Chinese air defence missile ‘shows world-leading ability to find its target’
- Video released by state broadcaster CCTV shows QW-12 missile catching a target drone among eight decoy flares
- No previous missile has demonstrated this level of ability to distinguish targets from decoys, the report says
The QW-12 is a domestically made infantry missile designed to counter helicopters, jets, drones and cruise missiles. It was shown accurately catching a target drone among eight decoy flares in an undated video released last week by state broadcaster CCTV.
“Our missile was not distracted by the decoys at all and hit right on the target,” the CCTV report said. “No missile of this kind in the world has yet publicly demonstrated such capability.”
In the video of the tests, the QW-12 was shown being operated by a crew of three, with a launcher placed on the ground. After it was sent into the air by the chief operator, the missile ignited its main engine to speed up as it tracked the infrared signal of the target.
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The decoys were set off when the air defence missile approached the target aircraft, and simulated attack helicopters by mimicking their infrared signals to potentially confuse the incoming missile. But the QW-12 ignored the decoys and hit the drone correctly, the footage suggested.
Besides the slower target of the drone, the test also included the QW-12’s precision interception of a faster-moving 122mm-calibre rocket, which was used to represent a cruise missile or plane.