Chinese J-16FightersRecently, an impressive air-to-air payload was showcased in a recent report, including a long-range air-to-air payload known as the PL-17Missiles。ThisMissilesIt is considered to be close to operational condition and has an unprecedented range. The U.S. side has expressed concern about this progress while accelerating its own long-range air-to-air spaceMissilesPlanned deployments.
In the ** report of the People's Liberation Army of China, four J-16s of different configurations were demonstratedFightersformations, which carry different types of air-to-airMissiles。Of these, two J-16s attracted widespread attention because they carried a large long-range air-to-air that was considered a PL-17Missiles。ThisMissilesThe appearance has aroused speculation and concern from the outside world, and the United States has also paid close attention to it.
According to reports,PL-17 missilesis independent of Chinapl-15an air-to-airMissilesPlans, often referred to in the West as PL-XX or PL-20. It is considered an ultra-long-range air-to-airMissiles, which is mainly used for ** value assets, such as:Fuel dispenserand onboardAWACS。AlthoughMissilesThe number has not yet been determined, but its technical performance and design philosophy have been clarified.
As can be seen from **,PL-17 missilesThe length is nearly 20 feet (about 6 meters), than thatpl-15Longer and thicker. It maneuvers with a combination of four small tails and thrust vector control, which is highly anti-jamming. According to reportsPL-17 missileshas a range of more than 186 miles (about 300 km) and a top speed of at least Mach 4. This performance allows it to strike at targets at long ranges.
PL-17 missilesdevelopment and technological innovation to ChinaAir ForceAdds powerful long-range strike capabilities, but at the same time presents some challenges.
First of all, due toMissilesThe size of the is larger, and it can only be carried by plug-in at the moment. However, it should not be ignored that the PL-17 may be with other ChineseFightersCompatible and with the possibility of mounting on the J-20. This is for ChinaAir ForceMore choice and flexibility are available.
Secondly,PL-17 missilesThe guidance system is bidirectionalDatalinkand activePhased array radarThe combination of the seeker has a strong anti-jamming ability. TheMissilesProbably, it is also equipped with an additional infrared seeker and probed through an optical window to ensure that there is no interference at the final stage of the range. This design makes:MissilesMore difficult to get rid of, improved hit rate.
PL-17 missilesThe appearance of the United States has caused serious concern on the US side, which believes that China's long-range air-to-airMissilesDevelopment has reached a surprising level. For the United States, this means ChinaAir ForceIt already has a serious challenge in terms of long-range strike capabilities.
In response to this threat, the United States has actively promoted its own long-range air-to-airMissilesPlan. Among them,AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical MissileIt is one of the projects with a high degree of secrecy at present. The U.S. side hopes to accelerate the deployment of a new generation of long-range air-to-airMissilesto respond effectively to ChinaAir ForceThe rise of .
The United States goesDronesCarry AIM-260 pre-deployment mode, withPL-17 missilesThe technical performance is comparable. This shows that the United States is working hard to improve its long-range strike capability in order to maintain its position in air superiority.
ChinaAir ForceJ-16 on displayFightersCarryablePL-17 missilesIt has aroused widespread concern and concern from countries around the world. ThisMissilesWith ultra-long-range strike capabilities and a powerful guidance system, to ChinaAir ForceAdded the ability to fight from a distance. The U.S. side has expressed serious concerns about this situation and accelerated its own long-range air-to-airMissilesPlanned deployments. The competition between China and the United States over long-range air-to-air strike capabilities has clearly entered a new phase. How to balanceMilitaryand promote international security and stability is an issue that we need to think deeply about.