QTS-11

The Type 11, (Chinese: 11式单兵综合作战系统; pinyin: 11 Shì dānbīng zònghé zuòzhàn xìtǒng; lit. 'Type 11 individual integrated combat system') designated as QTS-11, is an air burst grenade launcher integrated with the QBZ-03 assault rifle in service of Chinese military since 2015.[4][3][2][5][6] Reporting on the weapon as early as February 2011 initially identified the weapon as the ZH-05.[7][8][9]

Type 11 Integrated Combat System
TypeDual barrel integrated Bullpup Airburst grenade launcher/Assault rifle multi-weapon system
Place of originChina
Service history
In service2015–present
Used byPeople's Liberation Army Ground Force
Production history
DesignerNorinco
Designed2000s
Unit costUS$78,000 [1]
Produced2011–present
No. builtAt least 50,000 as of Jan, 2018 [1]
Specifications
Mass4.27 kg (9.4 lb) (Empty, less optics) [2]
5 kg (11 lb) (Loaded, less optics) [2][3]
Up to 7 kg (15 lb) (Full system)
Length950 mm (37 in)
Cartridge
  • 5.8×42mm DBP-10 bullet (KE)
  • 20x28B DQL-12 grenade (HE)
Action
Muzzle velocity
  • 220 m/s (720 ft/s) (HE)
Effective firing range
  • 800 m (2,600 ft) (HE)[2]
Feed system
Sights
  • fire control system with laser range finder (Integral)
  • electronic-optic sight with high definition camera (Optional)
  • fiber-optic transmitted single-eye goggle (Optional)

History

Deployment

In early 2018, Chinese state media announced the introduction of the weapon with the Sky Wolf Commando Unit, a branch of PLA Special Operations Forces from the Western Theater Command.[1] The Sky Wolf Commando was publicly revealed recently on August 2, 2017.

Chinese marines use QTS-11 in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.

Design

The QTS-11 system combines the QBZ-03 assault rifle with a 20 mm airburst grenade launcher and weighs between 5–7 kg (11–15 lb) when fully loaded. This makes China the third country to develop an airburst infantry weapon, after the American XM29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon and XM25 CDTE, and the South Korean S&T Daewoo K11. Unlike other nations' airburst weapons, the QTS-11 has a single-shot grenade launcher that requires each round to be manually loaded and reloaded after every firing, while the others are magazine fed. Initial PLA trials determined that a single-shot grenade launcher would make it easier to change the type of munitions fired. The PLA does not have multi-purpose munitions but instead has different munitions types, which reduce the electronics needed and increase the firepower of the munition. Additionally, only the laser range finder and fire control system are integrated with the weapon, leaving optics optional and modular.[2] These changes make it the lightest, and least capable, of all the airburst weapons in its base configuration.

The primary weapon of the system is the 20 mm grenade launcher, with the 5.8 mm rifle for secondary use. Grenades are pre-programmed through electronic sight with fire control system and loaded manually through bolt-action. Five types of grenade rounds available: impact detonation, airburst, armor-piercing, improved fragmentation and shotgun-type rounds. The U.S. encountered problems with the lethality of small 20 mm grenades during OICW development, resulting in a switch to larger 25 mm grenades for the XM25. The PLA claims their grenades have less electronics in them to carry more explosives and fragments to cause adequate wounding capability. The grenades are reportedly capable of a 7.7 m (25 ft) damage radius and an 800 m (0.50 mi) range with 220 m/s muzzle velocity.[10][11][12][13][14]

The QTS-11 can be equipped with an additional eyepiece device mounted on the helmet allowing soldiers to shoot around corners. The video image will be streaming from the electronic sight to the single-eye goggle. The fire-control system can also be turned off for manual sighting without the airburst programming capability.[3]

Weapon Empty Weight Loaded Weight Rifle ammunition Grenade ammunition Cost
QTS11 4.27 kg (9.4 lb) (less optics) Up to 7 kg (15 lb) 30 rounds 5.8x42 mm 1 round 20x28B mm US$78,000
XM29 6.8 kg (15 lb) 8.2 kg (18 lb) 30 rounds 5.56x45 mm 5 rounds 20×28mm mm US$12,000
XM25 5.45 kg (12 lbs) 6.35 kg (14.0 lb) none 5 rounds 25×40mm mm US$25,000-$35,000
K11 6.1 kg (13 lb) 7.2 kg (16 lb) 30 rounds 5.56x45 mm 5 rounds 20×30mm mm US$14,000

Users

See also

References
  1. "PLA infantrymen now have powerful rifles, but still lag US". Asia Times. Asia Times. January 22, 2018. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  2. "ZH-05 OICW is now QTS-11". www.china-defense.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023.
  3. "Weapons: Being First Is Often The Worst". www.strategypage.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023.
  4. "Chinese Commandos Deploy with QTS-11 Integrated Combat System". The Firearm Blog. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023.
  5. ARG. "ZH-05 Assault Rifle with Integrated Grenade Launcher – Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023.
  6. "ZH-05 OICW is now QTS-11 单兵综合作战系统". china-defense.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023.
  7. "ZH-05 – Modern Firearms". Maxim Popenker. 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023.
  8. Tarantola, Andrew. "China's Laser-Guided Grenade Launchers Are Deadly from Half a Mile". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023.
  9. Johnson, Steve (23 February 2011). "China's OICW: Type 05 Strategy Rifle (ZH-05 5.8mm + 20mm)". www.thefirearmblog.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023.
  10. Russian Website shows New Chinese QTS11 Assault Rifle / Grenade Launcher – Guns.com, 2 February 2011
  11. China's Take on the Objective Individual Combat Weapon – Kitup.Military.com, 28 February 2014
  12. China; Army's new ZH-05 assault rifle Archived 2014-03-17 at the Wayback Machine – Dmilt.com, 3 March 2014
  13. China's Got a Supergun – Medium.com/War-is-Boring, 4 March 2014
  14. China Builds A Lighter OICW – Strategypage.com, 10 March 2014
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