New Chinese "thingie"

Just another detail I noticed in regard to this secret missile:

The pylon to which this missile is adapted is – or at least looks very much like – an APU-58 launch rail, which is commonly used only for AGMs like the Ch-29, Ch-31, Ch-58 … but never before with a AAM.

Could this be a hint for its intented role??

Deino

Like this? :confused:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]249853[/ATTACH]

I’m sure you’ve seen my post on SDF or CDF annotating some of the suspected features on it.

So yes.

And I think there might be another one on the rear too.

the study mentions it has reaction thrusters, and combined with a semi ballistic trajectory I think it could definitely be viable against fighter aircraft.

but this thing definitely isn’t meant to fit in J-20’s weapons bay, and I see it more like a long range a2a “fire support”

Like this? :confused:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]249853[/ATTACH]

I’ve attached the full study in Chinese from 2013 talking about a missile proposal which likely is what resulted in this PL-XX. The full document is linked here: http://www.filedropper.com/newtypeairtoairmissile_1

some relevant parts translated:

-composite seeker of active radar and ImIR for terminal phase (I think this probably confirms that the aperture on the nose is for ImIR seeker), partly for counter stealth role(?)
-GPS/INS guidance with datalinks for midcourse phase
-mentions something called “direct force control” (直接力控制), also called “射流侧向力,” which I assume to be something like reaction thrusters? Provide lateral thrust? Sounds kind of like “pif” lateral thrusters used in Aster [also more similar to the reaction jets of JDRADM)
-emphasis of importance of joint networking/informationized warfare for this thing to work
-emphasis on use of this missile against high value targets, mentioning AEW&C mostly (including ImIR seeker to identify between high and low value targets)
-emphasis on ECCM

It doesn’t explicitly talk about targeting stealth fighters, stealth bombers or carriers that I can see, but it emphasizes the need to attack high value targets. It also talks about how targets of the future will likely be high speed, and stealthy, and thus places greater requirements for missiles, and seems to imply this missile should be capable against them as well(?). It does also directly say that the missile should have high mobility/maneuvrability, as well as very fast flight controls, and of course guidance. And one of the methods for achieving that high mobility is via the aforementioned “direct force control” or what I assume to be reaction thrusters/attitude thrusters.

Using some common sense, I imagine this missile would be useful against targets that are either relatively slow moving like AEW&C or stealth bombers, and possibly fighter aircraft that are not making very extreme maneuvring, as well as of course carriers.

I suppose it is a long range anti-AWACS missile.

Yeah, it is a very big missile. Definitely not going to fit inside the J-20. So probably a long-ranged “AWACS killer” and maybe an anti-tanker role as well.

the study mentions it has reaction thrusters, and combined with a semi ballistic trajectory I think it could definitely be viable against fighter aircraft.

but this thing definitely isn’t meant to fit in J-20’s weapons bay, and I see it more like a long range a2a “fire support”

I’m personally not yet convinced that this new missile is called PL-15, because previously the “old” PL-15 was said to have been tested on J-20 and J-10B/C as well as on J-16.

For the moment I’m calling this thing the “new” PL-15/PL-XX while the previous missile is “old” PL-15/crop variant PL-12.

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and screenshots of a couple of potentially relevant studies, from a little while back… note the third picture in particular:

***

Yeah, it is a very big missile. Definitely not going to fit inside the J-20. So probably a long-ranged “AWACS killer” and maybe an anti-tanker role as well.

PL-15 AAM – http://chinese-military-aviation.blogspot.com/p/missiles-iii.html#PL-15

A J-16 seem to have carried out test firings of these new missile.

I’m personally not yet convinced that this new missile is called PL-15, because previously the “old” PL-15 was said to have been tested on J-20 and J-10B/C as well as on J-16.

For the moment I’m calling this thing the “new” PL-15/PL-XX while the previous missile is “old” PL-15/crop variant PL-12.

=====

and screenshots of a couple of potentially relevant studies, from a little while back… note the third picture in particular:

PL-15 AAM – http://chinese-military-aviation.blogspot.com/p/missiles-iii.html#PL-15

A J-16 seem to have carried out test firings of these new missile.

Agree. Diameter seems too small for a upper stage hit-to-kill vehicle (ASAT/ATBM), although a semi-ballistic ARM is a possibility (think Kh-15).

Looks too small for an ASAT. Looks of inappropriate fin/wing layout for an ARM, as the lack of mid body wings suggests a ballistic-ish trajectory.

Best bet would be a long range AAM, against not so maneuverable targets.