China's new air-to-air missile operational this year [2004]

China’s new air-to-air missile operational this year

Robert Hewson Editor, Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons
Dubai

China’s SD-10/PL-12 active-radar medium-range air-to-air missile (AAM) will be ready for operational deployment by mid-2004, according to the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC).

A CATIC official confirmed to JDW that the SD-10/PL-12 has completed developmental testing and that preliminary work on fielding the missile has already begun. The final operational test and evaluation phase will require about six months, says CATIC.

The SD-10/PL-12 has already undergone extensive ground- and air-launched testing over the past two years. A series of about 10 additional air-to-air firings, including the first fully guided end-to-end trials, will complete the work. SD-10/PL-12 is the export designation allocated to the missile that will be known as the PL-12 in China People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) service.

The new AAM has been developed by a Chinese technology team with significant input from Russian industry. While China has made several failed attempts to produce an indigenous medium-range AAM before now, the acquisition of key radio-frequency seeker technology and know-how from Russia has made the PL-12 a reality. On its entry to service it will be the first effective beyond-visual-range air-to-air weapon in the PLAAF inventory.

According to CATIC, the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8 ‘Finback’ multirole fighter has been earmarked as the lead platform to be integrated with the PL-12. To date, all airborne testing has been undertaken using the J-8 and this will continue through the final trials stage. CATIC has also said that the Chengdu J-10 will be equipped with the missile once that aircraft is operational. The PL-12 is also likely to equip China’s upgraded force of Su-27SKK and licence-built SAC J-11 interceptors as part of the continuing capability enhancement and indigenisation these aircraft are receiving.

Pakistan has been widely viewed as the first export customer for the SD-10/PL-12 and is expected to field the missile on its JF-17 (CATIC FC-1) lightweight fighter.

Senior officers within the Pakistan Air Force have said that the SD-10/PL-12 might be in service within 12 months. However, CATIC has told JDW that it will be up to three years before the missile can be fielded with the FC-1/JF-17. The prototype FC-1 made its first flight in August 2003 but CATIC says that the development aircraft are fitted with none of the avionics systems of production-standard aircraft. It will be another three years before the FC-1 is fully outfitted with its mission systems and radar, says CATIC.