Meteor vs PL-17

Overview

The Meteor and the PL-17 are both Air-to-Air missiles.

The PL-17 has a range of 400 km — 2.0x the Meteor's 200 km. The Meteor reaches 4,900 km/h vs 7,408 km/h for the PL-17. The Meteor uses Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing guidance, while the PL-17 relies on Inertial, satellite navigation, data-link, active AESA radar, passive sensors, IR-homing.

The Meteor entered service 6 years before the PL-17 (2016 vs 2022).

European air-to-air missile, entering service in 2016, uses active radar homing for terminal guidance.
Origin 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇸🇪 Sweden
Category Air-to-Air
Type Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile
Manufacturer MBDA, Saab, Bayern-Chemie et Inmize
Service year 2016
Number produced -- units
Estimated unit price $2 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 200.0 km
Maximum speed Mach 4.0
Weight 190 kg
Length 3.65 m
Diameter 178 mm
Guidance Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing
Warhead type High explosive blast-fragmentation
Range 400.0 km
Maximum speed Mach 6.0
Weight -- 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 Meteor or PL-17?
The PL-17 has a longer range at 400 km compared to the Meteor's 200 km.
Which is faster, the Meteor or PL-17?
The PL-17 is faster with a maximum speed of Mach 6.0 compared to the Meteor's Mach 4.0.
Which is heavier, the Meteor or PL-17?
The Meteor is heavier at 190 kg compared to the PL-17's 0 kg.
Which is longer, the Meteor or PL-17?
The PL-17 is longer at 6.00 meters compared to the Meteor's 3.65 meters.
What guidance systems do the Meteor and PL-17 use?
The Meteor uses Inertial guidance, mid-course update via datalink, terminal active radar homing guidance while the PL-17 uses Inertial, satellite navigation, data-link, active AESA radar, passive sensors, IR-homing guidance.
Which entered service first, the Meteor or PL-17?
The Meteor entered service first in 2016, 6 years before the PL-17 which entered service in 2022.