Big explosion Mengliao! The decrypt all aspects of China's most advanced the PL12 missile Insider

Figure: SD-10A from the air-to-air missile

Chinese Air Force Thunderbolt 12 from the air-to-air missile

Thunderbolt 12 air-to-air missile developed by China's fourth-generation advanced from the bar-launched air-to-air missiles with active radar guidance, the radio proximity fuze, over-the-horizon launch capability, multi-target attack capability after launching capability and all-weather capability. It marks the successful development of China has become one master active radar-guided medium range air-to-air missile technology in the world a few countries.

Active radar guided PL-12 mid-range air-to-air missiles, the Chinese fighter air combat strength has been greatly improved.

Introduction to China's radar-guided air-to-air missile-PL11 and PL12.

In the field of air-to-air missile, it should be said that has yielded fruitful results. Since its development and production capacity with air-to-air missiles, China's military has provided a number of model series of dozens of modifications and a huge number of air-to-air missiles for the People's Air Force, his sword in hand to defend the airspace. But the types of air-to-air missiles for a long time our equipment is limited to infrared guided short-range air-to-air missiles, such as Thunderbolt, Thunderbolt 5, Perak and supply export Perak 9, and so on. Europe and the United States and the Soviet Union earlier involved in radar-guided air-to-air missile field, has a fairly long blank period in the history of the development of China's air-to-air missile.

In earlier times, the development of our country through a semi-active radar-guided medium-range air-to-air missiles - Perak 4.

Thunderbolt 4 is own design and manufacture of air-to-air missile, also China's own design and manufacture of the first semi-active radar air-to-air missiles to the Aviation Industry Ministry sixth twelve (now Luoyang Optoelectronic Technology Development Center) and Zhuzhou Aeroengine Factory mainly developed in March 1966, and be completed by November 1980 prototype parts ground type testing. In July 1981, transferred to the second stage of development, and the 1984 production of the first batch of the whole bomb prototype, launchers and ground maintenance equipment.

Its performance does not meet the requirements in 1985 to stop the development. The missile uses a U.S. sparrow 3A (AIM-7D) similar aerodynamic shape layout that two pairs of full motion trapezoidal wing is mounted in the middle of the missile body, from the control of the rudder and aileron dual role, four fixed-triangle The stabilizer is mounted in the tail of the missile body, from the longitudinal stability role.

The same time, the bombs also are two different semi-active radar and passive infrared seeker swap with the former Soviet Union / Russia is commonly used in the air-to-air missile designed program, one bomb, two "program, to form a semi-active radar and two passive infrared missile model, code-named "Thunderbolt" 4 A (PL-4A) and "Charlie" 4 B (PL-4B).

Thunderbolt 4 missile is results of Sparrow semi-active radar-guided air-to-air missile developed reverse. Sparrow air-to-air missiles during the Vietnam War, the United States launched the hit rate is low, some missiles after running out of fuel to reach the ground, although subject to some damage but the basic structure intact, for our semi-active radar-guided air-to-air missile rather weak The country is very valuable reference.

However, because of our own electronics industry and the rocket motor strength is weak, even with state-of-the-art prototype generic and can not be performance fully realized. Thunderbolt 4 seeker detection range, maximum tracking speed and range has a wide gap with the sparrows. With the the Thunderbolt 4 missiles installed F-object Kau dismount, Perak 4 missile did not continue to develop.

F-8 Ⅱ also had to equip the Thunderbolt 4 air-to-air missiles, but has not been 208 fire control radar for missile guidance Thunderbolt fully guided semi-active radar missile, Thunderbolt 4 also have not been able under the wing of the F-8 Ⅱ flash coldness but with the lapse of time buried in the history of the dust down. The Thunderbolt -12 turned out.

Lightning initial appearance on the Zhuhai Air Show a few years ago 10 active radar-guided air-to-air missile is the type formal to the world to unlock the mystery of radar-guided air-to-air missiles, and is also the first type of formal exhibition BVR air-to-air missiles. Although the SD10 is earmarked for export from the radar-guided air-to-air missile, but it must exist behind the design of a system is similar, and better performance of the radar-guided air-to-air missile models for the Chinese Air Force.

Its formal debut marks China's fourth-generation air-to-air missiles to start or has started formation of combat, marking the Chinese Air Force really started with BVR air combat capability, it also marks the successful development of China has become the few capable of independently developed active radar homing BVR AAM countries.

Thunderbolt 10A air-to-air missile from the bar in one route developed the fourth generation of advanced-launched air-to-air missiles with active radar guidance, the radio proximity fuze, over-the-horizon launch capability, multi-target attack capability, after launching capability and all-weather combat ability before the enemy found that the enemy fired first, before the enemy destroyed before the enemy relief.

Optional the composite guided mode, after launching a variety of guided mode mode and passive tracking mode, with a variety of anti-jamming capability, suitable for all-weather, full-height, full range of operational environments. Attack a variety of manned aircraft, unmanned aircraft able to accurately and efficiently in a complex combat environment. Introduction according to the media, the Lightning 10's own use models, which is China's Air Force will be equipped with active radar air-to-air missile models Thunderbolt 12.

Thunderbolt 12 air-to-air missile warheads Ministry wire rib, fixed central wing, rudder control popular. Thunderbolt 12's wing is much smaller than the Thunderbolt 11, roughly equivalent to the scale of the U.S. AIM-120A. Active radar seeker, combined with the inertia and instruction relay missile-borne data chain correction or unidirectional composite guidance. Nominal maximum range of export-oriented Lightning 10 70-80 km, based on this figure is projected to the Thunderbolt 12 effective range should be greater than 30 km. According to the air show, said, the Lightning 10 active radar seeker effective distance of 25-30 km or so, than the AIM-120 is a little far.

Overall, the performance of the Perak 12 AIM-120 early models of the AIM-120A is fairly basic.

The Perak-12 upgrade direction

Also equipped with active radar-guided air-to-air missile AIM120 U.S. began its improvement work in its just equip our troops. Our country has 12 so good active radar after the basic type of air-to-air missile inevitably must also be further improved in order to improve the operational effectiveness of Perak 12 Thunderbolt. To improve the direction of the United States AIM120 mainly in place - air-to-air missiles two most need to improve power and seeker.

China also can learn from similar ideas to improve the thunderbolt 12. First of all, you can for Thunderbolt 12 facelift thrust curve more optimized rocket engine. The traditional concept of rocket engine after ignition only work for a few seconds to a certain thrust. The new multi-thrust engine has more optimal thrust curve, such as the missile quickly accelerate to cruising speed, the middle of the missile with a certain speed thrust smaller guarantee end suddenly increases thrust a missile launch early thrust in the event of The goal when sufficient energy advantage.

In AIM120 modification process, the use of a the pulse thrust rocket engine and the secondary ignition technology, so that the energy of the missile to minimize waste a lot of save, based on total power range unchanged, greatly increasing the AIM120 improved maneuvering target range. Thunderbolt 12 can also dress up a similar multi-thrust rocket engine.

China already applied on the C701 anti-ship missiles dual chamber dual thrust solid rocket motor, similar rocket engine used for the improvement of Perak 12. Improved, Perak effective range of 12 is likely to reach more than 40 km, not escape area expanded to about 25 km. If in Perak 12 other structures not larger changes on the basis of, equipment solid ramjet, is more likely to improvements out an ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles.

The U.S. AIM-120 rocket engine the secondary ignition technology, greatly increasing the effective range of the maneuvering target.

Chinese C701 anti-ship missile dual chamber dual thrust solid rocket motor technology can also be used for the improvement of the Perak 12.

Similarly, Perak 12 in order to be able to more extreme complex battlefield environment Hit enemy, it also must be down enough effort in the anti-interference ability. Perak improvements can take similar way with the United States system upgrade computing faster smaller new processor and more effective fumble enemy interference signal characteristics in simulated combat preparation of a more anti-interference ability software systems.

U.S. AIM-120C-7 type from the air-to-air missile is an important modification of the AIM-120, the type of focus to strengthen the anti-jamming capability of the missile seeker. Improve the anti-jamming capability is also Perak 12 improved one direction.

When our equipment Thunderbolt 12 to develop active radar air-to-air missile in the world and the mounting forces of the country are few and far between. This is the turning point of the pride of China's military-industrial complex is also our aviation combat effectiveness.

Whether active radar air-to-air missile can hit the target to determine its own active radar seeker effectiveness discovery and targeted. The modern battlefield are usually filled with a lot of interference. Found that the missile strikes, the enemy will certainly release a large number of active and passive interference while conducting tactical aversion. Active radar air-to-air missile seeker anti-jamming capability is particularly important.

AIM-120 is an important modification C-7 in the improved process is particularly concerned about the ability of the missiles, electronic countermeasures. Its comprehensive new processor and a new software system, and improvements in radar signal processing link can have more electronic warfare combat capability. This new missile system has passed the validation test of the U.S. military, the missile was in the case of the implementation of the anti-interference measures, successful goal shot down.

The missile test-fired for the first time the test was held on August 19, 2003 at 佛罗里达埃格林 Air Force Base Test Range, Raytheon will be the test called realistic electronic attack technology; second test held on September 6, 2003 at the White Sands Missile Range, Raytheon said second test complex electronic attack techniques. Two test-fired shot down the target.