PL-2
The PL-2 is a Chinese short-range air-to-air missile .
development
The PL-2 is a licensed copy of the Soviet AA-2 Atoll missile , which in turn is a copy of the US AIM-9B Sidewinder . As with the prototypes, it is steered by means of an infrared sensor; the warhead is ignited by means of a proximity fuse. Development of the PL-2 began in the 1960s when China received the necessary technology from the Soviet Union . Series production began in 1970. All variants were replaced by the more powerful PL-5 in the 1980s .
variants
- PL-2A: improved version; never produced due to technical problems.
- PL-2B: Improved Steering; new seeker head and adapted proximity fuse. Introduced in 1978.
- PL-3: Revised control surfaces, enlarged warhead. Introduced in 1980.
- PL-6: As a further development of the PL-3 started during its development (1975). In 1979 the tests were successfully completed, but it then became apparent that the increase in performance compared to the PL-3 did not justify the introduction, especially since the knowledge gained during development was incorporated into the increase in combat value of the PL-2.
Platforms
- J-5 ( MiG-17 Fresco )
- J-6 ( MiG-19 Farmer )
- J-7 ( MiG-21 Fishbed )
Technical specifications
PL-2B
Parameter | Data |
---|---|
length | 2.99 m |
diameter | 0.53 m |
span | 1.27 m |
Takeoff weight | 76 kg |
speed | Mach 2.2 |
Range | 3 km |
steering | Infrared |
Warhead | 11.3 kg HE-Frag (proximity fuse) |
drive | Solid rocket |
Web links
- sinodefence.com ( Memento from May 10, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
- PakDef.info ( Memento from June 13, 2011 in the Internet Archive )