Originally posted by Dubya
Not knowing much about this missile, could it be assumed that it is a form of reverse-engineered Sparrow?

What I’m aiming at is this – Iran, who has links with China, lends a Sparrow or two to China, who then use the Sparrow’s software, wiring etc to make a Chinese missile that is compatible with Western aircraft?

Or could there be an Israeli link?

I’m not saying the Chinese could not create their own BVR missile. What I’m saying is that I doubt they have the knowledge to integrate their own equipment on Western aircraft.

No reverse engineering involved. Unless you’re using the term differently than it is intended for.

The story stated outright that the FD-60 is based on the LY-60 and the LY-60 was based on the Aspide which was legally imported before 1989.

Reverse engineer means taking a specimen without prints or technical help from the manufacturer and rebuilding it. It takes a lot of guesswork and is extremely hard to get right.

The PL-11, which began development in 1987, had access to technology from the Aspide. The Aspide (basically an Italian derivative of the Sparrow) was sold to China with blue prints.

Now, older projects like the PL-5 and the Russian AA-2 were well-known reverse engineering (of the AIM-9 in the above cases).

The PL-10 was supposedly a reversed engineered early Sparrow from Vietnam.

The PL-11 is a different animal. They don’t have to guess with the Aspide. They have legal access to the tech.