Missile PL-10 (CH-AA-9)
Chinese air-to-air missile, entered service in 2015, guided by miniature active radar.
| Warhead | High Explosive |
| Warhead weight | 33 kg (73 lb) |
| Diameter | 203 mm (8.0 in) |
| Span | 1,000 mm (39.4 in) |
| Length | 3,690 mm (145.3 in) |
| Weight | 220 kg (485 lb) |
| Range | 22 km (14 mi) |
| Max. speed | 4,939 km/h (Mach 4.9) |
PL-10 scale diagram
Description
Development of the PL-10, designated CH-AA-9 by NATO, began in 2004. Formerly identified as the PL-ASR, the missile design was approved in 2010. Production commenced in 2013, and the system entered service in 2015.
The PL-10 is a short-range air-to-air missile utilizing a thrust-vector controlled solid-propellant rocket motor and free-moving tail control wings. This configuration enables turn capabilities exceeding 60Gs and high angles of attack. The guidance system primarily employs a multi-element imaging infrared (IIR) seeker, though a variant featuring a miniature active radar seeker and a modified radome was first observed in 2022. The IIR seeker provides all-aspect targeting and resistance to electronic countermeasures, with a tracking capability of +/- 90 degrees off boresight. The system supports lock-on after launch (LOAL) via datalink and can be slaved to a helmet-mounted display (HMD) for targeting visually sighted objects outside the aircraft's radar scan envelope. The missile carries either a blast-fragmentation or expanding rod warhead, utilizing a detonation mechanism consisting of an impact and laser proximity fuze.
The missile is in service with the People's Republic of China. An export variant, designated PL-10E, was developed for the international market, with Pakistan identified as a potential operator for the JF-17 Block III program.