MANPADS
QW-3
QianWei-3
Medium-high
CN
Chinese air-defence missile with semi-active laser guidance
An unusual MANPADS (2002): no infrared but semi-active laser guidance — a sight illuminates the target with a laser and the missile follows the reflection. According to Wikipedia the only MANPADS using this principle. As a result flares and IR jammers (DIRCM) do not work against it; a laser warning receiver (LWR) is the sensor to rely on. Larger and heavier than a typical MANPADS, with the longest range of the QW series. Related: the QW-4 with an imaging IR seeker.
Learn more in the AirDefense Academy →Dimensionsfor imagery analysis
- Missile (L × Ø, span)
- 2.10 m × Ø 72 mm
- System
- 21–23 kg (sources differ)
- Dimension source
- Wikipedia; WEG (ODIN)
General
- Role
- Short-range air defence, portable/lightweight
- Manufacturer
- CASIC
- In service
- 2002
- Users
- incl. China, Indonesian Air Force (Paskhas)
- Related
- QW-4 (imaging IR, concept 2002, in service 2002–2007 per Wikipedia)
Weapon
- Guidance
- Semi-active laser (SAL) — the gunner illuminates the target until impact
- Range
- ≈ 0.4 – 4.3 NM (0.8–8 km)
- Altitude
- ≈ 13 – 16,400 ft (4–5,000 m)
- Weight
- System 21 kg
- Fuzing
- Impact and laser proximity
Warning & threat
- RWR
- No — but a laser warning receiver (LWR) does: the target is actively illuminated
- Countermeasure
- Flares and DIRCM do NOT work; LWR, manoeuvring, smoke/obscurants, force the gunner to stop illuminating
- Threat level
- Medium-high — immune to the usual IR countermeasures
News archive 0
Analysed reports from the RU Mil Tracker about this system, newest first. Archive since 2026-07-17.
No reports linked yet.