The PLA uses the Flying Crossbow-6 (FN-6) shoulder-fired missile.Figure: Taken from the World Wide Web
According to a recent report by the Small Arms Survey, an independent Swiss military arms survey agency, shoulder-launched missiles designed by the Chinese authorities, also known as man-portable anti-aircraft missiles (MANPADS), have been illegally traded in the past decade. The number has risen rapidly and has fallen into the hands of multiple armed groups, threatening regional security around the world.
According to the report of the Small Arms Survey, between 2011 and 2021, shoulder-launched missiles designed by the Chinese Communist Party have tended to proliferate illegally. The content mentioned that before 2001, only one Chinese-designed shoulder-launched missile existed in illegal groups, but in the past ten years, Chinese-designed advanced shoulder-launched missiles have fallen into 7 countries and at least 17 different armed groups. There have been 49 “reported” or “confirmed” cases.
The report added that most of the countries or illegal groups that own it are from Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar or Syrian armed groups. Among the Chinese-designed weapons is the “Flying Crossbow-6 (FN-6)” shoulder-launched missile, which dates back to the 9K38 needle-type anti-aircraft missile designed by the former Soviet Union in the 1990s.
However, among the illegal transactions of shoulder-launched missiles, the largest one is still the first-generation “SA-7” shoulder-launched missile developed by the former Soviet Union. This weapon originated in the Cold War period, but because of overproduction and a large number of exports, its influence continues to this day.
The report is concerned that this type of shoulder-launched missile is easy to carry and has powerful firepower, which may pose a threat to military and civilian aircraft. more urgent.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, Central and Southwest Asia, has yet to respond to the report.
Shoulder-launched missiles designed by the Chinese authorities, also known as man-portable air defense missiles (MANPADS), have seen a dramatic rise in the number of illicit transactions in the past decade.
Advanced shoulder-launched missiles designed by China have fallen into at least 17 different armed groups in 7 countries, with 49 “reported” or “confirmed” cases so far
Owned by countries or illegal groups mostly from Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar or Syrian armed groups
The militant militant group Islamic State (IS) also has the PLA’s Flying Crossbow-6 (FN-6) shoulder-fired missile.Figure: Retrieved from the official website of the Syrian Human Rights Organization
