| PL-4 | |
|---|---|
| Type | air-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| Used by | China |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 150 kg |
| Length | 3.2 m[1] |
| Warhead | High explosive blast-fragmentation 30 kilograms (66 lb) |
| Engine | Solid fuel rocket |
Operational range | 18 km[1] |
| Maximum speed | 2695 km/h[1] |
Guidance system | Semi-active radar homing (PL-4A) Infrared homing (PL-4B) |
Launch platform | aerial |
The PL-4 (Chinese: 霹雳-4; pinyin: Pī Lì-4; lit. 'Thunderbolt-4') was an air-to-air missile (AAM) developed by the People's Republic of China. It was designed by the 612 Research Institute and the Zhuzhou Aeroengine factory. The first version, the PL-4A, was China's first semi-active radar homing (SARH) AAM. It was developed into the infrared homing PL-4B.[2]
The development program started in March 1966. The design may have been influenced by American AIM-7D Sparrow wreckage from the Vietnam War.[2] Prototype ground-testing to the original 1960s requirements was completed in November 1980,[2] with the second phase of development starting in July 1981.[3] The program was cancelled in 1984 due to obsolescence and, with the normalization of relations with the United States - the availability of modern Western weapons.[2]
The PL-4 was intended to arm the Chengdu J-9 - which was cancelled in 1980 - and then the Shenyang J-8II. Issues with the J-8II's Type 208 radar limited SARH performance,[2] and the missile's cancellation severely affected the aircraft's development.[4]
Variants
[edit]- PL-4A
- SARH version
- PL-4B
- IRH version
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]Bibliography
[edit]- 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.
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