Douglas Barrie/LONDON
China has unveiled an upgraded variant of its PL5 infra-red guided short range air-to-air missile, the PL5E, which it is offering for export.
The main difference from the previously seen variant, the PL5B, is in the considerably improved seeker. The PL5B is not described as having an all-aspect engagement capability. According to Chinese export/import agency CATIC, the PL5E has an all-aspect capability with the seeker having a maximum off boresight angle of ±25° before launch, and ±40° after launch.
The PL5E's seeker performance is similar to that of the AIM-9M/L Sidewinder, raising the possibility that the PL5E seeker is effectively a reverse engineered version of the Sidewinder front end.
Earlier models of the PL5 are believed to have been widely exported by China with customers including: Egypt, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe.
CATIC claims that the missile has a maximum lateral acceleration of 40G, compared to 32G for the AIM-9L and 35G for the AIM-9M. A minimum launch range of 500m (1,600ft), and a maximum launch range of 14km (7.5nm) are also claimed.
The PL5E is almost certain to be in widespread service with the Chinese air force, although the service's primary short range AAMs are the Russian Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer), deployed on its Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, and the Israeli Rafael Python 3.
Source: Flight International