Martian2
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2009
- Messages
- 5,809
- Reaction score
- -37
After watching the following two videos, please read my analysis after the DefenseNews article citing Global Times. I have included picture-frame grabs from the videos and compared them to a picture of the FN-6 used in Chinese military training.
Chinese FN-6 MANPADS missile (e.g. Chinese Stinger) shot down Syria's Russian Mi-8/17 helicopter.
Another Syrian Rebels' Chinese FN-6 MANPADS missile (e.g. Chinese Stinger) launch and down another Russian Mi-8/17 helicopter.
"Published on Feb 25, 2013
Syrian Rebels FN-6 missile launch and down helicopter
FN-6 (FN = FeiNu, 飞弩, meaning Flying Crossbow), is a third generation passive infrared (IR) man portable air defence system (MANPADS). It was developed by China, and is their most advanced surface-to-air missile offered in the international market[citation needed]. Specially designed to engage low flying targets, it has a range of 6 km and a maximum altitude of 3.5 km. The FN-6 is in service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and has also been exported to Malaysia, Cambodia, Sudan and Peru. Based on FN-6, China has developed a number of other MANPADS, such as HN and FY series, as well as other vehicle based short range air defense systems such as FN and FB series."
----------
Success of Chinese Missiles in Syria To Boost Image of Countrys Weapons, Paper Says | Defense News | defensenews.com
"Success of Chinese Missiles in Syria To Boost Image of Countrys Weapons, Paper Says
Mar. 14, 2013 - 08:00AM | By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
BEIJING Chinese-made missiles have been used to shoot down two Syrian army helicopters, state media reported Thursday, adding that their performance could boost the international sales appeal of Chinese weapons.
The Global Times, a tabloid with close links to the ruling Communist Party, said a pair of videos posted on the Internet by Free Syrian Army rebels showed two Mi-8/17 helicopters being shot down by Chinese shoulder-launched missiles. The paper said it was not known how the rebels, who have been fighting to topple the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad for the past two years, obtained the missiles.
But it said the success of the FN-6 weapons, which it said were developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, could lift the overall image of Chinas defense products.
In regards to export prospects, Chinese weapons need to engage in more conflicts to prove their value, Daniel Tong, identified as the founder of the Chinese Military Aviation website, told the newspaper. The kills are proof that the FN-6 is reliable and user-friendly, because rebel fighters are generally not well-trained in operating missile systems, he added.
Chinese weapons have not been tested in battle to the same extent as those built by the United States and Russia, and publicity surrounding the shootdowns will raise the profile of Chinas air defense products, the paper cited him as saying.
But he lamented the loss of life in the conflict and said, Any bloodshed is regrettable.
The Global Times said Chinese missiles have shot down targets in several other conflicts, though it added that the Syrian conflict is the first time such a success has been recorded on video.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation refused to comment on the report when contacted by AFP.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular briefing that she had not seen it.
China and Russia, both members of the U.N. Security Council, have joined together to block resolutions that would have introduced sanctions against Assads regime. At a news conference Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said only 'dialogue and negotiations' could end the Syrian war and that China was 'distressed and concerned' over the 'bleeding and suffering' of Syrias people."
----------
My analysis.
The two Syrian videos show Chinese FN-6 MANPADS missiles (e.g. Chinese Stingers), because we can identify the weapon system through four unique identifiers.
1. The missile is encased in a square box at the front end.
2. The pointy tip of the missile protrudes out of the square box.
3. The eye reticle is to the left of the front tube. Its shape is distinctive.
4. There is an unique adjustment rod under the square box.
Chinese military personnel practice firing a FN-6 MANPADS missile.
Syrian rebel fires a Chinese FN-6 MANPADS (e.g. Chinese Stinger) to shoot down a Russian Mi-8/17 helicopter.
Another Syrian rebel fires a Chinese FN-6 MANPADS (e.g. Chinese Stinger) to shoot down a second Russian Mi-8/17 helicopter.
----------
More advanced non-exported Chinese MANPADS
I think more advanced Chinese MANPADS are not allowed to be exported. I believe there is concern among the UNSC P-5 that these advanced MANPADS could bring down airliners.
While the FN-6 is China's most sophisticated export-version MANPADS, it only has a passive infrared seeker.
Non-exported Chinese MANPADS have more sophisticated seeker sensors. For example, advanced Chinese MANPADS have the following features:
Dual band IR: "An enhanced dual band infrared seeker is developed so that the target is not only tracked via the exhaust heat, but also the temperature difference of the skin of the target. These improvements provided better capabilities against terrain-hugging cruise missiles at supersonic speed. Externally, QW-18 is identical to QW-11G / QW-11."
Better ECCM (electronic counter-countermeasures) capability: "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 later. The fuse is similar to that of QW-18. The minimum altitude is decreased to 10 m, thus further improving the capability against low-flying cruise missile and hovering helicopters that suddenly pop up from hiding. QW-2 is considered by many domestic Chinese media sources as the Chinese equivalent of FIM-92E."
Some Chinese MANPADS may have electro-optical seekers (e.g. tv-guided) and/or semi- or active radar seekers in addition to the passive infrared seeker seen on the FN-6 MANPADS.
Proximity fuze: "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 and many domestic Chinese media sources claim that it is at least equal to, and possibly better than, FIM-92B. A new combined impact and proximity fuze is developed to provide better capability against cruise missiles."
Chinese FN-6 MANPADS missile (e.g. Chinese Stinger) shot down Syria's Russian Mi-8/17 helicopter.
"Published on Feb 25, 2013
Syrian Rebels FN-6 missile launch and down helicopter
FN-6 (FN = FeiNu, 飞弩, meaning Flying Crossbow), is a third generation passive infrared (IR) man portable air defence system (MANPADS). It was developed by China, and is their most advanced surface-to-air missile offered in the international market[citation needed]. Specially designed to engage low flying targets, it has a range of 6 km and a maximum altitude of 3.5 km. The FN-6 is in service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and has also been exported to Malaysia, Cambodia, Sudan and Peru. Based on FN-6, China has developed a number of other MANPADS, such as HN and FY series, as well as other vehicle based short range air defense systems such as FN and FB series."
----------
Success of Chinese Missiles in Syria To Boost Image of Countrys Weapons, Paper Says | Defense News | defensenews.com
"Success of Chinese Missiles in Syria To Boost Image of Countrys Weapons, Paper Says
Mar. 14, 2013 - 08:00AM | By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
BEIJING Chinese-made missiles have been used to shoot down two Syrian army helicopters, state media reported Thursday, adding that their performance could boost the international sales appeal of Chinese weapons.
The Global Times, a tabloid with close links to the ruling Communist Party, said a pair of videos posted on the Internet by Free Syrian Army rebels showed two Mi-8/17 helicopters being shot down by Chinese shoulder-launched missiles. The paper said it was not known how the rebels, who have been fighting to topple the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad for the past two years, obtained the missiles.
But it said the success of the FN-6 weapons, which it said were developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, could lift the overall image of Chinas defense products.
In regards to export prospects, Chinese weapons need to engage in more conflicts to prove their value, Daniel Tong, identified as the founder of the Chinese Military Aviation website, told the newspaper. The kills are proof that the FN-6 is reliable and user-friendly, because rebel fighters are generally not well-trained in operating missile systems, he added.
Chinese weapons have not been tested in battle to the same extent as those built by the United States and Russia, and publicity surrounding the shootdowns will raise the profile of Chinas air defense products, the paper cited him as saying.
But he lamented the loss of life in the conflict and said, Any bloodshed is regrettable.
The Global Times said Chinese missiles have shot down targets in several other conflicts, though it added that the Syrian conflict is the first time such a success has been recorded on video.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation refused to comment on the report when contacted by AFP.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular briefing that she had not seen it.
China and Russia, both members of the U.N. Security Council, have joined together to block resolutions that would have introduced sanctions against Assads regime. At a news conference Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said only 'dialogue and negotiations' could end the Syrian war and that China was 'distressed and concerned' over the 'bleeding and suffering' of Syrias people."
----------
My analysis.
The two Syrian videos show Chinese FN-6 MANPADS missiles (e.g. Chinese Stingers), because we can identify the weapon system through four unique identifiers.
1. The missile is encased in a square box at the front end.
2. The pointy tip of the missile protrudes out of the square box.
3. The eye reticle is to the left of the front tube. Its shape is distinctive.
4. There is an unique adjustment rod under the square box.
Chinese military personnel practice firing a FN-6 MANPADS missile.
Syrian rebel fires a Chinese FN-6 MANPADS (e.g. Chinese Stinger) to shoot down a Russian Mi-8/17 helicopter.
Another Syrian rebel fires a Chinese FN-6 MANPADS (e.g. Chinese Stinger) to shoot down a second Russian Mi-8/17 helicopter.
----------
More advanced non-exported Chinese MANPADS
I think more advanced Chinese MANPADS are not allowed to be exported. I believe there is concern among the UNSC P-5 that these advanced MANPADS could bring down airliners.
While the FN-6 is China's most sophisticated export-version MANPADS, it only has a passive infrared seeker.
Non-exported Chinese MANPADS have more sophisticated seeker sensors. For example, advanced Chinese MANPADS have the following features:
Dual band IR: "An enhanced dual band infrared seeker is developed so that the target is not only tracked via the exhaust heat, but also the temperature difference of the skin of the target. These improvements provided better capabilities against terrain-hugging cruise missiles at supersonic speed. Externally, QW-18 is identical to QW-11G / QW-11."
Better ECCM (electronic counter-countermeasures) capability: "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 later. The fuse is similar to that of QW-18. The minimum altitude is decreased to 10 m, thus further improving the capability against low-flying cruise missile and hovering helicopters that suddenly pop up from hiding. QW-2 is considered by many domestic Chinese media sources as the Chinese equivalent of FIM-92E."
Some Chinese MANPADS may have electro-optical seekers (e.g. tv-guided) and/or semi- or active radar seekers in addition to the passive infrared seeker seen on the FN-6 MANPADS.
Proximity fuze: "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 and many domestic Chinese media sources claim that it is at least equal to, and possibly better than, FIM-92B. A new combined impact and proximity fuze is developed to provide better capability against cruise missiles."
Last edited by a moderator:
