PL-8 (courtesy of CC)
| Home Links Gallery Fighters Fighters Attack Surveillance Trainers Helicopters Helicopters Destroyers Frigates Submarines |
|
|
|
PL-8 (courtesy of CC)
| |
|
| It has been rumored for a long time that Israel sold the Python-3 technology to China in the 80s, although this was never acknowleged by either side. The result is PL-8, an all-aspect IR-guided AAM distinguished by its swept tail stabilizing fins and a large warhead (11kg). PL-8 has been seen carried by J-7E and J-8B/D series (2 missiles at a time) along with the smaller PL-5B to replace the old PL-2B. The missile has become the most powerful dogfight weapon in PLAAF's arsenal. An improved version called PL-8A may have been developed. A naval close-in gun/missile system combining 2 PL-8H with a twin 37mm Type 715-1 AA gun was also developed and has been installed on a few Jianghu I FFGs (e.g. 555). |
|
PL-9 (courtesy of DWJ)
| |
 | This new generation of IR-guided missile was developed in the late 80s but somehow did not enter the service with PLAAF. It has an all-aspect InSb seeker and a radar fuze which may have derived from PL-8/Python-3's technology. Its range is 500m minimum and 16km maximum. Speed is Mach 3.5 and load is 40g. Its forward control fins look similar to those of AIM-9L (double delta). The overall performance of PL-9 is comparable to AIM-9L and Taiwanese TC-1. A navalized PL-9J/JK-9 quadruple system was developed and could have been installed on Jianghu FFGs. The latest variant of PL-9 is called PL-9C with improved IR seeker and rocket motor which give it a greater IRCCM capability and a longer range. |
PL-11 (courtesy of S)
 
| |
 | A PL-11 AAM carried by a J-8B was shown in an AVIC I promotional video at the 2002 Zhuhai Airshow. The PL-11 medium-range semi-active radar homing AAM is believed to be Chinese copy of Italian Aspide AAM (several dozen were imported back in the late 80s). The missile looks generally similar to American AIM-7E and has a range of 50km. It has been in limited service with the upgraded J-8B/D intercepter. PL-11 is expected to be replaced by the new SD-10 active radar homing AAM. |
|
PL-12?
| |
 | PL-12 is the first active radar-homing AAM under development by China Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute (LETRI/607 Institute). Its active seeker (dubbed AMR-1) was first revealed at the 1996 Zhuhai International Airshow. The flat-plate antenna bears some resemblance to that of active version of Russian AA-10 AAM and has a lock-on range of 20km. The active seeker appears to be integrated into LY-60 SAM. It was assumed that the development of PL-12 was near completion and the missile was entering early production stage for the J-10 project. The emergence of SD-10 (see below) suggested that PL-12 might have been abandoned due to its less advanced design or certain technical bottlenecks. |
|
SD-10
| |
 | A new type of AAM was first discovered when the FC-1 full scale mock-up was revealed to the public. The missile could be the mysterious SD-10 active radar-homing AAM which is also under development at LETRI/607 Institute. Compared to PL-12, SD-10 is expected to be in the same class as AMRAAM and the missile may have evolved from the earlier PL-12 design. Its tailfins appear to have fin tips as well as the leading edges of the fin root cropped. These specially designed tailfins are believed to possess lower drag for greater speed and higher torque for better maneuverability. Two datalink antennas can be seen next to the nozzle for mid-course correction. The latest reports suggests that SD-10 has further become a Sino-Russo collaboration project dubbed R-129/Project 129 which is based on the technology of Vympel R-77 AAM and features a variant of Agat 9B1348 active radar seeker and a Rissian datalink while keeping its original rocket motor and airframe. SD-10 is expected to enter the service in the next couple years with FC-1 and J-10. |
|
YJ-8K/C-801K
| |
 | YJ-8K (C-801K) is a typical 2nd generation ASM similar to French Exocet. The missile is powered by a solid rocket motor therefore is lighter and smaller than the earlier YJ-6/C-601 ASM powered by a liquid rocket motor. The missile also uses a monopulse active radar seeker and possesses a sea-skimming capability. Its launch altitude is 500-1,200m, cruising altitude is 20-30m (5-7m during terminal phase), cruising speed is 0.9M, and range is 8-50km. It weights 815kg and carries a 165kg warhead. YJ-8K was developed in the mid-80s based upon the basic ship-launched YJ-8 SSM (without the booster). However the missile did not enter mass production until the dedicated JH-7 fighter bomber was put into the PLAN service in the mid-90s. YJ-8K ASM is expected to be superseded by the turbojet powered YJ-82K/C-802K ASM with a longer range. |
|
YJ-82K/C-802K (courtesy of WL)
| |
 | YJ-82K (C-802K) is a turbojet powered ASM based on the YJ-82/C802 SSM. The missile was developed in the early 90s but has yet to enter PLAN service in any significant numbers. However a few C-802Ks were exported to Iran in the late 90s which were seen carried by Iranian F-4 Phantoms. Similar to YJ-8K, YJ-82K uses a monopulse active radar seeker and possesses a sea-skimming capability. Its cruising altitude is 20-30m (5-7m during terminal phase), cruising speed is 0.9M, and range is 15-120km. It weights 715kg and carries a 165kg warhead. Like YJ-8K, YJ-82K is expected to be carried by JH-7 fighter bomber (up to 4 by each aircraft). As illustrated by the drawing, it also can be carried by the Z-8 medium helicopter where it has solid boosters attached to the side of the missile body. |
|
YJ-61/C-611 (courtesy of HF)
| |
 | YJ-61 (C-611) is a long-range version of the massive YJ-6 ASM which itself has a range of 120km. The missile has a longer body to accommodate more liquid rocket fuel so that its range can be increased to 200km. It features a new terminal guidiance radar as well. The dedicated H-6D missile carrier was also upgraded featuring a new fire control radar. It appears a new Naval Aviation bomber unit (serial number 82x3x) was established to fly the improved H-6D maritime bomber carrying the new YJ-61 ASM. |
|
Kh-31/YJ-91 (courtesy of SL, HKTX)
| |
 | A Russian Kh-31 ASM was on display in a factory somewhere in China last year. This supersonic missile is distinguished by 4 ramjet engines attached to its body which give the missile a range of 70km (or 130km) and a speed of Mach 3.5. This could be either the anti-ship version (Kh-31A) or anti-radiation version (Kh-31P), with the later also being producted by China as YJ-91 (KR-1?). Both versions of the missile can be carried by several types of aircraft, including Su-30MKK, F-8IIM (equipped with Zhuk-8II radar) and the improved JH-7A with a new fire-control system. The introduction of Kh-31 and other Chinese and Russian made percision guided munitions would enable PLAAF and PLAN to launch surgical strikes against a variety of land and sea targets. |
|
SY-2A? (courtesy of 999)
| |
 | New types of weapons continue to emerge among the possible load carried by JH-7A which is still under development at XAC. During an aviation industry exhibition held early this year in Beijing, this JH-7A model was seen carrying a new type of ASM (inboard), YJ-8K/C-801K ASM, and a new type of LGB (outboard). The new ASM looks like a miniature YJ-6/C-601 ASM carried by the H-6D maritime bomber, but its tail fins are arranged in a new "Y" configuation and the missile appears to be powered by a small turbofan or turbojet, as indicated by the air intake in the belly (more like a HY-4 SSM). The exact designation of the missile is unknown. One speculation is it could be SY-2A LACM which features a terrain following radar plus INS/GPS guidance and has a range of 130km. |
|
YJ-12?
| ||
 |
It came as a surprise when the model of a new type of ASM of unknown designation
as seen carried under the wing of FBC-1/JH-7 fighter bomber. The missile has a very sleak body with
two rectangular shaped engine intakes attached to both sides, a strong indication that this is a
supersonic ASM which uses a ramjet propulsion system (speed >2M, range >100km). Beside those intakes
the missile has four stablizing fins attached to the tail. The compact design of the engine intake
suggests that the system uses the advanced integrated soild/liquid fuel combustion chamber technology
which is one step ahead of the old and bulky C-101/C-301 system where the ramjet engine and the solid
booster are separate. A similar design can be found on French ASMP LACM, but the former is expected
to be used mainly for antiship purpose using a hi-low flight profile (sea-skimming at terminal stage),
which is the primary mission performed by FBC-1/JH-7. The missle could also serve for anti-radiation
purpose but this was not confirmed. It has been rumored for some time that Chinese are working on the
next generation of long range and supersonic SSMs/ASMs, such as YJ-12 and YJ-91 etc. This new
supersonic missile is probably one the first few members of the new YJ series (YJ-12?) and a
prototype may have already been under test.
| jetfight2000@yahoo.com | |
