": [
        "weg-qw-family-of"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "tel",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/qw-family-of.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-qw-family-of": {
      "title": "QW Family (QW-1, QW-2, QW-3) of Chinese Man-Portable Infrared Guided Surface-to-Air Missiles",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/QW_Family_QW-1_QW-2_QW-3_of_Chinese_Man-Portable_Infrared_Guided_Surface-to-Air_Missiles",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}