PL-17
| PL-17 | |
|---|---|
 J-16 armed with PL-17 | |
| Type | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (very-long-range) |
| Place of origin | People's Republic of China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2024–present |
| Used by | People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology |
| Specifications | |
| Engine | Dual-pulsed solid-propellant rocket[1] |
Operational range | ~400 km |
Guidance system | Active radar homing/infrared homing /passive radiation homing.[1] |
Launch platform | |
The PL-17 (NATO reporting name: CH-AA-12 Auger[2]) or PL-20 is an active radar-guided very-long-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).[3] The missile has a claimed range of around 400 km (250 mi) and is intended to target high value airborne assets (HVAA) such as tanker and early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.[4][5][6]
History and development
[edit]The missile was first identified on a Shenyang J-16 fighter in 2016,[7] it was fired in November,[8] and can also be deployed on Chinese imported Su-30MKK and Su-35 fighters.[9] It is understood that PL-17 is a separate development from the ramjet-powered PL-21 (PL-XX).[5][10] PL-17 may have entered PLAAF service in 2024.[11]
Design
[edit]PL-17 is much larger than other long-range air-to-air missiles, at 6 m (20 ft) long (whereas PL-15, AIM-120 are measured around 4 m (13 ft) long), which contains more solid fuel. The extended length makes the missile unfit for the internal weapons bay of the Chengdu J-20. During the flight, PL-17 would rely on inertial guidance and satellite navigation to track targets. During the terminal phase, the missile would turn on its multimodal seeker with both active radar and passive sensors.[4] The sensors include, reportedly, a miniature active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for tracking, passive anti-radiation seeker for locating radar-equipped targets, and a possible optical window feautring an additional infrared seeker as supplement.[12]
The missile body features a low-drag profile, and maneuverability is provided by four small control fins and thrust-vectoring engines.[13] Estimates for its maximum operational range may vary, but the widely reported figure is ~400 km.[14][3] The missile is powered by a dual pulse rocket motor and flies in lofted launch trajectory[4] to achieve the reported range of 400 km (250 mi) class, according to the Royal United Services Institute.[13] It has a top speed in excess of Mach 4.[10][15]
See also
[edit]- PL-15 – (China)
- PL-21 – (China)
- AIM-174B – (United States)
- R-37M – (Russia)
- Novator KS-172 – (Russia)
- Astra Mark 3 – (India)
References
[edit]- 1 2 Waseem, Sibra (March 18, 2026). "China's PL-17 Missile Ripples through Indo-Pacific Defense".
- ↑ Barrie, Douglas (29 July 2024). "Phoenix successor redux: the USN's range riposte to China's PL-17?". International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- 1 2 Newdick, Thomas (January 27, 2026). "China's Massive PL-17 Air-To-Air Missile Seen Up Close". The War Zone. Archived from the original on May 5, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Barrie, Douglas (20 January 2024). "Air-to-air missiles push the performance, payload envelope". International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- 1 2 Barrie, Douglas (8 October 2021). "China fires longer-range AAM at export market". International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- ↑ Williams, Zachary (21 November 2022). "Takeaways From China's Zhuhai Air Show 2022". The Diplomat.
- ↑ Rogoway, Tyler (21 November 2016). "Shadowy New Missile Appears Under the Wing of Chinese J-16 Fighter". The Drive.
- ↑ Rogoway, Tyler (2023-12-02). "Massive PL-17 Air-To-Air Missile Seen On Chinese J-16 Fighters". TWZ. Retrieved 2026-09-19.
- ↑ PLA Aerospace Power: A Primer on Trends in China's Military Air, Space, and Missile Forces (PDF) (Report). Montgomery: China Aerospace Studies Institute. 2022.
- 1 2 Newdick, Thomas (1 September 2022). "A Guide To China's Increasingly Impressive Air-To-Air Missile Inventory". The Drive.
- ↑ Barrie, Douglas; Thornley, Ben (May 2024). "Waiting in the Wings: The Asia-Pacific Air-to-air Challenge" (PDF). Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2024. International Institute for Strategic Studies. ISBN 978-1-003-53006-0.
- ↑ Newdick, Thomas (27 January 2026). "China's Massive PL-17 Air-To-Air Missile Seen Up Close". The War Zone.
- 1 2 Bronk, Justin (October 2020). Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends: Current Capabilities and Future Threat Outlook (PDF) (Report). Whitehall Report. Vol. 3–20. London: Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. ISSN 1750-9432.
- ↑ "Air-to-air missiles push the performance, payload envelope". IISS. Archived from the original on 2025-12-25. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
- ↑ "一剑封喉/霹雳17远攻 空空导弹之王". Ta Kung Pao. 28 November 2022.
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