The W85 is a late Cold War era heavy machine gun of Chinese origin. The W85 was developed alongside an improved version of the Type 77. The Type 77 heavy machine gun with its rather unconventional design did not perform as well as expected. As an infantry weapon the W85 lost out to the Type 85, the improved version of the Type 77. However, several years later it was adopted under the designation QJC88 as the standard anti-aircraft machine gun for use on all new Chinese armored vehicles.

The W85 was originally designed for infantry use and was to be as light as possible. This is reflected in the small receiver and thin quick change barrel. The W85 is a conventional gas operated weapon and cycles by means of a gas piston mounted under the barrel. Iron sights are fitted as well as rails for day and night optics or special anti-aircraft sights. For infantry use the W85 is mounted on a low profile tripod, which can be put in an elevated position for anti-aircraft use.

The W85 fires the 12.7x108mm Soviet round from 50 round belts. It is able to fire the standard Chinese Type 54 round as well as more modern armor piercing ammunition. The cyclic rate of fire is 540 to 600 rounds per minute. The W85 is more accurate than the Type 54 (DShK), but the thinner barrel heats up faster. A model firing the 12.7x99mm NATO round was developed for export and has a somewhat higher rate of fire.

The W85 lost out to the Type 85 as a heavy machine gun for infantry use and it is not in Chinese use as a tripod mounted weapon. On the other hand the W85 is the standard anti-aircraft machine gun on all newer Chinese armored vehicles and thus very common in Chinese service. The W85 is offered for export.