Chinese air to air missiles
- Thread starter tphuang
- Start date
You need to read that paper published earlier
Hi Huitong. Going off topic for a bit but I got to do this since I finally got a hold of you.
Can you reveal additional info about the WS-15 illustration that you posted recently?
What paper is that? Can we get a link?
That post has been removed since the engine lacks the TVC nozzle. Don’t know exactly what it is.
The paper taking about a VLAAM concept was posted in this thread before. You can find one illustration at the PL-17 section of my web site
I dont' think we have any reason to believe this missile is anything other than a VLRAAM at this stage. Whether it may have a secondary A2G role is something that is yet to be determined.
Also, the paper that huitong is talking about I suspect is this one (attached).
For the rationale for why JH-7/A is testing PL-X, I would offer a more interesting suggestion -- that JH-7/A is intended to be capable of firing and launching the VLRAAM against aerial targets, essentially making it a rather potent interceptor.
Obviously you're entirely correct in saying that JH-7/A's sensors are very low capability an obviously unable to support the fire control for a PL-X ranged weapon on its own.... however that is probably also true for aircraft like J-16 as well -- a fighter's own FCR is probably just not powerful enough to exploit PL-X at its maximum practical range.
IMO it was pretty obvious from the beginning when PL-X emerged that the concept of operations for it would only really work with a level of CeC/offboard datalinking, whereby the launch platform is able to receive targeting information from other platforms to enable the max range of the missile. Whether it's friendly AEW&C or potentially even friendly fighter aircraft closer to the opfor's targets.
The fact that we are seeing this missile tested on JH-7/A -- strongly suggesting it is intended to be able to be capable of carrying and launching PL-X --- IMO strongly suggests that the concept of operations of PL-X does indeed require a rather complex CeC system. From the perspective of upgrading JH-7/As it obviously doesn't really make sense to overhaul its entire avionics suite, but giving it a modern datalinking system which can enable (among other things) a CeC esque system seems fairly logical.
So what this means for JH-7/A of course, is that it essentially gives the aircraft a high end VLRAAM capability that was previously only thought to be intended for J-16 or Flankers.
That makes JH-7/As more flexible in its overall role as it adds VLRAAM/interception duties to its strike/maritime strike/EW mission -- however it also increases the number of platforms that the PLA has at its disposal which is able to launch PL-X as well, as now they are potentially able to add all of the JH-7/A airframes that they want to integrate this capability with.
Of all of the PLA's fighter aircraft outside of the Flanker family, giving JH-7/A the ability to fire PL-X is definitely the next most sensible platform imo, given its large size, payload and range/endurance, so tbh it makes sense to me.
JH-7A is too slow to qualify for an interceptor nowadays. PLANAF originally operated it as an interceptor against Japanese F-4s because China didn't have any fighter other than a handful of flankers with long enough range to tangle far from shore. Nowaday, like you said, they've got the J-11B/J-16 and maybe Su-35 with avionics integration later down the road for that role.
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I'm not sure how that's relevant, because what I described was JH-7/A being able to do more roles with integration of PL-X.
Obviously it won't have the kinematic properties that would make a good interceptor in the traditional sense, however it has respectable range, endurance and payload, so if it's able to lob VLRAAMs against opfor targets in excess of 300-400km it will be quite a useful supplement for the interception role.
There aren't many combat aircraft with the ability to lob VLRAAMs against targets at over 300-400km, let's put it that way.
Yesterday I read a post at Twitter, that this new PL-17 ULR-AAM is aimed for being launched by long range striker like the J-16, JH-7A and also the H-6K/N bombers in order to wipe out AEW assets and tankers at very long range. Not sure however how reliable this is.