PL-5

Maximum speed Mach 2.5Infrared homing, multi-element, dual band detector(PL-5EII)Aircraft, helicopter gunships

The PL-5 (霹雳-5) air-to-air missile (PL stands for Pi Li, "Thunderbolt" in Chinese, the generic designation for all PRC air-to-air missiles) is a short-range, Infrared homing missile used by Chinese fighters. It is based on AA-2 Atoll technology and resembles the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The PL-5 was designed and developed at China's Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC), also known as Institute 612; its design team members included Chen Jiali (陈家礼), Dong Chunfeng, Hu Rongchao (胡荣超), Huang Bin, Zhang Ming (张明), and Zheng Zhiwei (郑志伟). It was reportedly produced at the Hanzhong Nanfeng Machine Factory (also known as the Hanzhong Air-to-Air Missile Factory) of the China Aviation Industry Corporation I.

The PL-5 have been continuously upgraded by Luoyang and the latest variant, the PL-5EII, added a dual band, multi-element detector as well as a laser proximity fuse similar to the PL-9. According to the 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.^[1]

PLAAF J-10 and J-11 fighter jets mainly use the PL-8 missile, which is more advanced when compared to the PL-5. However, due to greater weight and dimensions of the PL-8 missile, for F-7 and JH-7, the PL-5 is still the preferable air-to-air missile at this stage.^[2]

Operators

Current operators

•  Bangladesh uses PL-5 and PL-5EII^[3]
•  Burma PL-5B and PL-5EII
•  Egypt
•  Iran
•  Pakistan 900 ordered, PL-5E.^[4]
•  Sri Lanka
•  Sudan
•  Tanzania
•  Venezuela 100 ordered, PL-5E.^[4]
•  Zimbabwe^[5]

References

Works cited

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (2019). The Military Balance 2019. Routledge. ISBN 978-1857439885.

• PL-5 SHORT-RANGE AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE, www.sinodefence.com
• Luoyang Optoelectro Technology Development Center PL-5EII