In recent years, the Chinese Air Force has made remarkable technological progress, especially in the field of air-to-air missiles. This progress is not only reflected in the innovation of missile technology, but also reflects the rapid development and adaptation of China's strategic development. Initially, the Chinese Air Force was armed with PL-12 missiles, which are long-range air-to-air missiles with comparable range and power. However, with the development of technology, China soon introduced the more advanced PL-15 missile. The PL-15 has a range of nearly 200 kilometers, far exceeding the PL-12 and marking a major step forward in the Chinese Air Force's long-range air combat capabilities.
But China's military industry did not stop there. Recently, the Chinese Air Force's J-16 fighter jets carried a new giant air-to-air missile. The length of such a missile reached a staggering 57 meters, almost twice the length of the PL-12 and PL-15 missiles. For comparison, even the Hongqi-9BE anti-aircraft missile, which has a range of more than 260 km, has a length of only 6It is about 51 meters. The appearance of this new missile not only attracts attention in terms of size, but also raises new questions about its capabilities.
From the point of view of design, the features of this new missile are very obvious. It is equipped with a radome at the front end, indicating the use of a radar guidance system. The small area of the four rudder surfaces in its tail means that the missile has a good range and flight speed. As a rule, such high-speed radar-guided missiles are used against ground-based radar stations. However, given the size and form factor of this missile, it is clearly an air-to-air missile, designed to combat air targets.
Combined with these characteristics, it can be assumed that the main target of this new missile is enemy AWACS aircraft. This is a missile dedicated to anti-AWACS aircraft, and its presence means that the Chinese Air Force has made new tactical calculations and deployments. On a global scale, such a very large air-to-air missile design for a specific target is very rare. It reflects that the Chinese Air Force is no longer relying solely on traditional means of air combat, but is pursuing more long-range and accurate strike capabilities.
In the past, for example, during the Vietnam War, the United States tried to transform the F-4 Phantom fighter into a purely missile air superiority fighter. However, due to the limited guidance capabilities of the missiles and the maneuverability of the aircraft at that time, the F-4 fighter ultimately failed to achieve the desired tactical effect. Since then, even in modern fighter jets such as the F-35, the US military has retained its cannon, reflecting a traditional thinking of air combat.
However, the Chinese Air Force seems to think differently. In 2015, when the Chinese Air Force and the Thai Air Force conducted a joint Xi, the Chinese side sent old Su-27 fighter jets, while Thailand used the most advanced Gripen fighter in the world at the time. In the initial confrontation, the Chinese pilots won a big victory only by virtue of the level of operation. But when the Thai pilots turned on the radar and used missiles to counter, the situation changed dramatically. Using advanced missile and radar systems, Thai pilots achieved a landslide victory without turning on their cannons. This incident made the Chinese Air Force realize that in the face of new technologies and new tactics, it must update its own combat methods.
As a result, the Chinese Air Force began to increase investment in research and development of air-to-air missile technology. With the successive successful development of new missiles, the effective range of fire between the Chinese Air Force and the US Air Force has gradually narrowed. At the same time, the U.S. Air Force still seems to be sticking to its traditional operational philosophy, relying on machine guns and close-range air combat. To a certain extent, this reflects the operational environment that the US military has faced in recent years, in which it has mostly engaged in wars with technologically backward opponents and lacks experience in confronting a modern air force.
The newly developed giant air-to-air missile was developed by the Chinese Air Force in order to further reduce the effective combat distance with the enemy's air force. The purpose of such missiles is to attack enemy AWACS aircraft in order to weaken the enemy's air surveillance and control capabilities. Without the support of AWACS, enemy fighters will not be able to fully utilize the maximum combat range of their missiles, thereby further strengthening the superiority of the Chinese Air Force in over-the-horizon air combat.
Of course, the actual combat effect of this new missile has yet to be further exercised or verified in actual combat Xi. However, in any case, the development of this giant air-to-air missile was a technological breakthrough in itself. Not only does it demonstrate China's advances in military technology, but it could also have far-reaching implications for global air force tactics. In the face of this new type of **, even a military power like the United States needs to reevaluate its air combat tactics and technologies. In future air battles, this new missile could become a key factor in changing the situation on the battlefield.
The emergence of this new giant air-to-air missile is not only a technological leap, but also a major change in strategic thinking. In the context of modern air warfare, the Chinese Air Force has shown a deep understanding and importance of over-the-horizon operations. The traditional concept of air combat emphasizes maneuverability and dogfight capabilities at close range, but with advances in missile technology, long-range strike capabilities are becoming increasingly important. The adaptation of the Chinese Air Force to this demonstrates its growing influence in the global military balance.
When analyzing the tactical significance of this new missile, one cannot ignore its impact on air superiority. AWACS aircraft play an extremely critical role in modern air combat, providing air intelligence on the battlefield and directing fighter jets to carry out effective strikes. By striking at AWACS aircraft, this missile is capable of quickly changing the balance of forces on the battlefield, so that the adversary loses intelligence superiority in the air. The success of this strategy will significantly increase the superiority of the Chinese Air Force in any potential conflict.
In addition, the Chinese Air Force's development of giant air-to-air missiles reflects the expansion of its strategic horizon. The development of this missile is not only aimed at enhancing the combat capability of a single combat unit, but also to seek superiority in the overall strategy. By having this advanced ** system, the Chinese Air Force is able to exert greater deterrence on potential adversaries and, as a result, gain a more advantageous position geopolitically.
At the technical level, the research and development of this new missile is also a demonstration of the comprehensive strength of China's leading industry. From design, manufacturing, to testing, this process demonstrates China's rapid progress in the field of high-tech military equipment. At the same time, it is also an important indicator of China's independent research and development capabilities, indicating that China has made substantial progress in reducing its dependence on foreign technology.
At the international level, the appearance of such a new missile may provoke a reassessment of global military power. For other countries, this breakthrough of the Chinese Air Force is not only a technical, but also a strategic one. It forces other countries to rethink their air defense systems and could even trigger a new arms race.
To sum up, this new giant air-to-air missile is not only a symbol of the technological progress of the Chinese Air Force, but also a clear sign of its strategic thinking and the growth of its global influence. Its existence will not only affect the future development of the Chinese Air Force, but will also have a far-reaching impact on the global military landscape. With the passage of time, the actual combat capability and strategic value of this missile will be further verified and demonstrated in future Xi and actual combat.