PL-12

PL-12
A model of an export version of the PL-12, SD-10A, (bottom-left corner) with a Pakistan Air Force JF-17 on display at the Farnborough Airshow 2010.
TypeMedium-range, active radar homing air-to-air BVR missile
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
In service2005-present[1]
Used byPeople's Liberation Army Air Force

People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
Pakistan Air Force

Myanmar Air Force
Specifications
Mass180 kilograms (400 lb)[2]

EngineDual thrust solid fuel rocket[3]
Operational
range
70–100 kilometres (43–62 mi)[4][5]
Maximum speed Mach 4+[3]
Guidance
system
Active radar homing[6]
Launch
platform
Aircraft

The PL-12 (Chinese: 霹雳-12; pinyin: Pī Lì-12; lit. 'Thunderbolt-12', NATO reporting name: CH-AA-7 Adze[7][8]) is an active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China. It is considered comparable to the US AIM-120 AMRAAM and the Russian R-77.[6]

  1. ^ Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 19.
  2. ^ O'Rourke: page 21
  3. ^ a b Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 38.
  4. ^ Medeiros et al.: page 93
  5. ^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (21 February 2010). "The Air Balance on the Taiwan Strait". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  6. ^ a b Cliff: page 8
  7. ^ Barrie, Douglas (8 October 2021). "China fires longer-range AAM at export market". International Institute for Strategic Studies.
  8. ^ The International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003400226. ISBN 9781003400226.