Chinese air to air missiles

siegecrossbow

siegecrossbow

General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Blitzo said:
I think you're misinterpreting it slightly.

The advertised range for missiles are dependent on the circumstances of the launch aircraft and the circumstances of the target.
For example, it's absolutely possible for a BVRAAM with a listed range of 70km to be able to hit a target at 100km distance if the circumstances of the launch aircraft and the target are complementary enough.

However that doesn't mean 100km is worthwhile listing as an advertised range because if the circumstances are unrealistic and significantly non-representative of combat conditions, then why even list it?
For the SD-10A specifically, we do not know whether it was a downgraded version of the domestic version available at the time or whether there is a better domestic version available.

It may well be possible that the kill at 100km range is using a PL-12 variant at the time which was not greatly superior to the SD-10A, and that SD-10A itself is also capable of kills at 100km range in similar circumstances. After all, the PL-12 in the early 2000s would have been succeeded by more capable PL-12 variants before PL-15 emerged.



For PL-15E, we have definitive confirmation already from the institute at the airshow last year that the domestic version has superior performance including range (200km+) to the export version (150km)
For PL-10E, it is possible but who knows.
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The PL-12 was tested by the J-10 in the early 2000s. At the time the missile hasn’t entered serial production so I don’t think it was “stable” enough compared with both PL-12 and SD-10, both of which probably are superior to it performance-wise.

As per a Luoyang Electro-Optical Tech employee there is a modified variant of PL-12 with greater range and performance than the SD-10A. This is corroborated by Li Zhonghua’s presentation on Falcon Strike 2015 where he flat out stated that PL-12 is equivalent to AIM-120C performance wise and superior to R-77. Not sure if that version is available for export.
 
M

Mikuzoid

Just Hatched
Registered Member
Hi all! I'm looking for some clarification between PL-5C and E. My understanding is 5C is fundamentally a refinement on 5B with 5E being all aspects and gaining an overload of 35G along with a better motor however I've seen some users claim 5C and E are the same but E is for export. If anyone could find reliable sources claiming either way would be greatly appreciated!
 
Blitzo

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Deino said:
Not sure how recent this paper is, but maybe these folding wings could be a solution not to narrow the PL-15‘s body diameter and still to fit 3 instead of two missiles?

View attachment 120877
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I recall that is part of an old paper from years ago, so not new.

We know that they are pursuing a new missile (PL-15 derivative or not, unknown) to allow J-20 to carry six BVRAAMs in the central bay, but we don't know what it will look like.
 
L

latenlazy

Brigadier
Blitzo said:
That missiles in that model I felt were of sufficiently poor quality that it hasn't really meaningfully changed the dial as to what the actual method they're going with is.
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I mean I don’t think it confirms anything. Just part of the collection of circumstantial indications. Wouldn’t even be surprised if they explored folding fins and then decided to go a different direction.
 
A

ACuriousPLAFan

Brigadier
Registered Member
drowingfish said:
correct, H-20 won't generate enough speed for the missile
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Speed isn't the only factor at play.

Nobody flies their fighters to Mach 2 just to launch AAMs, every-single-time.

As far as publicly known, the B-2 can fly as high up as 50 thousand feet. Assuming that the H-20 is a carbon-copy of B-2, having those LRAAMs launched while the H-20 is flying at very high altitudes (40-45 thousand feet) means that the AAMs can travel (powered + glide) further out, which is a nature-given bonus compared to launching them from the ground up.

Besides, the H-20 can also point its nose upwards at an angle while launching LRAAMs, thus giving those AAMs a somewhat-ballistic trajectory. This also helps at boosting range.

Then, there's also the inherent design of the LRAAMs, which determine whether the AAMs can generate enough lift on its own in order to travel further while burning less fuel than its counterparts. That's a topic which is way beyond my understanding other than the surface level, so I'll stop here.
 
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