PL-15 Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrz7feOMWbTdCgircypPvmbbpiKDRG01ECEWPbmbe-7FpeYkryCFjEOW8_BXhbIL9KFr95AHDRP8ykjuEFYSCBvTw19KBkUWQeN3A5bujy2cqtcidyRyUDqeCOms9qrXDFJhtqO5KoCQ/s1600/J-31+stealth+fighter+launching+a+long+range+PL-15+missile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrz7feOMWbTdCgircypPvmbbpiKDRG01ECEWPbmbe-7FpeYkryCFjEOW8_BXhbIL9KFr95AHDRP8ykjuEFYSCBvTw19KBkUWQeN3A5bujy2cqtcidyRyUDqeCOms9qrXDFJhtqO5KoCQ/s640/J-31+stealth+fighter+launching+a+long+range+PL-15+missile.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> This 2014 CGI shows a J-31 stealth fighter launching a long range PL-15 missile. Given USAF concerns about the high performance PL-15, it could indeed feature high performance technologies like range and maneuverability enhancing ramjets, and a jam resistant AESA radar seeker.<br /> <br /> <br /> Beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) are long-range missiles used by fighters to knock out enemy fighters, bombers, tankers, drones and other aircraft from ranges beyond 30km.<br /> On September 15, 2015, <span id="goog_887510796"></span><span id="goog_887510797"></span>successfully test fired its latest iteration, the PL-15, firing from a fighter to destroy a target drone.<br /> <br /> <img alt="[​IMG]" class="bbCodeImage LbImage" data-url="http://www.popsci.com/sites/popsci.com/files/styles/medium_1x_/public/pl-15_close_up.jpg?itok=RprzAKhh" height="422" src="http://www.popsci.com/sites/popsci.com/files/styles/medium_1x_/public/pl-15_close_up.jpg?itok=RprzAKhh" width="640" /><br /> PL-15 Different Angles<br /> <br /> These set of photos from 2013 show the PL-15 during captive flight testing (carried by fighters like this J-11B). The PL-15 is shown to be about four meters long and 200mm in diameter, about the same size as the older PL-12 BVRAAM. The PL-15 uses improved propulsion, such as advanced rocket motors and possibly ramjet engines, to achieve a greater range.<br /> <br /> The PL-15 is developed by the 607 Institute. It is the replacement for China's current BVRAAM, the radar guided, PL-12, which reportedly has a range of approximately 100km. Compared to the PL-12, the PL-15 has an improved active radar seeker and jam-resistant datalinks, along with a dual pulse rocket motor to extend its range.<br /> <br /> <img alt="[​IMG]" class="bbCodeImage LbImage" data-url="http://www.popsci.com/sites/popsci.com/files/styles/medium_1x_/public/j-11b_pl-15.jpg?itok=7J_4Ls2e" height="248" src="http://www.popsci.com/sites/popsci.com/files/styles/medium_1x_/public/j-11b_pl-15.jpg?itok=7J_4Ls2e" width="640" /><br /> The Flanker's New Missile<br /> Andreas Rupprecht<br /> <br /> The J-11B Flanker, a Chinese modification of the Russian Su-27 heavy fighter, is shown here with a PL-15 on a payload pylon under the left wing. While the J-11B's radar may not have the range to use the PL-15 to its maximum range, it can receive the location of distant enemy fighters from a KJ-2000 airborne early warning control (AEWC) aircraft, fire the PL-15 and let the PL-15's advanced radar guide the missile, with course corrections from the KJ-2000 AEWC, all without turning on the J-11B's radar (and giving away its position).<br /> <br /> Even in the prototype stage, the PL-15 is already an international star. Speaking at the 2015 Air Force Association conference the same week as the test, USAF Air Combatant Commander General Hawk Carlisle cited the PL-15 as the reason for Congress to fund a new missile to replace the American AMRAAM. His reasons for concern is the PL-15's range. By incorporating a ramjet engine, its range could reach 150-200km, was well as its terminal maneuverability. That would out-range existing American air-to-air missiles, making the PL-15 not just a threat to fighters like the F-35, but also to US bombers and aerial tankers critical to American air operations across the vast Pacific. General Carlisle called "out-sticking" the PL-15 a high priority for the USAF.<br /> <br /> <img alt="[​IMG]" class="bbCodeImage LbImage" data-url="http://www.popsci.com/sites/popsci.com/files/styles/medium_1x_/public/j-20_weapons_bay.jpg?itok=MKTxFhm9" height="421" src="http://www.popsci.com/sites/popsci.com/files/styles/medium_1x_/public/j-20_weapons_bay.jpg?itok=MKTxFhm9" width="640" /><br /> PL-15 Future Home<br /> China Military Review Blogspot<br /> <br /> The early 2002 (now 2004) J-20 stealth fighter prototype flies a test, carrying simulated BVRAAM loadouts (two in its main left weapons bay).<br /> Production J-20s are expected to be able to carry three BVRAAMs in each main weapons bay, making for 6 long range missiles, like the PL-15.<br /> As the PL-15 moves to deployment stage, it will equip stealth fighter jets, such as the J-20 and J-31, as well as the older J-10, J-11, J-15 and J-16 fighters. <i>Popular Science</i><br /> <div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> <br /></div> <br /></div>

PL-15 Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM)

This 2014 CGI shows a J-31 stealth fighter launching a long range PL-15 missile. Given USAF concerns about the high performance PL-15,...

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