A high tech weapons system developed locally is now being used by Chinese commandos. According to i-hls.com, the Sky Wolf Commandos of the Chinese Army’s Special Operations Forces in the Western Theater Command are now training with the QTS-11 Integrated Combat System.

The QTS-11 Integrated Combat System is an air burst grenade launcher integrated with the QBZ-03 assault rifle and the training being conducted by the Sky Wolf unit is to "adapt to future informatised warfare" as reported by the State-owned newspaper, Global Times. China is the third country to develop this system following the problematic XM29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon and XM25 CDTE of the USA, and the S&T Daewoo K11 from South Korea.

Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, was quoted by the paper saying that, “The QTS-11 system not only includes firearms but also a full digitalized integrated individual soldier combat system, including detection and communications."

Photo: The QTS-11 with Chinese Marines (Source: Xinhua)

Compared to the XM29 and K11, the integrated grenade launcher of the QTS-11 is single launch launcher which is manually loaded with one 20mm shell at a time as compared to the magazine-fed systems of the XM29 and K11. It is also the lightest airburst system as the laser range finder and the fire control system are the other components integrated, leaving the optics an optional accessory and part of the modular components.

The U.S. had problems with the lethality of the 20mm rounds, making the switch to the 25mm.

As for the type of 20mm rounds that can be used with the launcher, there are five types: available are impact detonation, airburst, armor-piercing, improved fragmentation, and shotgun-type rounds. According to Asia Times, mentioning the Beijing-based Science and Technology Daily, the 5.8mm rifles are capable of shooting targets within a radius of 200 meters in a strafe-like fashion.

Apart from the Sky Wolf Commandos, the Chinese Marines use the QTS-11 in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations.

Top Photo: QTS-11 (Source: PLA Daily)