Chinese air to air missiles
- Thread starter tphuang
- Start date
Probably a little more classified, but also generally harder to spot/reach, because they're not done at factories or air strips that can be easily photographed by wallclimbers, but dedicated test ranges.
That goes for other land based weapons, and ship based weapons too, especially in canisters or VLS.
I agree with Insignius. The missile appears to be too large for J-20's mainbay. Maybe they'll equip it on J-11D/J-16 instead?
You are right! Its large size suggests it's very likely to be carried by J-11D/J-16 type long-range interceptors similar to the R-33/Mig-31 combo. The missile inside the J-20 weapon bay has turned out to be a PL-12 variant.
Why do you think the new missile is called PL-15 and the "old" PL-15 is now only considered a PL-12 variant, especially in regards to the capabilities of the missile?
Doesn't it make more sense for the "old" PL-15/PL-12 variant to still have the range and capabilities that you listed for it in your previous PL-15 entry, and for this "new" PL-15/PL-XX to instead be fielding newer capabilities? (edit: especially considering the previous rumours of Pl-15 tested aboard J-20, J-16 and J-10B/C etc, it makes sense that the "PL-15" mentioned in those previous rumours are the crop wing PL-12 variant/"old" PL-12 -- OTOH this "new" PL-15/PL-XX appears to be an entirely new missile which the previous rumours of the "old" PL-15 do not appear to accuarately describe)
I'm also sure you've seen the CDF thread with the study investigating a missile with a semi ballistic trajectory with a range of >300km that likely corresponds to this missile.
Wouldn't it make more sense for the "old" PL-15/PL-12 variant to still retain the same dual mode AESA/200km range and compatible with both J-20 and 4+ generation fighters, while this "new" PL-15/PL-XX is intended for super long range roles >300km and only used aboard 4+ generation fighters (unable to fit into J-20)?
edit: also, the suspected ImIR aperture I think is also a very viable guidance method for stealthy targets.
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These are the pictures from the CDF thread with the study screenshots that I'm talking about... note the third picture in particular...
Exactly and therefore my concerns again: The so far seen PL-15 in the J-20 and on the J-11B is IMO too much of an PL-12-development and does not fit to the reported claims in range and capability to the rumoured PL-15. So, I am questioning if the missile in the J-20 and on the J-11B is the PL-15 at all??
This monster-missile in contrast is something new and fits much better to the descriptions and reports of the PL-15 ... so IMO this is the true PL-15 and the missile we saw before is "only" a further development of the PL-12 for internal carriage.
Deino