Chinese air to ground weapons (missiles, PGMs, etc)
- Thread starter AssassinsMace
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SinoSoldier
Colonel
Not sure if this is anything substantial, but a graphic from Hongdu Aviation seems to suggest that it is developing a stealthy air-launched cruise missile. Some websites speculate that it could be carried internally by the J-20, but nothing is confirmed as of now.
The silhouette itself seems good as it seems to be a kh-101, however I do think it is meant to indicate that a stealthy cruise missile is in the works which of course is something we've known for a long time (probably more than one as well)
Do we have any dimensions on the PL-15 in the J-20? The apparent missile wingspan (cruciform) is about 440mm, or an absolute wingspan of 622mm, meaning that simple division will show that the J-20 can't pack 6 PL-15s unless the fins are cropped further. The width of the missile body itself is about 250mm, while the length is between 4.1 meters and 4.2 meters.
For comparison, the PL-12 is , if you trust this site: 3.85m long, 203mm wide, with a 674mm wingspan. So the PL-15 contains about 45% more volume than the PL-12.
For comparison, the PL-12 is , if you trust this site: 3.85m long, 203mm wide, with a 674mm wingspan. So the PL-15 contains about 45% more volume than the PL-12.
D
Deleted member 13312
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CAC can opt for a trapeze launch mechanism similar to the F-22 for the J-20 in the future to allow for a 6 missile load out.
If by PL-15 we mean the new BVR missile seen recently proliferating on PLA planes - then those measurements are simply not applicable. The body measurements are the SAME as PL-12. Like AMRAAM, it uses the same body as previous missile incarnation. Since SD-10 uses same dimensions as PL-12, here they are:
3934mm long, 203mm wide. 670mm wingspan
PL-12 has same width and basically same length. It may be it's a cm or so different, as its nose cone shape is slightly different to PL-12.
Its wings and fins are somewhat shorter, of course.
My personal estimate, from image measurements, is that PL-15 rear fins are 560mm in span and its mid body fins and 430mm in span. Give or take a cm.
We can do the same image analysis techniques for the missile inside the J-20 we used elsewhere. We have a bay width of 2.4-2.5m, and we know what percent of the bay width is crossed by the missile body and the missile fins.
I simply don't believe that the PL-15X in the J-20 is an upgraded PL-12 in terms of body dimensions. There seems to be additional volume and length attached.
Image used:
I simply don't believe that the PL-15X in the J-20 is an upgraded PL-12 in terms of body dimensions. There seems to be additional volume and length attached.
Image used:
There is simply no way that 6 PL-15s can fit inside J-20's main bays in their current form. No secret arrangement/launching method will make this work. As long as 4 PL-21 or PL-xx can fit inside, that's good enough. Four PL-15s is also better than no stealthy carry of PL-15s. For J-20, wasn't there a rumour that there already is or there are field tests of a smaller MRAAM with similar range to PL-12 but with PL-15 technologies that have better seekers than PL-12 and improved energy management. The entire point of that missile is to fit 6 inside the main bays of J-20. Maybe such a missile is an improved PL-12 with cropped or folded fins.