FN-6

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FN-6 (FeiNu-6) is China’s third‑generation, shoulder‑fired air defense missile. An infrared‑guided system built by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), it is designed to hit low‑flying aircraft, helicopters, and similar targets.

Key facts
- Type: Man-portable air defense system (MANPADS)
- Origin: China
- Weight: 16 kg for the launcher system; missile weighs about 10.77 kg
- Missile length/diameter: 1.495 m long, 72 mm in diameter
- Range: 0.5 to 6 km
- Altitude: up to about 3.8 km
- Speed: up to 360 m/s (head-on)
- Guidance: infrared seeker with resistance to flares; all‑aspect attack; can be fitted with IFF
- Design: single‑stage solid rocket motor
- Origin of name: export designation; PLA uses the variant known as HN-6

Variants (brief)
- FN-16: an improved export version with better all‑aspect capability and increased resistance to electronic countermeasures; seeker also upgraded to include UV guidance
- FN-6A: vehicle‑mounted version on a Dongfeng EQ2050 chassis; did not go into large‑scale production
- FB-6A: successor to FN‑6A, split into separate engagement radar vehicle and missile launcher vehicles
- HN-6: PLA service variant, based on FN‑6/16 technologies with refinements for domestic use

Operational history
- Debut: 2013, during the Syrian Civil War, where FN‑6 missiles were reportedly used to shoot down helicopters and at least one jet
- Later conflicts: used by various actors in the Middle East; reported engagements in Iraq and other conflicts
- Recent notes: variants and upgrades continue to be shown in defense exhibitions; some versions have appeared in other countries’ inventories

Users and export
- Export customers have included Malaysia, Cambodia, Sudan, Pakistan, and Peru
- In PLA service, related designs (HN‑6 and successors) have been integrated into broader air‑defense capabilities

Overview
FN‑6 is designed to provide portable, low‑altitude air defense against a range of aircraft and helicopter threats. Its upgrades (FN‑16) add UV guidance and improved resistance to countermeasures, while vehicle‑mounted and multi‑vehicle variants expand its battlefield role.