At a time when we were immersed in the victory of the Fujian ship of the Navy in launching the little red car, inadvertently, the news of the PL-17 ultra-long-range air-to-air missile was unexpectedly disclosed. This missile is known as the king of the Thunderbolt family, and it is said that its range is more than 400 kilometers, and it can easily deal with early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, air tankers and other high-value targets. The suddenness of this news has aroused widespread attention, and we are full of curiosity and expectations about the actual power of this ultra-long-range air-to-air missile and its impact on the future military pattern, especially the equipment status of the J-16 fighter it carries.
As soon as the PL-17 missile was launched, it immediately caused a sensation on the Internet, and even attracted the attention of the American "War Zone". This is not only an ultra-long-range missile, but also a major breakthrough in the combat power of the Chinese Air Force. **The J-16 carries a variety of missiles, including the PL-10 close-range combat missile, the PL-12 medium-range air-to-air missile, the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile, and the striking PL-17 ultra-long-range air-to-air missile. This all-round missile carrying enables the J-16 to have the ability to perform tasks at different levels and at different distances, further enhancing its comprehensive strength in air supremacy.
Judging from the detailed analysis in the first class, the J-16 model that is fully clothed in battle shows the richness of the missile carrying, and the range covers a range of 10 kilometers to 400 kilometers. The huge size of the PL-17 has attracted widespread attention, and the "light rod bullet" in ** seems to have become the focus. Compared to the PL-12 medium-range bomb, the PL-17 is about 6 meters long and has a diameter of more than 400 mm, which means that it may weigh more than 500 kilograms. This makes the PL-17 have a longer range and stronger strike capability in the missile field, which is of great significance for future air supremacy operations.
The PL-17 was already on the network back in 2016, when it was carried by the J-16 for testing. It uses a dual-pulse rocket engine for maneuvering using a combination of four small tails and thrust vector control, with a maximum range of more than 300 kilometers and a maximum speed of more than Mach 4. At the same time, the PL-17 also adopts two-way data link guidance, has powerful electronic countermeasure capabilities, and is able to receive target data from early warning aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellites, etc., to achieve over-the-horizon long-range precision strikes. This makes the PL-17 not only a breakthrough in range, but also a high degree of sophistication in the guidance system.
However, there are still some doubts about the deployment of the PL-17 and the fact that it will carry fighters. **The J-16 models shown in the show are all in battle, carrying a variety of missiles such as PL-10, PL-12, PL-15 and PL-17, showing strong combat power. At the same time, the two J-16s on the right side adopted the simplest mounting method, carrying only one medium and one close missile, which was relatively thin. But the long rail pylons on the inside of the right side attracted attention, most likely for the PL-17, which also indicated that the PL-17 may have completed its firing mission and was on its way back.
The report of the American "War Zone" ** interpreted the PL-17, believing that this missile is too large and may eventually be deployed in the "Flanker" series modifications, such as J-11, J-16 fighters, etc., and may even be equipped with J-20 fighters. This analysis has sparked widespread speculation about the PL-17's role in future warfare and the future direction of the aircraft.
Despite the fact that the PL-17 showed itself technically, there were some doubts about it from the American side. The US media believes that the PL-17 is too large and may have a certain impact on the maneuverability of the fighters carrying it. In addition, the emergence of the PL-17 also gives China a more powerful air supremacy capability in air operations, posing a certain threat to the United States. Whether the United States has the appropriate technical and strategic means to effectively respond to this challenge has become a highly controversial issue.
In the release of the network, the PL-17 has a range of more than 400 kilometers, far exceeding the range of the American missiles in service. And the American AIM-260 missile in the field of long-range air-to-air missiles is still being tested, and its maximum range is about 260 km to 300 km. In contrast, the actual use of the PL-17 has taken the lead for China in air supremacy operations, and has become a major challenge for the US Air Force. In future air supremacy operations, whether the appearance of the PL-17 will subvert traditional tactics and tactics will become a major puzzle in the military field.
Although the emergence of the PL-17 has given China a greater advantage in air supremacy, the United States remains one of the most powerful military powers in the world. And in terms of technological level and armament strength, the United States has always been in the lead. However, the appearance of the PL-17 indicates the rapid development of the Chinese industry, and its impact on the future military balance cannot be ignored. In the face of this challenge, whether the United States can accelerate the testing and deployment of AIM-260 missiles and find effective countermeasures has become the focus of international military attention.
In general, the public appearance of the PL-17 ultra-long-range air-to-air missile attracted great attention in the international military community. This is not only a concentrated demonstration of China's leading industrial strength, but also a key breakthrough made by China in the field of air supremacy. All sides are actively conducting research on the actual effectiveness of this missile, its future development direction, and its impact on the international military balance. At the end of the controversy, perhaps we should pay more attention to whether this ultra-long-range missile will give rise to a more complex and dangerous military landscape in future wars, and how people will respond to this new military reality.