QW-2 Vanguard 2

The QW-2 Vanguard 2 is a Chinese all-aspect man-portable infrared guided surface to air missile. It isn't clear when the missile first entered service, but it is likely to have been between 1998 and 2002.

The QianWei 2 (or Vanguard 2 in its export name) is the third-generation shoulder-launched, all-aspect IR-homing, 'fire-and-forget' surface-to-air missile developed by Shenyang-based CASIC 119 Factory (Shenyang Hangtian Xinle Ltd). The QW-2 was first revealed during the 1998 Farnborough Air Show. The missile and launcher of the QW-2 bear strong resemblance to those of the Russian 9K310 Igla-1 (NATO codename: SA-16 Gimlet), and the two missile systems are believed to be comparable in performance.


Read more about QW-2 Vanguard 2:  Description, Specifications

Famous quotes containing the word vanguard:

    Ladies and gentlemen, I have a grave announcement to make. Incredible as it may seem, strange beings who landed in New Jersey tonight are the vanguard of an invading army from Mars.
    Orson Welles (1915–1984)