| PL-21 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | People's Republic of China |
| Service history | |
| Used by | People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 250 kg |
| Length | 4 m (13 ft)1 |
| Diameter | 250–300 millimetres (9.8–11.8 in) (estimated)2 |
| Engine | integrated ramjet with solid rocket booster (SFRJ) 2 |
Operational range | 400 km 34 |
Guidance system | Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing 2 |
Launch platform | |
The PL-21 or PL-XX is an under development5 active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile by the People's Republic of China.
Development and history
The PL-21 is estimated to have a range of over 300 kilometers and powered by a ramjet engine.6
See also
See also
- AIM-260 JATM – (United States)
- Meteor – (France, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden)
- Long-Range Engagement Weapon – (United States)
- R-37 (missile) – (Russia)
- PL-15 – (China)
- PL-17 – (China)
Related lists
References
References
- "WAITING IN THE WINGS THE ASIA PACIFIC AIR TO AIR CHALLENGE" (PDF). 29 May 2024.
- "This new ramjet engine could triple the range of Chinese missiles". 12 June 2017.
- "China 'Eroding' U.S. Air Force's Air Superiority! DoD Raises Alarm Over PLAAF's 'Fast & Furious' Missiles". 18 April 2024.
- "China's New Fighter Jet Is A Problem For Australia".
- "PL-21 Emerges: China's Deadliest Air-to-Air Missile May Soon Arm Pakistan's Stealth J-35A". Defence Security Asia. 27 May 2025.
The PL-21, which remains under active development by Chinese defence firms, is envisioned as a next-generation missile capable of targeting AWACS, refuelling tankers, and electronic warfare aircraft from ranges exceeding 400 kilometers.
- Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 40.
- Bibliography
- Wood, Peter; Yang, David; Cliff, Roger (November 2020). Air-to-Air Missiles: Capabilities And Development In China (PDF). Montgomery: China Aerospace Studies Institute. ISBN 9798574996270. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.