Chinese Air-to-Air Missiles

摘要

China produces a variety of infrared guided air-to-air missiles, originally derived from Soviet copies of the AIM-9B Sidewinder. Three of these, the Pi-Li (Thunderbolt) PL-2A, PL-5B and PL-9 have entered quantity production and have been offered for export. The TY-90 is a new light-weight missile intended for self-defense of helicopters. China is currently developing its first semi-active radar guided AAMs, the PL-10, based on the HQ-61 air defense missile, and the PL-12 (SD-10) which is a completely new design and similar in conception to the AM-RAAM.