PL-7
{{Short description|Short-range air-to-air missile}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}
File:Iranian Air Force exhibition (15).jpg
The PL-7 ({{zh|s=霹雳-7|p=Pī Lì-7|l=Thunderbolt-7}}) is the PRC version of the French Magic R.550 short-range air-to-air missile. It is a short-range, Infrared homing missile used by Chinese fighters.{{cite book|last1=Duncan |first1=Lennox| last2=Hewson |first2=Robert |title=Jane’s Air launched Weapons, Edition 2001.|publisher= Jane’s Information Group|location= United Kingdom |year=2001 |ISBN=978-0-7106-0866-6}} It was designed by Wu Shendao, and produced at the Factory 331 (Zhuzhou Aeroengine factory) (中国株洲航空发动机厂).
Specifications
- Length - 2.74 m
- Diameter - 157 mm
- Wingspan - 0.66 m
- Weight - 89 kg
- Warhead - 12.5 kg
- Speed - Mach 2.5
- Range - 0.5 to 14 km
- Guidance - Infrared homing
Operational history
During the late 1998–2001 Zimbabwean intervention in the Second Congo War, Air Force of Zimbabwe BAE Hawks were reportedly modified to be armed with PL-7s for air interception missions in support of Zimbabwean and Laurent Kabila's government forces.{{cite web | url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/hals-gamble-will-the-advanced-hawk-break-into-the-export-market/ | title=HAL's Gamble – Will the "Advanced Hawk" break into the Export market? | date=17 February 2017 }}
Operator
;{{BGD}}
- Bangladesh Air Force{{Cite journal |author=International Institute for Strategic Studies |author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |year=2020 |title=Chapter Six: Asia |journal=The Military Balance |volume=120 |issue=1 |page=255 |doi=10.1080/04597222.2020.1707967|s2cid=219627149 }}
;{{PRC}}
;{{IRN}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- https://web.archive.org/web/20060510171721/http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl7.asp
{{Chinese_Missiles}}
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Category:Air-to-air missiles of the People's Republic of China
Category:Cold War weapons of China
Category:Short range air-to-air missiles
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