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 under development ^[4] 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. ^[5]

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. "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.
5. 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.