QTS-11

Type 11 Integrated Combat System
Type	Dual barrel integrated Bullpup Airburst grenade launcher/Assault rifle multi-weapon system
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	2015–present
Used by	People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Production history
Designer	Norinco
Designed	2000s
Unit cost	US$78,000
Produced	2011–present
No. built	At least 50,000 as of Jan, 2018
Specifications
Mass	4.27 kg (9.4 lb) (Empty, less optics) 5 kg (11 lb) (Loaded, less optics) Up to 7 kg (15 lb)(Full system)
Length	950 mm
Cartridge	5.8×42mm (KE) 20x28B grenade (HE)
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt (rifle section) Bolt action (launcher section)
Muzzle velocity	220 m/s (720 ft/s) (HE)
Effective firing range	800 m (HE)
Feed system	30 round Detachable box magazine (KE) Single-shot (HE)
Sights	fire control system with laser range finder (Integral) electronic-optic sight with high definition camera (Optional) fiber-optic transmitted single-eye goggle (Optional)

The Type 11, (Chinese: 11式单兵综合作战系统; pinyin: 11 Shì dānbīng zònghé zuòzhàn xìtǒng; literally: "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. Reporting on the weapon as early as February 2011 initially identified the weapon as the ZH-05.

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. 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.^{[citation needed]}

Design

The QTS-11 system combines the QBZ-03 assault rifle with a 20 mm airburst grenade launcher and weighs between 5 kg and 7 kg 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. 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.

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.

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 5.8 mm	1 round 20 mm	US$78,000
XM29	6.8 kg (15 lb)	8.2 kg (18 lb)	30 rounds 5.56 mm	5 rounds 20 mm	US$12,000
XM25	5.45 kg (12 lbs)	6.35 kg (14.0 lb)	none	5 rounds 25 mm	US$25,000-$35,000
K11	6.1 kg (13 lb)	7.2 kg (16 lb)	30 rounds 5.56 mm	5 rounds 20 mm	US$14,000

Users

• China
• North Korea

See also

• Norinco LG5 / QLU-11
• XM29 OICW
• XM25 CDTE
• S&T Daewoo K11
• Advanced Individual Combat Weapon
• PAPOP
• QLZ-04