China is pushing its most capable in-service medium-to-long range air-to-air-missile (AAMs), the PL-15, for export only some three years after introducing the weapon in domestic service. The move flags China’s continuing progress in developing advanced AAMs and the missile will be one of the most advanced available in the export arena.
China is offering for export its most capable in-service active radar-guided air-to-air missile (AAM), the PL-15 (CH-AA-10), only a handful of years after it debuted with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The export variant of the missile, the PL-15E, was on show in a display hall for the first time during Air Show China 2021, which is being held in Zhuhai from 28 September to 3 October.
The emergence of the PL-15 has been a key threat driver for the United States Air Force, reinforcing efforts by the service to recapitalise its own radar-guided AAM holdings. The potential export of an AAM in the class of the PL-15 will serve only to further energise US ambitions. Development of the PL-15 likely began just over a decade ago.
The PL-15E has a range of 145 kilometres according to information provided at the show, though this may be an underestimate as the version fielded by the PLAAF has been associated with a range of up to 200 km. Even with this shorter range it would be one of the longest-range AAMs in its class. Its range performance is assumed to be based on a highly energetic boost-sustain motor. This provides the missile with greater energy in the ‘end game’ to engage a manoeuvring target – rather than simply coasting following motor burnout, as a boost-only design would.
The PL-15 has been integrated into the Chengdu J-10C Firebird, J-20A and the Shenyang J-16 domestic derivative of the Russian Su-30 Flanker-H. All these PLAAF aircraft types are fitted with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire-control radar. The PL-15E is likely being offered as an extended-range AAM on the Batch III version of the JF-17 and on the J-10CE export version of the J-10C. Until now the export version of the PL-12 (CH-AA-7) has been the active radar-guided AAM element of the JF-17 armament. Known as the SD-10A for export, this missile has been supplied to the Pakistani air force as part of the JF-17 programme. The JF-17 Batch III is assumed to include an AESA.
Islamabad remains an obvious candidate to be the first export customer for the PL-15E as part of the JF-17 Batch III. A Batch III aircraft development model has been seen carrying the PL-10 (CH-AA-9) imaging infrared-guided short-range AAM. Beijing unveiled the export version of this missile, the PL-10E, at Air Show China 2016, only shortly after it had entered PLAAF service, in a similar fashion to the PL-15E’s debut at this year’s event. Pakistan will likely take the PL-10 as part of the JF-17 Batch III programme. While the JF-17 is a modest platform by modern aerodynamic and performance standards, a mix of PL-10, PL-12 and now possibly PL-15 missiles would give it notable air-to-air capability.
The PL-15 was also shown in the static display area at Air Show China 2021, fitted to the J-10C and the J-16D aircraft. The J-16D, an electronic-warfare variant of the two-seat J-16, was also making its show debut. It was shown with previously unseen types of jamming pods fitted to underwing stations and two PL-15s fitted in the tunnel between its engine bays. Given the role of the J-16D, this may indicate that a passive anti-radiation version of the PL-15 airframe has also been or is in development. However, dummies of the active radar-guided missile may simply have been placed on these weapon stations for display purposes.
China continues to work on a number of further medium-to-long-range AAM projects, including ramjet-sustainer designs as well as a very long-range AAM likely known as the PL-17. While the main internal weapons bay on the J-20 can only carry four PL-15s, Beijing is looking to increase the number of medium-range weapons it can accommodate to six, with an AAM design unofficially associated with the PL-16 designation.
The debut of the PL-15E is a further indication of the progress and large investment China is continuing to make in its AAM arsenal, with several other ongoing developments yet to be shown. This underscores the importance China ascribes to air warfare and the seriousness of its intent to be able to contest the air domain and create a high-threat environment in the realm of air-to-air combat.
www.iiss.org
China is offering for export its most capable in-service active radar-guided air-to-air missile (AAM), the PL-15 (CH-AA-10), only a handful of years after it debuted with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The export variant of the missile, the PL-15E, was on show in a display hall for the first time during Air Show China 2021, which is being held in Zhuhai from 28 September to 3 October.
The emergence of the PL-15 has been a key threat driver for the United States Air Force, reinforcing efforts by the service to recapitalise its own radar-guided AAM holdings. The potential export of an AAM in the class of the PL-15 will serve only to further energise US ambitions. Development of the PL-15 likely began just over a decade ago.
The PL-15E has a range of 145 kilometres according to information provided at the show, though this may be an underestimate as the version fielded by the PLAAF has been associated with a range of up to 200 km. Even with this shorter range it would be one of the longest-range AAMs in its class. Its range performance is assumed to be based on a highly energetic boost-sustain motor. This provides the missile with greater energy in the ‘end game’ to engage a manoeuvring target – rather than simply coasting following motor burnout, as a boost-only design would.
The PL-15 has been integrated into the Chengdu J-10C Firebird, J-20A and the Shenyang J-16 domestic derivative of the Russian Su-30 Flanker-H. All these PLAAF aircraft types are fitted with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire-control radar. The PL-15E is likely being offered as an extended-range AAM on the Batch III version of the JF-17 and on the J-10CE export version of the J-10C. Until now the export version of the PL-12 (CH-AA-7) has been the active radar-guided AAM element of the JF-17 armament. Known as the SD-10A for export, this missile has been supplied to the Pakistani air force as part of the JF-17 programme. The JF-17 Batch III is assumed to include an AESA.
Islamabad remains an obvious candidate to be the first export customer for the PL-15E as part of the JF-17 Batch III. A Batch III aircraft development model has been seen carrying the PL-10 (CH-AA-9) imaging infrared-guided short-range AAM. Beijing unveiled the export version of this missile, the PL-10E, at Air Show China 2016, only shortly after it had entered PLAAF service, in a similar fashion to the PL-15E’s debut at this year’s event. Pakistan will likely take the PL-10 as part of the JF-17 Batch III programme. While the JF-17 is a modest platform by modern aerodynamic and performance standards, a mix of PL-10, PL-12 and now possibly PL-15 missiles would give it notable air-to-air capability.
The PL-15 was also shown in the static display area at Air Show China 2021, fitted to the J-10C and the J-16D aircraft. The J-16D, an electronic-warfare variant of the two-seat J-16, was also making its show debut. It was shown with previously unseen types of jamming pods fitted to underwing stations and two PL-15s fitted in the tunnel between its engine bays. Given the role of the J-16D, this may indicate that a passive anti-radiation version of the PL-15 airframe has also been or is in development. However, dummies of the active radar-guided missile may simply have been placed on these weapon stations for display purposes.
China continues to work on a number of further medium-to-long-range AAM projects, including ramjet-sustainer designs as well as a very long-range AAM likely known as the PL-17. While the main internal weapons bay on the J-20 can only carry four PL-15s, Beijing is looking to increase the number of medium-range weapons it can accommodate to six, with an AAM design unofficially associated with the PL-16 designation.
The debut of the PL-15E is a further indication of the progress and large investment China is continuing to make in its AAM arsenal, with several other ongoing developments yet to be shown. This underscores the importance China ascribes to air warfare and the seriousness of its intent to be able to contest the air domain and create a high-threat environment in the realm of air-to-air combat.
China fires longer-range AAM at export market
China is pushing its most capable in-service medium-to-long range air-to-air-missile (AAMs), the PL-15, for export only some three years after introducing the weapon in domestic service. The move flags China’s continuing progress in developing advanced AAMs and the missile will be one of the...
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