When a Crane Isn’t a Crane

30-Second Takeaway

What appears to be a Zoomlion QY 150 crane driving down a public street is actually a camouflaged missile launcher operated by the Chinese Army’s PLA Rocket Force. Designed to blend into civilian environments using a familiar crane silhouette, the vehicle underscores how globally trusted crane designs can be repurposed beyond commercial use.

Video footage circulating online shows what appears to be a Zoomlion QY 150 mobile crane traveling along a public roadway. With its boom down and carrier configuration consistent with a crane in transit, the vehicle blends seamlessly into what would be a normal industrial scene.

A closer look tells a different story.

According to open-source analysis, the vehicle is not a commercial crane, but a camouflaged mobile missile launcher operated by the Chinese Army’s PLA Rocket Force, intentionally designed to resemble civilian heavy equipment.

A Civilian Silhouette with a Military Purpose

The use of a crane profile is deliberate. Mobile cranes are:

• Common on public roads and highways

• Regularly moved between job sites

• Rarely questioned in industrial or urban environments

By adopting the recognizable silhouette of a crane, including boom placement, carrier proportions, and overall geometry, the launcher benefits from visual misdirection, allowing it to blend into everyday infrastructure.

The vehicle closely resembles a Zoomlion QY 150, a widely recognized mobile crane configuration. Zoomlion’s commercial cranes are typically finished in green, not the yellow coloration seen in the footage, reinforcing that this is imitation, not association.

 Zoomlion QY 150

About Zoomlion

Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of construction machinery, heavy lifting equipment, and access solutions. Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Changsha, China, the company serves customers across more than 100 countries.

Zoomlion’s crane portfolio spans:

• Truck-Mounted Cranes: ~25–150+ tonnes designed for mobility and efficiency on road and job sites.

• All-Terrain Cranes: ~80–330 tonnes engineered for combined on- and off-road versatility.

• Crawler Cranes: ~50–600+ tonnes  for heavy-duty, high-capacity lifting in construction and infrastructure.

• Rough-Terrain Cranes: ~30–80 tonnes  optimized for maneuverability in confined and uneven terrain

• Tower cranes

The company is known globally for its engineering scale, advanced manufacturing, and distinctive green crane livery, which has become a recognizable hallmark on job sites worldwide.

Zoomlion operates extensive R&D centers, manufacturing bases, and global service networks, supporting infrastructure, energy, industrial, and commercial construction projects across international markets.

🔗 Learn more :https://www.zoomlion.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Zoomlion QY 150?

The Zoomlion QY 150 is a 150-ton class truck-mounted mobile crane designed for general lifting, infrastructure, industrial construction, and plant maintenance applications.

What type of crane is the QY 150?

The QY 150 is a truck-mounted hydraulic crane, not an all-terrain crane. It is designed for road travel efficiency combined with on-site lifting capability.

What are common applications for the Zoomlion QY 150?

The crane is typically used for:

• Infrastructure construction

• Industrial plant maintenance

• Steel erection

• Equipment installation

• Utility and municipal projects

How is the real Zoomlion QY 150 identified?

Commercial Zoomlion cranes are typically finished in the company’s signature green livery, feature standard crane carrier components, and are clearly marked with Zoomlion branding and model identification.

Is the Zoomlion QY 150 used by the military?

Zoomlion manufactures commercial construction equipment. The company is not affiliated with the military platform referenced in this article. The vehicle shown in the footage only visually resembles the QY 150.

Why is the QY 150’s silhouette easily recognizable?

Truck-mounted cranes like the QY 150 have a distinctive boom-and-carrier profile that is common worldwide, making them familiar and easily identified within industrial and construction environments.