The PL-9 (Chinese: 霹雳-9; pinyin: Pī Lì-9; lit. 'Thunderbolt-9') is a short-range, infrared-homing air-to-air missile (AAM) developed by the People's Republic of China.

PL-9
TypeShort-range air-to-air missile
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
In servicec. 1989
Production history
ManufacturerLuoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC)
Hanzhong Nanfeng Machine Factory
Xi’an Eastern Machinery Factory
Produced1989—present
Specifications
Mass123kg (PL-9)
115kg (PL-9C)
Length2.9m (PL-9/C)
Diameter0.157m (PL-9C)
Wingspan0.856m (PL-9C)
Warhead11.8kg blast-frag, or expanding rod (RF-fuse)
Detonation
mechanism
laser proximity fuse

EngineSolid-fuel rocket
Operational
range
15km (PL-9)
22km (PL-9C, air-to-air)
>8km (DK-9, surface-to-air)
Flight altitude4.5km (surface-to-air)
Maximum speed Mach 2+[1]
Guidance
system
multi-element infrared
Launch
platform
Aircraft, helicopter gunships, ground-launched

History

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The PL-9 program was initiated in 1986. The missile entered batch production in 1989. Two improved variants, PL-9B and PL-9C, was certified in 1992 and 2002. The latest version of the PL-9 is PL-9D.[2]

The missile was originally designed by Dong Bingyin (董秉印) at the Luoyang Electro Optical Center, which is also known as Institute 612 and renamed in 2002 as the China Air-to-Air Guided Missile Research Institute (中国空空导弹研究院). After Dong Bingyin died, his position was succeeded by Mr. Jin Xianzhong (金先仲). The deputy general designer of PL-9 is the same deputy general designer of PL-12, Dr. Liang Xiaogeng (梁晓庚).

The PL-9C is one of the later versions of the PL-9, which also has a surface-to-air variant (DK-9). The PL-9C tactical low-altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) was first revealed during the 1989 Paris Air Show. The launch unit is available in both towed and self-propelled arrangements. The self-propelled version has a launch complex consisting four-rail launcher and the associated target acquisition and radar and electro-optical director mounted on a 6X6 WZ551 armored personnel carrier (APC). The towed version has a four-rail launcher mounted on a four-wheel carriage. The launch unit is supported by a range of truck-mounted ground equipment for maintenance and missile testing.

Design

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The PL-9 utilizes the airframe modified from the PL-5 and PL-7 missile. The seeker head is fitted with sensors from PL-8 and Python-3 missile.[3] The missile is fitted with a cryogenic liquid nitrogen gas-cooled IR seeker capable of +/-40 degree off boresight angles. Flight control is by long span pointed delta fins at the front of the missile with Sidewinder-type slipstream driven rollerons on the aft tail fin surfaces to prevent roll and so enhance the operation of the guidance system. The missile has a maximum effective range of 35 km [citation needed], although a hit at such a range is unlikely, as maximum effective range calculations tend to assume a meeting engagement against a target flying at high altitude straight at the missile, minimizing the range the missile itself needs to cover. The single-shot hit probability for a single missile launch at an approaching target is 90%. The missile can be used at a stand-alone system, or as a part of the Type 390 (DK-9) brigade (regiment)-level combined AAA/SAM air defence system. The missile entered production in 1991 and saw limited service with the PLA ground forces.

Variants

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PL-9
PL-9B
PL-9C
PL-9D
DK-9
PL-9 modified surface-to-air missile.[4]

Operators

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Current operators

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  Bangladesh
  Namibia
  Nigeria
  Pakistan
  People's Republic of China

See also

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References

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Citations
  1. ^ "PL-9". Deagel.com. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  2. ^ Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 16-19.
  3. ^ Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 36.
  4. ^ "PL-9 DK-9". globalsecurity.
  5. ^ "Trade-Register-1971-2018.rft". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  6. ^ Cooper et al. 2011, p. 73
  7. ^ Cooper et al. 2011, p. 94
Bibliography
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