![]() ![]() This active radar missile, and the earlier semi-active radar homing PL-11, seemed to have a common design heritage with the Italian Aspide missile, supplied to China during the late 1980s. This seeker was, in turn, believed to have been applied to a new air- to-air missile design, derived from the LY-60 surface-to-air missile, and dubbed the 'PL-12'. During Air Show China 1996, held during November in Zhuhai, the China Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute/No 607 Research Institute exhibited a newly developed active radar seeker, the AMR-1. Prior to the emergence of the PL-12, China's active radar seeker AAM development programme was sometimes identified as the 'AMR-1'. Development of PL-12 was once led by Dong Bingyin, former chief designer of PL-12 who died in 2000. The chief designer of PL-12 is Fan Huitao (樊会涛) of AVIC I. The PL-12 is listed as part of CATIC's current 'Thunder-Lightning' family of air-to-air missiles, that includes the PL-5E, PL- 9C and TY-90 systems (all developed by the Luoyang Electro-Optical Technology Development Center). It will equip the mainstream of future modern Chinese fighters, and current compatible fighters. It provides the People's Liberation Army Air Force with a sophisticated, domestic airborne weapon on par with mainstream Western Airforces around the world. When coupled with AESA radar seekers on modern Chinese BVRAAMs, a ramjet BVRAAM-like the PL-12D, PL-21 or a PL-15 variant-would be a long-range threat even to stealth fighters and bombers.Ī key factor for CASC’s ramjet engine to reach its full potential, though, is a network of sensor fusion and data provided by other fighters and the growing Chinese fleet of AEW&C aircraft, electronic intelligence assets, high-altitude UAVs, and surface radars-all of which China is actively working on.The PL-12 active-radar BVR air-to-air missile became the highest priority air-to-air weapons programme for China's military industry during 2002, and supplanted several previous developmental projects (such as the PL-10 and PL-11) in terms of effort and importance. (Though the BVRAAM wouldn’t be able to match the PL-XX’s near-space flight profile to avoid interception and detection). ![]() If cued by long-range radars from airborne early warning and control aircraft, a ramjet BVRAAM could even do some of the stuff that the long-range, rocket powered PL-XX does, namely attacking enemy airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) and tanker aircraft. This new missile would give Chinese fighters like the J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters (both of which can carry 6 BVRAAMs in their central weapons bay) long-range but very compact air-to-air missiles. ![]() With a range of over 62 miles, active radar seeker, and Mach 4 speed, it’s plenty lethal already-a ramjet engined version would make it even more deadly by increasing its range, maneuverability, and speed. The PL-12 BVRAAM is China’s front-line, long-range air-to-air missile. What’s especially dangerous for foreign fighter jets is that the CASC’s larger ramjet BVRAAM (with a highly efficient engine, and similar dimensions to the 203mm diameter and 13-foot-long PL-12) could outrange the world’s only other ramjet BVRAAM, the 175mm diameter, 12-foot-long MDBA Meteor. However, the USAF does intend to introduce the Small Advanced Capabilities Missile in the 2030s, which will be half the size of the AMRAAM but has the same 100-mile range. ![]() Despite four test flights by Boeing before 2015, the T3 missile does not appear to have lead to an actual development program (hence United States Air Force General Herbert Carlisle calling January 2017 for Congress to fund an AMRAAM replacement). BVRAAM-the AMRAAM AIM-120D-has an active radar seeker, two way datalink, Mach 4 top speed and a range of more than 100 miles.ĭARPA’s Triple Threat Terminator (T3) ramjet missile was about the size of the AMRAAM, and would have been targeted against both enemy aircraft and radar systems. Unfortunately it was apparently cancelled, probably due to budget constraints.Ī ramjet BVRAAM would provide a huge overmatch against existing and even planned U.S. The T3, a ramjet missile built by Boeing and funded by DARPA, used its ramjet engines to extend its maneuverability and range in order to effectively target aircraft, cruise missiles, and even surface-to-air missiles. ![]()
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