PL-4 | |
---|---|
Type | air-to-air missile |
Place of origin | China |
Service history | |
Used by | China |
Specifications | |
Mass | 150 kg |
Length | 3.2 m [1] |
Warhead | High explosive blast-fragmentation 30 kilograms (66 lb) |
Engine | Solid fuel rocket |
Operational range | 18 km [1] |
Maximum speed | 2695 km/h [1] |
Guidance system |
Semi-active radar homing (PL-4A) Infrared homing (PL-4B) |
Launch platform | aerial |
The PL-4 ( Chinese: 霹雳-4; pinyin: Pī Lì-4; lit. 'Thunderbolt-4') was an air-to-air missile (AAM) developed by the People's Republic of China. It was designed by the 612 Research Institute and the Zhuzhou Aeroengine factory. The first version, the PL-4A, was China's first semi-active radar homing (SARH) AAM. It was developed into the infrared homing PL-4B. [2]
The development program started in March 1966. The design may have been influenced by American AIM-7D Sparrow wreckage from the Vietnam War. [2] Prototype ground-testing to the original 1960s requirements was completed in November 1980, [2] with the second phase of development starting in July 1981. [3] The program was cancelled in 1984 due to obsolescence and, with the normalization of relations with the United States - the availability of modern Western weapons. [2]
The PL-4 was intended to arm the Chengdu J-9 - which was cancelled in 1980 - and then the Shenyang J-8II. Issues with the J-8II's Type 208 radar limited SARH performance, [2] and the missile's cancellation severely affected the aircraft's development. [4]