The PL-12 (Chinese: 霹雳-12; pinyin: Pī Lì-12; lit. 'Thunderbolt-12', NATO reporting name: CH-AA-7 Adze[7][8]) is an active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China. It is considered comparable to the US AIM-120 AMRAAM and the Russian R-77.[6]
| PL-12 | |
|---|---|
 A model of an export version of the PL-12, SD-10A, (bottom-left corner) with a Pakistan Air Force JF-17 on display at the Farnborough Airshow 2010. | |
| Type | Medium-range, active radar homing air-to-air BVR missile |
| Place of origin | People's Republic of China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2005-present[1] |
| Used by | People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 180 kilograms (400 lb)[2] |
| Engine | Dual thrust solid fuel rocket[3] |
Operational range | 70–100 kilometres (43–62 mi)[4][5] |
| Maximum speed | Mach 4+[3] |
Guidance system | Active radar homing[6] |
Launch platform | Aircraft |
History
editDevelopment of the PL-12 (SD-10) began in 1997.[1] The first public information of the Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute's PL-12 – then called the SD-10 – emerged in 2001.[9] Development was assisted by Vympel NPO and Agat of Russia.[10] Liang Xiaogeng is believed to have been the chief designer.[11] Four successful test firings were made in 2004.[10] The missile entered People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) service in 2005.[1]
Design
editThe early batches of PL-12 missiles reportedly used the 9B-1348 radar seeker designed for the R-77 missile. The development process was assisted by Vympel NPO and Tactical Missile Corporation and benefited from Russian technology transfers.[3] But as of 2018, the PL-12 was no longer reliant on Russian components for missile production.[3]
The guidance system comprises data-linked mid-course guidance and active radar homing for terminal guidance.[3] The missile uses a Chinese rocket motor[9] and airframe.[12] The PL-12 may have a passive homing mode for use against jammers and AEW aircraft.[9] The maximum range is estimated to be 100 kilometres (62 mi).[13]
PL-12's overall dimension is larger than AIM-120 AMRAAM. Per PLAAF assessment, PL-12's capability sits between AIM-120B and AIM-120C, and the improved PL-12A is claimed to be comparable with the AIM-120C-4. The domestic version of the PL-12 features a variable-thrust rocket motor with a range of 70–100 kilometres (43–62 mi), while the export variant SD-10 features a reduced range of 60–70 kilometres (37–43 mi).[14] According to the Royal United Services Institute, the range performance of PL-12 stands between AIM-120B and AIM-120C-5.[15]
Variants
edit
- PL-12
- Domestic version with 60[16] to 100 km[13] range.
- PL-12A
- NATO reporting name is CH-AA-7A.[17] Improved PL-12 with a modified seeker and digital processor. Reportedly fitted with passive mode for anti-radiation missions.[14]
- SD-10A (ShanDian-10, 闪电-10)
- Export version of the PL-12 with a reduced maximum launch range of 37–44 miles (60–71 km).[18]
- SD-10B
- Enhanced SD-10A with better anti-jamming capability.[19][16]
- LD-10
- Anti-radiation missile based on SD-10.[20]
Operators
edit
Current operators
edit
- Pakistan Air Force (PAF) - 575 delivered of 750 ordered as of 2021[update][21]
- Myanmar Air Force - 24 delivered of 60 ordered as of 2021[update][22]
See also
edit- PL-15 – (China)
- AIM-120 AMRAAM – (United States)
- R-77 – (Russia)
- TC-2 – (Taiwan)
References
edit- ^ a b c Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 19.
- ^ O'Rourke: page 21
- ^ a b c d e Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 38.
- ^ Medeiros et al.: page 93
- ^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (21 February 2010). "The Air Balance on the Taiwan Strait". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ a b Cliff: page 8
- ^ Barrie, Douglas (8 October 2021). "China fires longer-range AAM at export market". International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- ^ The International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003400226. ISBN 9781003400226.
- ^ a b c Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (2 February 2008). "China's Emerging 5th Generation Air-to-Air Missiles". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Archived from the original on 21 October 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ a b Medeiros et al.: page 92
- ^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (18 September 2015). "Chief designer reveals data on China's new Luoyang PL-10 AAM". janes.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (21 November 2002). "Military Sales to China: Going to Pieces". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ a b Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 39.
- ^ a b Newdick, Thomas (1 September 2022). "A Guide To China's Increasingly Impressive Air-To-Air Missile Inventory". The Drive.
- ^ Bronk 2020, p. 36.
- ^ a b Joshi, Sameer (6 February 2021). "How China is fast catching up with the West in the race for air-to-air missile superiority". The Print.
- ^ Barrie, Douglas (9 September 2022). "Air-to-air warfare: speed kills". Military Balance Blog. International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ Newdick, Thomas (1 September 2022). "A Guide To China's Increasingly Impressive Air-To-Air Missile Inventory". The Drive. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ Jennings, Gareth (4 March 2015). "Bulgaria to be offered JF-17 fighter by Pakistan". janes.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ^ "LD-10 Anti-radiation Missiles". CN Defense.
- ^ "Transfers of major weapons: Deals with deliveries or orders made for 1950 to 2021 (China to Pakistan, missiles)". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
(750) PL-12 BVRAAM (2006) 2010-2021 (575) For JF-17 combat aircraft
- ^ "Transfers of major weapons: Deals with deliveries or orders made for 1950 to 2021 (China to Myanmar, missiles)". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
(60) PL-12 BVRAAM (2015) 2018-2019 (24) For JF-17 combat aircraft
- Bibliography
- Cliff, Roger (May 2010). The Development of China's Air Force Capabilities (PDF) (Report). RAND Corporation. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- Gormley, Dennis M.; Erickson, Andrew S.; Yuan, Jingdong (2014). A Low-Visibility Force Multiplier: Assessing China's Cruise Missile Ambitions (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: National Defense University Press.
- Hallion, Richard P.; Cliff, Roger P.; Saunder, Phillip C., eds. (2012). The Chinese Air Force: Evolving Concepts, Roles, and Capabilities (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: National Defense University Press.
- Medeiros, Evan S.; Cliff, Roger; Crane, Keith; Mulvenon, James C. (2005). A New Direction for China's Defense Industry. RAND Corporation. ISBN 9780833040794.
- O'Rourke, Ronald (28 February 2014). China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress (PDF) (Report). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- Wood, Peter; Yang, David; Cliff, Roger (November 2020). Air-to-Air Missiles: Capabilities And Development In China (PDF). Montgomery: China Aerospace Studies Institute. ISBN 9798574996270.
- Bronk, Justin (October 2020). Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends (PDF) (Report). United Kingdom: Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies.