PL-12

PL-12
A model of an export version of the PL-12, SD-10A, (bottom-left corner) with JF-17 on display at the Farnborough Airshow 2010.
Type	Air-to-air missile
Place of origin	People's Republic of China
Service history
Used by	People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
Specifications
Weight	400 pounds (180 kg)[1]
Operational range	70–100 kilometres (43–62 mi)[2][3]
Guidance system	Active radar[4]
Launch platform	Shenyang J-8F[5] Chengdu J-10[6] Shenyang J-11B[7] Shenyang J-15[1] CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder[8]

The PL-12 (PiLi-12, 霹雳-12) is a active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China. It is considered comparable to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM and the Russian R-77.^[4]

Development history

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. By 2005, the missile was also known as the PL-12.^[10]

Description

The PL-12 may use the radar and data link from the Russian R-77,^[12] or otherwise use systems benefiting from technology transfers from Russia. 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]

SD-10

SD-10A on display with the JF-17 light-weight fighter at the Farnborough International Airshow 2010.

The SD-10 (ShanDian-10, 闪电-10) is the export version of the PL-12. There is also a SD-10B.^[8]

Operators

Map with PL-12 operators in blue

Current operators

 People's Republic of China

• People's Liberation Army Air Force
• People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

 Pakistan

• Pakistan Air Force (PAF), 800 ordered.^[13]

See also

Similar weapons

• AIM-120 AMRAAM
• R-77

References

1. O'Rourke: page 21
2. Medeiros et al.: page 93
3. Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (21 February 2010). "The Air Balance on the Taiwan Strait". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
4. Cliff: page 8
5. O'Rourke: page 77
6. Gormley et al.: page 55
7. Gormley et al.: page 13
8. 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.
9. Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (2 February 2008). "China's Emerging 5th Generation Air-to-Air Missiles". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
10. Medeiros et al.: page 92
11. 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 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
12. Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (21 November 2002). "Military Sales to China: Going to Pieces". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
13. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php

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.
• 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.