| PL-2 | |
|---|---|
 PL-2 | |
| Type | air-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1970s to present |
| Used by | China |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC) |
| Produced | 1970s to 1980s |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 60–152.3 kg (132–336 lb) |
| Length | 2.15–2.99 m (7 ft 1 in – 9 ft 10 in) |
| Diameter | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Wingspan | 528–609 mm (1 ft 9 in – 2 ft 0 in) |
| Warhead | 11.3 kg (25 lb) high explosive |
Detonation mechanism | Impact / Proximity |
| Engine | rocket 2668dN |
| Propellant | solid fuel |
Operational range | 6–10 km (4–6 mi) |
| Flight ceiling | 15–21.5 km (9–13 mi) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 1.6 to 2.5 |
Guidance system | Nitrogen cooled passive InPb infrared seeker |
Launch platform | aerial |
ThePL-2 (Chinese:霹雳-2;pinyin:Pī Lì-2;lit. 'Thunderbolt-2') is aninfrared homing (IRH)air-to-air missiles (AAM) developed in thePeople's Republic of China (PRC). It was a reverse-engineered SovietVympel K-13, which in turn was a reverse-engineered AmericanAIM-9B Sidewinder.[1][2]
The PL-2 was the root of a family of AAMs; of the derivatives, only thePL-5B was successful.[2][3][4]
The PRC acquired an intact AIM-9B during theSecond Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958.[1] Air combat between over the strait between theRepublic of China Air Force (ROCAF) and thePeople's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) marked the combat debut of AAMs, with Sidewinder-armed ROCAFF-86 Sabres achieving notable success against PLAAFJ-5s.[5] On 28 September, a J-5 returned to base with an unexploded Sidewinder lodged in its airframe.[1]
China's attempts to reverse engineer the AIM-9B failed. China transferred the missile to theSoviet Union, which agreed to share the reverse engineered product; in 1961, China received technical data for and examples of the K-13.[1] Replication of the K-13 began in 1962[6] with live-fire tests occurring in 1967. In 1967, Factory 331 inZhuzhou was permitted to begin series production,[7] but series production was delayed until 1970 due to theCultural Revolution.[2] In 1970, production transferred to the Nanfeng Machinery Plant inHanzhong.[7] Production of the PL-2A ended in February 1984.[8]
ThePL-2B was based on the AIM-9E. Development began in 1976 and it entered mass production in 1981;[7] production ended in 1986.[8]
ThePL-3 was China's first "indigenously-designed" AAM and intended as a major improvement over the PL-2. The requirements were overambitious and the Cultural Revolution disrupted development. The first prototypes were delivered for ground testing in 1968, and received final state certification in 1980. It was only marginally better than the PL-2 and the proximity fuse was unreliable. The missile was cancelled in 1983.[9]
The PL-5B was the passive infrared-homing variant of the PL-5 AAM; it was an improved PL-2. The 612 Institute (later the China Airborne Missile Academy) began PL-5 development in 1966, and low-rate PL-5B production started in 1987. Thesemi-active radar homing PL-5A was cancelled in 1983.[3] The PL-5B was developed into theall-aspect PL-5E, which became available in 1999.[4]
The IRHPL-6 was intended provide China with a high-maneuverability AAM comparable to contemporary foreign designs. Development started in 1975 based on the PL-5B and was ready for flight-testing in 1979. It was cancelled in 1983 in favor of thePL-7, a reverse-engineered FrenchR.550 Magic.[4]
