PL-7
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The PL-7 (Chinese: 霹雳-7; pinyin: Pī Lì-7; lit. 'Thunderbolt-7') is the PRC version of the French Magic R.550 short-range air-to-air missile.[1] It is a short-range, infrared homing missile used by Chinese fighter aircraft.[2] It was designed by Wu Shendao, and produced at the Factory 331 (Zhuzhou Aeroengine factory) (中国株洲航空发动机厂).
Specifications
[edit]- Length - 2.74 m (9 ft)
- Diameter - 157 mm (6.2 in)
- Wingspan - 0.66 m (26 in)
- Weight - 89 kg (196.2 lb)
- Warhead - 12.5 kg (27.55 lb)
- Speed - Mach 2.5 (1,917.5 mph, 3,086 kmh, 1,666.26 kn)
- Range - 0.5 to 14 km (0.31 to 8.7 mi, 0.27 to 7.55 nmi)
- Guidance - Infrared homing
Operational history
[edit]
During the late 1998–2001 Zimbabwean intervention in the Second Congo War, Air Force of Zimbabwe BAE Hawks were reportedly modified to be armed with PL-7s for air interception missions in support of Zimbabwean and Laurent Kabila's government forces.[3]
Operators
[edit]
- Iranian Air Force: Received at least 400 PL-7s.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Roblin, Sébastien (24 August 2024). "China Copied Its Way to Building a World-Class Air-to-Air Missile". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 2026-05-07. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ Duncan, Lennox; Hewson, Robert (2001). Jane’s Air launched Weapons, Edition 2001. United Kingdom: Jane’s Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-0866-6.
- ↑ "HAL's Gamble – Will the "Advanced Hawk" break into the Export market?". 17 February 2017.
- ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). "Chapter Six: Asia". The Military Balance. 120 (1): 255. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707967. S2CID 219627149.
External links
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