PL-17
The PL-17 or PL-20 is an active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army Air Force. The missile has a claimed range of more than and is intended to target high value airborne assets such as tanker and early warning and control aircraft.History and development
The missile was tested on a Shenyang J-16 fighter in 2016, and can also be deployed on Chinese imported Su-30MKK and Su-35 fighters. It is understood that PL-17 is a separate development from the ramjet-powered PL-21. In October 2022, Chinese state media reported that the PL-17 entered PLAAF service.Design
PL-17 is much larger than other long-range air-to-air missiles, at 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, satellite navigation, and data-link to track targets. During the terminal phase, the missile would turn on its multimode seeker with both active radar and passive sensors. The missile features a low-drag profile, and maneuverability is provided by four small control fins and thrust-vectoring engines. Estimates for its maximum operational range may vary, but the widely reported figure is ~400 km, that is under ideal conditions. The missile is powered by a dual pulse rocket motor and flies in lofted launch trajectory to achieve the reported range of class, according to the Royal United Services Institute. It has a top speed in excess of Mach 4.