The Eurasian Times reported on April 30 that Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunderbolt fighter jet has been equipped with the same “advanced” missile as the J-20.
A photograph purportedly released on the Internet on 27 April showed two PL-10E missiles mounted on the two wingtips of the JF-17 Block3 prototype number 3001. It is considered the most advanced air-to-air combat missile in China’s arsenal, and “so far only China’s J-20 fighter jets have been equipped with such missiles”.
The Indian side is said to be nervous about JF-17 Block3 aircraft equipped with advanced active phased array radars and PL-10E missiles. The report concludes that with the missile, the JF-17 Block3 fighter’s air combat capabilities will be greatly enhanced and will give it an advantage over its competitors, particularly the Indian Air Force.
Old drivers have to say that outside reports of Chinese weapons are always inaccurate, such as “only the J-20 fighter is equipped with PL-10E” …
But in any case, what about the level of the Chinese missile, which has been described as so powerful? From the family know their own affairs best. The old driver had previously interviewed Liang Xiaoxuan, the chief designer of the PL-10E. Just steal a lazy one today and move it directly.
In Liang’s view, the PL-10E is the fourth-generation fighter’s main close combat weapon, with high maneuverability and large overload characteristics, so that the missile can move quickly and flexibly turn. Its maximum attack angle reaches the limit of pneumatic design, the maximum overload is more than 60 G. In real combat, it is difficult for a locked fighter to escape its locking by conventional action. In terms of maneuverability alone, it has surpassed the most advanced AIM-9X combat missile currently in the United States.
The PL-10E is said to have a maximum off-axis angle of several times that of a third-generation air-to-air missile. This means that a target within the front hemisphere of a combat aircraft can launch an attack as long as it enters the effective range of the PL-10E. Such a large off-axis angle, with advanced airborne fire control system, especially with advanced helmet aiming gear, means that in the pilot’s head range, can do “see where, hit where.”
At the same time PL-10E also uses red external imaging technology, has a very good anti-jamming ability, ordinary infrared bait bomb on it basically does not play any role.
In addition, the PL-10E is a weapon to restrain the fourth generation of stealth fighters.
Many military fans are keen to discuss the overwhelming advantages of stealth fighters against non-stealth fighters, touting the use of “stealth advantage plus medium-range missiles” for long-range hunting.
But Liang Xiaoxuan believes that the comparison of these paper soldiers often ignores the impact of the complex electromagnetic confrontation environment in real air warfare. Because of strong electromagnetic interference, fighter radar may be difficult to play its due role effectively, let alone in the long-range stable capture, tracking of targets and command of medium- and long-range air-to-air missiles to target. For radar-guided medium-range missiles, this will lose its greatest advantage, but infrared-guided new generation of air-to-air missiles are more difficult to interfere with.
For example, he said, if a radar-guided medium-range missile is fired at an enemy warplane outside the inescapable attack zone, the opponent’s emergency mobile steering may escape;
Liang Xiaoxuan said that from the experience of foreign military exercises, there is no electromagnetic confrontation environment, “three generations of machine hanging three generations of bombs” on “four generations of machine hanging four generations of bombs”, is hundreds to one of the war damage ratio. “Three generations of machine hanging four generations of bombs” on the “four generations of machine hanging four generations of bombs” of the war damage ratio also has dozens to one.
If there is an electronic confrontation, the result is not such a disparity: complex high-intensity electromagnetic environment, the four generations of aircraft stealth performance will be greatly affected, it is likely that “you can not see me, I can not see you” situation, the two aircraft suddenly close encounter will increase the likelihood. In such cases, airborne infrared missiles and photoelectric radars are more likely to function at close range. Missiles such as the PL-10E, which play at close range with fast, mobile turns, have the potential to take advantage of the battlefield.
