PL-21

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
Diameter	250–300 millimetres (9.8–11.8 in) (estimated) [1]
Operational range	300 km [2] [3]
Guidance system	Active radar with AESA [1]
Launch platform	Chengdu J-20 Shenyang J-16

The PL-21 or PL-XX is an active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China. It is considered comparable to the American AIM-260 JATM, and the Russian R-37 (missile). ^[4]

Development and history

In November 2016, China successfully test fired a very long range air-to-air missile, believed to be either the PL-21 or the PL-17. ^{[5] [6]} The PL-21 is estimated to have a range of over 300 kilometers and powered by a ramjet engine. ^[4]

Operators

  People's Republic of China

• People's Liberation Army Air Force
• People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

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

• List of missiles

References

1. "This new ramjet engine could triple the range of Chinese missiles". 12 June 2017.
2. "The US Wants To Arm Fighters With These New Long-Range Missiles To Hunt Down China & Russia's Best Jets".
3. "China's New Fighter Jet Is A Problem For Australia".
4. Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 40.
5. Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 19.
6. Rogoway, Tyler (21 November 2016). "Shadowy New Missile Appears Under The Wings Of Chinese J-16 Fighter". The War Zone. Retrieved 5 January 2025.

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.