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PL-10
A J-20 with one visible PL-10 on the side of the weapons bay.
Type	Short-range air-to-air missile
Place of origin	People's Republic of China
Service history
In service	2015—present
Production history
Manufacturer	Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC)
Produced	2013—present
Specifications
Mass	105 kg (231 lb)
Length	3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)
Diameter	160 mm (6.3 in)
Wingspan	296 mm (11.7 in)
Warhead	Blast-frag, or expanding rod (RF-fuse)
Detonation mechanism	Laser proximity fuze and impact
Engine	Thrust-vectoring solid-propellant rocket
Operational range	20 km (12.4 mi; 10.8 nmi)
Guidance system	Multi-element imaging infrared (IIR) Active radar seeker
Launch platform	Aircraft

The PL-10 (Chinese: 霹雳-10; pinyin: Pī Lì-10; lit. 'Thunderbolt-10', NATO reporting name: CH-AA-9), formerly known as PL-ASR (stands for PiLi-Advanced Short Range), is a short-range, infrared-homing / active radar homing air-to-air missile (AAM) developed by the People's Republic of China. It was designed by Dr. Liang Xiaogeng (梁晓庚) at the Luoyang Electro Optical Center, which is also known as the Institute 612 and was renamed in 2002 as the China Air-to-Air Guided Missile Research Institute (中国空空导弹研究院). Development of the missile commenced in 2004 for use on stealth fighters such as the J-20 and J-35.

History

The development of PL-10 initiated in 2004, and the design was reportedly approved in 2010. The missile entered production in 2013. The chief designer of PL-10 is Liang Xiaogeng (梁晓庚) of the Shanghai Academy of Science and Technology. Pictures of the PL-10, then known as the PL-ASR, appeared on the Chinese internet in 2008. It was observed mounting on a PLAAF Chengdu J-20 in 2015.

Design

The PL-10 is fitted with an advanced multi-element imaging infrared (IIR) sensor that identifies the target based on shape, giving it all-aspect targeting capability, longer target detection range, and enhanced resistance to chaff and flare. It's reportedly very resistant to jamming and electronic countermeasures. The missile is capable of lock-on after launch (LOAL), giving it ability to update target data using datalink while in flight.

The multi-element IIR seeker is capable of +/-90 degree off boresight angles and can be slaved to a helmet-mounted display (HMD). This allows the pilot to track a target beyond the aircraft's radar scan envelope using the missile's high off-boresight capability, achieved by the pilot turning his head towards the target to lock-on, better known as "look and shoot".

Flight is controlled by a thrust-vector controlled solid rocket motor and free-moving control wings on the missile's tail, which facilitate the missile to achieve turn capability of over 60Gs and high angles of attack. The central portion of the missile has long, thin strakes, which help maintain missile maneuverability in the terminal homing stage after the rocket motor stops firing.

According to the assessment by Royal United Services Institute, the PL-10 provides comparable performance to European ASRAAM and IRIS-T missiles, while offering superior kinematic performances against AIM-9X. According to aviation researcher Justin Bronk, the overall capability of the PL-10 reaches an approximate parity with Western systems and surpasses Russian technologies.

Variants

PL-10

Original version

PL-10E

Export version. The first potential buyer was Pakistan and its JF-17 Block III program.

PL-10 Active Radar

A PL-10 variant replacing the IIR seeker with miniature active radar. It features a new radome, improving aerodynamic efficiency and range. The variant was first observed in 2022.

See also

• PL-8
• PL-9
• AIM-9X
• ASRAAM
• IRIS-T
• Merlin
• MICA

References

1. "Chinese Super Maneuverable Air-To-Air Missile Closer To Deployment". DefenseWorld.net. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
2. "China shows new generation of short-range air-to-air missiles at Airshow China in Zhuhai". 1 November 2016.
3. Barrie, Douglas (8 October 2021). "China fires longer-range AAM at export market". International Institute for Strategic Studies.
4. ^ "Luoyang PL-ASR/PL-10 High Agility Close Combat Missile". Air Power Australia.
5. "PL-10". Military Periscope.
6. ^ Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 19.
7. ^ Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 36-37.
8. "PL-10". deagel.
9. ^ Newdick, Thomas (1 September 2022). "A Guide To China's Increasingly Impressive Air-To-Air Missile Inventory". The Drive.
10. Chen, Chuanren (20 July 2017). "New Chinese Weapons Seen On J-10C Fighter". AIN Online.
11. ^ Bronk 2020, p. 36.
12. "Chinese Military Aviation: Missiles". 13 August 2022.
13. "China Completes Air-to-Air Missile Development For Fifth-Gen Fighter Jet". DefenseWorld.net. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
14. Melzer, James E. (31 December 1998). "Chapter 5: Head-Mounted Displays" (PDF). In Spitzer, Cary (ed.). The Avionics Handbook. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press (published 2011). ISBN 0-8493-8348-X.
15. Fisher, Richard D Jr (18 September 2015). "Chief designer reveals data on China's new Luoyang PL-10 AAM". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015.
16. Barrie, Douglas (8 October 2021). "China fires longer-range AAM at export market". International Institute for Strategic Studies.
17. Barrie, Douglas (25 November 2022). "Chinas air show but dont tell weapons development". International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Bibliography

• 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.

• Air-to-air missiles of the People's Republic of China
• Military equipment introduced in the 2010s
• Short range air-to-air missiles