EODTC PL-2 Pili

     Notes: The PL-2 family is based on the Russian K-13 (NATO Name, AA-2).  An entire family of PL-2-series missiles were designed; however, none but the PL-2 and PL-5 entered production.  Both were heat-seeking missiles, though radar-homing versions were also designed and failed testing.  Today, the PL-2 series is used only by China.

     The basic PL-2 is roughly the same in appearance as the AIM-9B Sidewinder; this is not by accident (though the story will be deferred until the K-13 in Russian AAMs). It is also roughly of the same abilities as the AIM-9B.  The PL-2, piggybacking on Russian work, entered development in 1964 and production in 1966, though full production did not occur until 1970.  Because of the long development time, it had features that the K-13 did not.  Later versions of the PL-2 equipped the PLAAF's fighters, and the PL-2B still equips its older fighters and ground attack aircraft. The PL-2B has clipped control surfaces, as this allowed it to be carried to be carried by a greater number of aircraft, in greater numbers, and did not affect the performance envelope of the missile.

     The PL-2-J72 and PL-2-519 were limited production versions which were actually put into service.  The PL-2-J79 is a light version with greater acceleration, but a smaller engine and less range.  It was designed for dogfighting and for shorter-range combat.  The PL-2-519 is a version of the PL-2A, with a larger motor to push a larger warhead but a long minimum range and shorter maximum range.  These latter two were not produced in anywhere the numbers that the other PL-2s were produced, but did reach full production.

     The PL-3 was supposed to be an improved version of the PL-2 and PL-2A, and was to be the first AAM to be designed and built in China.  It was to be an all-around improvement of the PL-2A, but Chinese technology did not prove up to the task, and only 50 PL-3s were built for testing.  The PL-3, though promising, simply could not achieve the design goals and was dropped without going into production.  The improvements of the PL-3 could largely built into the PL-2B and the PL-3 was terminated in 1983, in favor of the PL-2B.  Progress on the PL-3 was delayed by setbacks during the Cultural Revolution. The PL-3 was originally going to be a quite different missile than the PL-2, but the first batch of 20 missiles was ready in 1968, with the next 50 not ready until 1981.  By this time, it had already been replaced by the PL-2B, and the PL-3 was deemed a failure, or at least superfluous. Stats for the PL-3 are included for comparison.

EODTC PL-5 Pili

     Notes: The PL-2 series was, for the most part, a serviceable family of missiles, but the Chinese wanted better missiles, along the line of the PL-5B, but improved.  The PL-5 series is entirely Chinese-made, but follows the Soviet practice of developing radar-homing and heat-seeking versions of the same missile. It is essentially a scaled-up PL-2B, differing in cooling of the seeker, larger engine, and larger warhead.  Work began on the SARH version began in 1966; the IR version development began in 1972.  However, there were numerous technological and budgetary delays and the first flying examples of either type did not begin until 1972.  The first testing batch ran out quickly, and the second, larger batch was not available until 1984, after even more teething pains.  Before this batch was built, the radar-homing was dropped, felt to be unnecessary.  The production IR version of the PL-5 was delayed even further, and was not available for deployment until 1986.  By then, though, the PL-5 was a top-notch weapon.

     Though the PL-3 was largely incorporated into the PL-2B, the PLAAF felt that all of the technological improvements could not be put into the PL-2B.  They decided to place the PL-3's insides into a PL-5A.  The new missile was called the PL-6, and design work began in 1975, actually before the design work on the PL-3 began.  However, the design changes could easily be placed into the PL-5B, and except for LRIP, the PL-6 was not produced in large numbers.  Stats are provided for general interest and because the PL-6 was issued in small numbers.

     The PL5A/B/C/6 are capable of only boresight shots, so it is not that maneuverable.  The PL-5C and PL-6 are capable of 21g maneuvers and turn, and cannot be fired off borsight.  The PL-5E is capable of 40g maneuvers.  Other versions are capable of 18g maneuvers.  The PL-5 was designed to compete with the AIM-9L, a and the PL-5E exceeds this goal, though earlier versions do not.

     The PL-5 has been widely exported.

Zhouzhou PL-7 Pan Lung

     Notes: The PL-7 is acknowledged to be copy of the MDBA Matra Magic 1, but it also considered to be a somewhat of a crude copy, without all the performance specifications of the Magic 1, especially the range.  Some of the internal electronics of the PL-7 are in fact the same as the PL-5E.  Some even go as far as claiming that the PL-7 is a PL-5E put into a Magic 1 airframe. It does have the ability to slave the IR seeker heads to the carrying aircraft's radar, and the ability to engage in high-g flight to chase targets.  It's acceleration, believed to accelerate to full speed in seconds, is a help. It is a lightweight missile with carrying aircraft able to carry more of them than usual.

Luoyang PL-8 Pen Lung

     Notes:  At first on the QT, China made an agreement to eventually produce the Python-3 in China, and modify it for Chinese aircraft use.  (It turned out that the aircraft were made more compatible with the missile instead of vice versa; this made the aircraft eventually more compatible with advanced technology.)  PL-8s at first retained their Western electronics suite and dogfight agility, but were also supplemented with Chinese systems.  The PL-8 was sort of an interim missile, to be used until all Chinese aircraft had been modified to use the soon-to-be-coming PL-9.  Nonetheless, on its own, it was a quite capable missile, despite its limitations.  The PL-8 is about equivalent to the AIM-9L in performance and counter-countermeasures.  PL-8s were also upgraded so that modern PL-8s are equivalent to the PL-9.  The PL-8 is the base Python-3, straight from Israel; the PL-8A is license assembled in China with Israeli parts; and the PL-8B is 100% built in China.  The PL-8H is a SAM version and has a 10 kilogram warhead (as opposed to the 11 kilogram warhead of the rest of the PL-8 series; this will be covered elsewhere.

     The PL-9 is essentially the perfected form of the PL-8, able to function with Chinese, Russian, and Chinese electronics, and able to be sold to most of the world.  The PL-9 is capable to be slaved to the aircraft's radar, AWACS radar, or DASH HMS.  There are two air-air variants: the PL-9, the standard variant, and the PL-9C, the short-range high-agility variant. The standard PL-9 can fired 40% off-boresight shots; the PL-9C can fire 60-degree off-boresight shots. The PL-9C has a larger continuous rod warhead. Both have ECCM and IRCCM performance about equal to the AIM-9M Sidewinder, being one level harder to decoy with flares or countermeasures.  The DK-9, also known as the PL-9D, is a SAM version of the PL-9, able to interface with AWACS or Western, Russian, of Chinese air defense networks. (This will be covered in the SAM sections).  On some aircraft, the PL-9 is capable of interfacing with a helmet-sight.

   Export versions, the PL-9D have only a 9000-meter range, and do not have the ECCM and IRCCM resistance that the PL-9B has.

Luoyang PL-10 Pili

     Notes: Also known as the High Agility Close Combat Missile, the PL-10 has been seen in two distinct airframes: one looks like the German IRIS-T, the other looks like the South African A-Darter.  The A-Darter-based airframe appears to be the actual version, with the with the IRIS-T airframe being a testing model.  The PL-10 is capable of extreme agility; some sources put g tolerance at as much as 45g, with 90-degree off-boresight shots and using over-the-shoulder launches.  It is a short-range missile, carrying a high-impulse engine and a warhead of the continuous rod type/cube fragmentary type.  Though primary guidance is by heat-seeking, the missile also has a laser fusing module. The PL-10 may be used with helmet-sight interface (if the firing aircraft is so equipped). Though the PL-10 has ECCM and IRCCM capabilities like those of the PL-9, physical performance is close to the abilities of the AIM-9X Sidewinder.

     The Chinese have also deployed a SAM version, the LY-10.  This will be covered (eventually under the SAM section.

SAST PL-11 Pili

     Notes: The PL-11 is part of a family of weapons which includes a SAM system and an antiradiation missile. The PL-11 may be seen as an improved Aspide AAM; it is a huge missile, 286 millimeters in diameter, 3.99 meters long, with a nearly 40-kilogram continuous rod warhead.  It follows the same planform as the Aspide, Though electronics have been improved to match the latest Chinese avionics capabilities, the airframe is obviously based on the Aspide (which is itself based on the AIM-7E2 Sparrow).  The basic PL-11 missile is capable of lock-on before firing shots of lock-on after firing shots; accuracy degraded by one place when using a lock-on after firing shot.

     The PL-12 was made in three varieties: The original PL-11, which is an Aspide with a few alterations.  The PL-11A can be launched conventionally, or using inertial guidance; the pilot, if he keeps track of the missile only then must he lock on.  (This sort of lock on is one level more difficult.) The PL-11B is an active radar homing version.  It should be noted that the active homing of the missile does not take over until the missile has traveled 2475 meters; until, a lock on must be maintained. However, the PL-11B is capable of tracking 12 targets at once; if it misses it's original target, and there are more targets in range and within its target cone (60 degrees wide), it can switch to targeting another target.

     Despite its effectiveness, the PL-11 was a limited production missile which is no longer in production.  It was seen as a stopgap for use until the even more advanced PL-12 was ready.

CATIC PL-12 Pili

     Notes: Though development of the PL-12 started in the late 1990s, the Chinese ran into technological troubles until the Chinese made development of the BVR active-homing PL-12 a priority in 2002.  The PL-12 is sometimes called the AMR-1 for Active, Missile, Radar.  It is also called by Western pilots by the name of "SinoAMRAAM." It does, in fact highly-resemble the AIM-120A of B, though the details of the rear fins are different. It is likely that the AHM package and avionics are similar to those of the R-77. (This is much expected -- The Chinese bought a small lot of R-77s from the Russians in the late 1990s.)  The motor, however, has much more burn time than either the R-77's or AIM-120's and much longer range than either. It also is believed to use thrust vectoring.  It is a much smaller missile than the PL-11, and can be carried on the wingtip pylons of some Chinese fighters.

     The PL-12 may be used in four ways: SARH (one level more accurate, but requires the aircraft to lock-on and keep it); the PL-12 may be launched using inertial navigation out to a certain range, then it turns on its own active seeker (one level more difficult); it can be fired like a conventional active homing missile, with the missile's seeker taking over after traveling halfway to the target; or it can use Home On Jam, with a Difficult chance to guide itself using its active seeker towards an enemy ECM emitter.  The PL-12 has a maneuvering limit of 48gs, making it slightly more effective than the AIM-120A and B, but less than the AIM-120C.

     There are five versions of the PL-12: The basic PL-12; the PL-12A, with an improved motor; the PL-12B, with upgraded avionics; the PL-12C, with folding fins, and the PL-12D, which has a belly intake and a rocket boost motor along with a ramjet sustainer motor, making it one of the longest-ranged AAMs in the world at present. (The booster takes the PL-12D up to Speed 447, requiring one phase, and then the ramjet kicks in to take it up to full speed.)

     The PL-12 also has two export models: the SD-10 and SD-10A.  The SD-10 is similar to the PL-12, but has solid rear fins instead of lattice fins, and no thrust vectoring.  It has a g-limit of only 38.  The SD-10A was designed to be compatible with Western aircraft and avionics, but is otherwise the same as the SD-10.

     In addition, a SAM version and an ARM version exist, which will be dealt with in the appropriate sections.

LETRI PL-13 Pan Lung

     Notes: Though an original development, the PL-13 uses a great deal of design work and technology gleaned from other missiles. The overall body appears to be similar to the French MICA, with the engine extension allowing it to do medium-range interceptions.  The body also has a slightly coke-bottle (area-ruled) cross-section, and is equipped with strakes through about half its body like the Russian R-77 (AA-12 Adder), and the reverse-trapezoidal rear fins are similar to those in the front of the R-27 (AA-10 Alamo). It is rumored that the PL-13 uses some thrust vectoring, but details are lacking.  The PL-13 is very maneuverable and is capable of instantaneous high-g turns.  The PL-13 is believed to have folding fins, as it was designed to be able to fight the F-22 Raptor. Like virtually all radar-homing missiles, it can be guided by another properly-equipped aircraft; in addition, the PL-13 can be guided and/or get a lock-on by any Chinese AWACS-type aircraft.  Maneuverability-wise, performance is said to be on par with the AIM-9X Sidewinder, even though the PL-13 is an active radar-homing missile.  Shots up to 60 degrees off boresight are possible, though over-the-shoulder shots are not possible with the PL-13.  Lock On After Launch shots are possible (and something Chinese fighter pilots heavily train on). The PL-13 is also one of the fastest AAMs in existence with quick acceleration, though range is subpar due to it's limited fuel and the high-rate of fuel consumption to achieve its high velocity.  The PL-13 was designed, however for short to medium-range engagements, and specifically to dogfight the F-22 Raptor, and is not meant for BVR combat.

LETRI PL-14 Pan Lung

     Notes This missile is the result of a technology transfer between South Africa and China, producing an almost exact copy of their Meteor long-range AAM. Note that the Meteor program was canceled in South Africa due to funding; though the South Africa were primarily in selling the technology of the Meteor to other countries, they also may be interested in buying a perfected Meteor.  It's primary feature is a two-intake ramjet engine that gives the PL-14 great range, and it is designed for long-range BVR combat.  Chinese AWACS-type aircraft can provide target information to the launching aircraft, and guide the PL-14 until the active radar takes over.  The primary method of attack for the pilot using a PL-14 is to launch without lock on on inertial guidance, achieving a quick lock-on and terminal active radar guidance.  A standard active radar profile, where the missile must travel one-quarter of the distance to the target before the active radar of the missile kicks in.  The PL-14 uses a long, slim body with trapezoidal rear fins and no fore-fins or strakes, and thus probably uses thrust vectoring.  The PL-14 is probably the longest-ranged AAM in the world at present. The PL-14 has strong ECCM capability, and decoying and jamming effects are one level more than normal.

     The Meteor is now being developed by a consortium of European countries, MDBA.  The PL-14 has numerous differences., however, particularly in range and electronics.

607 Institute PL-15 Pili

     Notes: The PL-15 was designed to be a smaller, lighter PL-12; the PL-12 in a J-20 Stealth Fighter's weapon bay is an extremely tight fit.  However, it does appear that the PL-15 is supplanting the PL-12.  Diameter (and consequently warhead) are reduced, as is the length, and the fins are clipped. The motor is a two-stage rocket, instead of the ramjet of some earlier models.  The PL-15 therefore has outstanding range without It likely uses thrust vectoring. The electronics are similar to a PL-14's and PL-12's  with similar firing modes.  However, if the ECM environment is too much for the PL-15, it can switch to IR Guidance, and in either mode, the PL-15 may change targets as necessary if it misses it's original target. The PL-15 may be ripple-fired, at the same or different (of the aircraft is capable of this.

CATIC PL-21 Pan Lung

     Notes: The PL-21 is a smaller version of the PL-21D, with a somewhat smaller warhead and shorter engine with a larger boost rocket and smaller fuel tank for the ramjet.  The result is, a missile with a shorter range (making it a medium-range BVR), but an advanced enhanced-blast/fragmentation warhead that is so accurate it often kills by impact with the target.(and then the warhead goes off), though it does have a proximity fuse.  It, like the PL-12D, has a ramjet motor, though with only one intake and a shorter ramjet engine. The PL-21's motor burns until it hits its target or reaches maximum range, giving full speed until detonation; and accelerating to full speed within 1 second.. Guidance is similar to other Chinese Active Homing missiles, however it is designed for heavy ECM environments and decoying or using ECM is two levels more difficult.

     A deficit of the PL-21 is that the ramjet plume is so large that the PL-21 can actually be tracked, and possibly intercepted, by enemy heat-seeking missiles.  The PL-21 is a long missile, some 6 meters long, barely fitting into the J-20 stealth fighter's weapons bay.  The fins fold for easier carriage. Unlike most active homing missiles, the PL-21 must only fly one-quarter the range to the target before the missile radar takes over.  It can also use the engagement parameters of the PL-12D.

     The PL-21 is also known as the "Charlie 21" by Western pilots, and the A2A (which simply means air-to-air ).

     The PL-21 also has a dumbed -down export version, which differs primarily in its electronics suite. ECM is one level more difficult to affect it, and only a modicum of ECCM (no more than normal ECM).