AIM-120 AMRAAM vs PL-17
The AIM-120 AMRAAM and the PL-17 are both Air-to-Air missiles. The PL-17 has a range of 400 km — 3.8x the AIM-120 AMRAAM's 105 km. The AIM-120 AMRAAM reaches 4,940 km/h vs 7,408 km/h for the PL-17. The AIM-120 AMRAAM uses Inertial guidance, terminal active radar homing, optional mid-course update datalink guidance, while the PL-17 relies on Inertial, satellite navigation, data-link, active AESA radar, passive sensors, IR-homing. The AIM-120 AMRAAM entered service 31 years before the PL-17 (1991 vs 2022).
| American air-to-air missile, entered service in 1991, using active radar homing for terminal guidance. | |
| Origin | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Active radar-guided air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon / Hughes |
| Service year | 1991 |
| Number produced | 14,000 units |
| Estimated unit price | $1.1 million |
| Chinese air-to-air missile, entered service in 2022, uses active AESA radar for guidance. | |
| Origin | 🇨🇳 China |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Beyond Visual Range |
| Manufacturer | Chinese State Industry |
| Service year | 2022 |
| Number produced | -- units |
| Estimated unit price | NA |
| Range | 105.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 4.0 ◉ |
| Weight | 161.5 kg |
| Warhead | 20.0 kg |
| Length | 3.65 m ◉ |
| Diameter | 178 mm |
| Guidance | Inertial guidance, terminal active radar homing, optional mid-course update datalink |
| Warhead type | High explosive blast-fragmentation |
| Range | 400.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 6.0 ◉ |
| Weight | -- kg |
| Warhead | -- kg |
| Length | 6.00 m ◉ |
| Diameter | -- mm |
| Guidance | Inertial, satellite navigation, data-link, active AESA radar, passive sensors, IR-homing |
| Warhead type | -- |
Performance Radar Chart
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has longer range, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or PL-17?
The PL-17 has a longer range at 400 km compared to the AIM-120 AMRAAM's 105 km.
Which is faster, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or PL-17?
The PL-17 is faster with a maximum speed of Mach 6.0 compared to the AIM-120 AMRAAM's Mach 4.0.
Which has a larger warhead, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or PL-17?
The AIM-120 AMRAAM carries a larger warhead at 20 kg compared to the PL-17's 0 kg.
Which is heavier, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or PL-17?
The AIM-120 AMRAAM is heavier at 161 kg compared to the PL-17's 0 kg.
Which is longer, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or PL-17?
The PL-17 is longer at 6.00 meters compared to the AIM-120 AMRAAM's 3.65 meters.
What guidance systems do the AIM-120 AMRAAM and PL-17 use?
The AIM-120 AMRAAM uses Inertial guidance, terminal active radar homing, optional mid-course update datalink guidance while the PL-17 uses Inertial, satellite navigation, data-link, active AESA radar, passive sensors, IR-homing guidance.
Which entered service first, the AIM-120 AMRAAM or PL-17?
The AIM-120 AMRAAM entered service first in 1991, 31 years before the PL-17 which entered service in 2022.