PL-10

The development of PL-10 initiated in 2004, and the design was reportedly approved in 2010.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=19}} The missile entered production in 2013.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=36-37}} The chief designer of PL-10 is Liang Xiaogeng ({{Lang|zh|梁晓庚}}) of the Shanghai Academy of Science and Technology.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=36-37}} Pictures of the PL-10, then known as the PL-ASR, appeared on the Chinese internet in 2008. It was observed mounting on a PLAAF Chengdu J-20 in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.deagel.com/Defensive%20Weapons/PL-10/a003103 |title=PL-10 |website=deagel }}

The PL-10 is fitted with an advanced multi-element imaging infrared (IIR) sensor that identifies the target based on shape, giving it all-aspect targeting capability,{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=36-37}} longer target detection range, and enhanced resistance to chaff and flare.{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/a-guide-to-chinas-increasingly-impressive-air-to-air-missile-inventory |title=A Guide To China's Increasingly Impressive Air-To-Air Missile Inventory |website=The Drive |date=1 September 2022 |first=Thomas |last=Newdick }} It's reportedly very resistant to jamming and electronic countermeasures.{{cite web|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2017-07-20/new-chinese-weapons-seen-j-10c-fighter |title=New Chinese Weapons Seen On J-10C Fighter |date=20 July 2017 |website=AIN Online |first=Chuanren |last=Chen }} The missile is capable of lock-on after launch (LOAL),{{sfn|Bronk|2020|p=36}} giving it ability to update target data using datalink while in flight.

The multi-element IIR seeker is capable of +/-90 degree off boresight angles{{cite web|url=http://chinese-military-aviation.blogspot.com/p/missiles-i.html |title=Chinese Military Aviation: Missiles |date=13 August 2022}} and can be slaved to a helmet-mounted display (HMD).{{cite web|url= http://www.defenseworld.net/news/14102/China_Completes_Air_to_Air_Missile_Development_For_Fifth_Gen_Fighter_Jet#.VvhIjsxMJoB |title=China Completes Air-to-Air Missile Development For Fifth-Gen Fighter Jet |website=DefenseWorld.net |date=18 September 2015 |access-date=27 March 2016}} This allows the pilot to track a target beyond the aircraft's radar scan envelope using the missile's high off-boresight capability, achieved by the pilot turning his head towards the target to lock-on,{{cite book|last=Melzer |first=James E.|editor-last=Spitzer |editor-first=Cary |title=The Avionics Handbook |chapter=Chapter 5: Head-Mounted Displays |date=31 December 1998|chapter-url=http://www.davi.ws/avionics/TheAvionicsHandbook_Cap_5.pdf |publisher=CRC Press |location=Boca Raton, USA|publication-date=2011 |isbn=0-8493-8348-X}} better known as "look and shoot".

Flight is controlled by a thrust-vector controlled solid rocket motor and free-moving control wings on the missile's tail,{{cite news|last=Fisher |first=Richard D Jr|url= http://www.janes.com/article/54531/chief-designer-reveals-data-on-china-s-new-luoyang-pl-10-aam |title=Chief designer reveals data on China's new Luoyang PL-10 AAM|work=Jane's Defence Weekly |date=18 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918180053/http://www.janes.com/article/54531/chief-designer-reveals-data-on-china-s-new-luoyang-pl-10-aam|archive-date=2015-09-18}} which facilitate the missile to achieve turn capability of over 60Gs and high angles of

attack.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=36-37}} The central portion of the missile has long, thin strakes, which help maintain missile maneuverability in the terminal homing stage after the rocket motor stops firing.

According to the assessment by Royal United Services Institute, the PL-10 provides comparable performance to European ASRAAM and IRIS-T missiles, while offering superior kinematic performances against AIM-9X.{{sfn|Bronk|2020|p=36}} According to aviation researcher Justin Bronk, the overall capability of the PL-10 reaches an approximate parity with Western systems and surpasses Russian technologies.{{sfn|Bronk|2020|p=36}}

;PL-10: Original version

;PL-10E: Export version. The first potential buyer was Pakistan and its JF-17 Block III program.{{cite web|url=https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2021/10/china-fires-longer-range-aam-at-export-market/ |title=China fires longer-range AAM at export market |website=International Institute for Strategic Studies |date=8 October 2021 |first=Douglas |last=Barrie}}

;PL-10 Active Radar: A PL-10 variant replacing the IIR seeker with miniature active radar. It features a new radome, improving aerodynamic efficiency and range. The variant was first observed in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.iiss.org/en/online-analysis/military-balance/2022/11/chinas-air-show-but-dont-tell-weapons-development/ |title=Chinas air show but dont tell weapons development |website=International Institute for Strategic Studies |date=25 November 2022 |first=Douglas |last=Barrie}}

• AAM-5 (Japanese missile)
• PL-8
• PL-9
• AIM-9X
• ASRAAM
• IRIS-T
• Merlin
• MICA

{{reflist|1}}

;Bibliography

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last1=Wood |first1=Peter |last2=Yang |first2=David |last3=Cliff |first3=Roger |title=Air-to-Air Missiles: Capabilities And Development In China |url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/Infrastructure/2020-11-%2030%20Air-to-Air%20Missiles%20and%20Guidance%20Systems.pdf |date=November 2020 |publisher=China Aerospace Studies Institute |location=Montgomery |isbn=9798574996270}}
• {{Cite report |last1=Bronk |first1=Justin |url=https://static.rusi.org/russian_and_chinese_combat_air_trends_whr_final_web_version.pdf |title=Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends |date=October 2020 |publisher= Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies |location=United Kingdom }}

{{refend}}

{{AVIC aircraft}}

{{Chinese missiles}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

Category:Air-to-air missiles of the People's Republic of China

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2010s

Category:Short range air-to-air missiles