Chinese purchase of Su-35
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Another update from Hui Tong - PL-20/21 on Su-35S?
But if I'm not mistaken then this is a model only and I won't overrate the same missile, we know from several Trumpeter kits since years as a sign, the PLAAF will field this missile. Or are there other news I missed?
SinoSoldier
Colonel
The question is: why would PLAAF initially integrate this on the Su-35 rather than a Chinese Flanker?
Assuming that this model is some kind of official representation of an actual PL-21/sino-meteor integrated on Su-35, there's no reason to think that it wouldn't first be integrated on other platforms if/when it enters service.
It's not like the existence of this model suggests somehow that it will be first integrated on Su-35...
Not the PLAAF IMO, just that modeler simply since Trumpeter added these AAMs to the kit.
Assuming the PL-17, PL-20, and PL-21 are the same as shown in this model Su-35. There's got to be at least two ramjet missiles. One built off the PL-12 and a more ground up model.
@SinoSoldier We're also assuming the J-16 and whatnot haven't already been armed with these missiles for some time. What's not broadcasted isn't exactly what's not there. Maybe they've managed to integrate it/them with Su-35 only recently? Who knows. Could just be an error from Huitong.
Pardon, but this part I don't understand?
For the moment I see one single ramjet-AAM on this model and this one fits nicely to the PL-21 description we know since years.... rumorwise it has been renamed PL-20 or PL-2X as such, you are correct PL-20, and PL-21 are the same.
The PL-17 however is said to be the PLAAF designation for the ULR_AAM, we've seen so far only on the J-16 and this is another missile:
Was pl-20 rumorly a smaller dimension pl-15? Suppose to put more missiles in j-20
Don't worry it was a reply to my quoted comment. It was said there are four of these longer ranged missiles. PL-15, ramjet powered one, the J-16 carried long one pictured in your post, and the PL-15 for J-20 (six in the bay). So essentially since these are distinct, there is only one in his list of four that can be attributed to the PL-17/PL-20/PL-21. Basically I'm trying to say that four longer ranged missiles is a total guess with the assumption that only a "sino-meteor" can be this fourth mysterious one when we have all these PL designations.