New PLAAF AAMs

The red missiles on the J10 pics lead me to think that perhaps the plane is also testing some new AAMs. I found another article to suggests this may be true…

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JANE’S MISSILES AND ROCKETS – APRIL 01, 2002

China shows its newest air-to-air missiles
Robert Hewson

The Beijing-based China National Aero Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) is working on a next-generation dogfight missile, writes Robert Hewson. A CATIC engineer attending this year’s Asian Aerospace exhibition, held in Singapore during February, described the new missile as being “very different to the PL-9”, but “still a few years away from service yet”.

The new missile will use an all-new airframe design, coupled with an imaging infrared (IR) seeker – CATIC is known to be working on 64×64- and 128×128-pixel IR seeker arrays, using both linear scanning and staring array techniques. These seekers have been developed for both the 3-5µm and 8-12µm wavelengths. According to CATIC, the new missile is intended to equip the J-10 fighter.

Another future J-10 weapon is a new series of Chinese laser-guided bombs, which CATIC has confirmed is currently under development.

China’s PL-7 short-range air-to-air missile (AAM) and the PL-10 medium-range SARH missile programmes have been dropped, with no more development work ongoing. All efforts have instead been redirected to the SD-10 missile programme – an active radar AAM with an 80km range according to CATIC. A company engineer confirmed several SD-10 test firings have already taken place, and that most of the SD-10’s subsystem testing has also been completed, but that the missile is not yet ready for service. CATIC is known to be developing X-band and Ku-band active radar seekers, which are certain to be applied to the SD-10.

At the Singapore exhibition, CATIC displayed the current versions of the PL-5 and PL-9 short-range AAMs (plus a PL-9-based surface-to-air missile [SAM] system), as well as the little-seen TY-90 helicopter-launched AAM.

CATIC describes the PL-9C as a ‘third-generation combat AAM’. Key changes over earlier versions include the missile’s new multi- element seeker (functioning in the 3-5µm band) with digital signal processing. According to CATIC, the PL-9C has significantly improved IRCCM (infrared counter countermeasure) capabilities, putting it in a class above the PL-8 (China’s Python III copy).

The PL-9C has twice the head-on detection range of the basic PL-9 – now 8km – with a seeker lock-on time of >0.3 seconds. Maximum firing range (in the front hemisphere) is quoted as 22km. Off-boresight capability of ?0? while maximum angular tracking rate is 28?sec. According to CATIC, the PL-9C is intended for use on People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) J-8 and J-10 fighters.

Shown in parallel with the PL-9C was the DK-9C air-defence system – a ground-based SAM system using the PL-9C missile. The DK-9C uses a wheeled, four-shot launcher, with the capability to integrate an air-defence radar – or rely on the missiles’ own seekers for a passive engagement capability. The system is claimed to have an effective range of 8-10km.

The improved PL-5E is the latest iteration of an earlier class of Chinese AAM design, based on Soviet-era R-13 (AA-2 ‘Atoll’) technology – albeit much developed over the years. Existing PL-5s have a rear-aspect ‘tail-chase’ engagement capability only, but the improved seeker head and laser proximity fuze of the PL-5E gives the missile an all-aspect capability for the first time.

The PL-5E and the PL-9C both use an indium antimonide (InSb) gas-cooled seeker, and may share the same basic design of proximity fuze. According to CATIC, the PL-5E is now in PLAAF service on the J-7 and J-8.

Also shown in model form was the TY-90 helicopter-launched AAM. The result of a development programme launched in the 1990s, the weapon is still in its test and trials phase. It is an all-aspect missile with a maximum head-on engagement range of 6km. CATIC claims that, like the PL-9C, the TY-90 uses ‘computer-aided systems’ for guidance and flight control.

It is fitted with a four-element gas-cooled seeker (with the elements arranged in two horizontal pairs), of the same type fitted to the PL-9C, and the warhead is understood to be an expanding-rod type. The TY-90 is designed to be carried in multiples of four, six and eight missiles on a single helicopter. CATIC claims airborne firing trials have been conducted, though no details were given. The missile is likely to enter service on China’s armed Z-9 helicopters (a Z-9 is believed to have been used as a testbed aircraft), but is certain to be earmarked for the new Z-11 attack helicopter, currently in the advanced stages of development.