Missile PL-2
Summary
| Category | Air-to-Air Missiles |
| Sub-type | Air-to-air missile |
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 China |
| Manufacturer | China Airborne Missile Academy |
| Status | Retired |
| Year of service | 1970 |
Technical specifications
PL-2 scale diagram
Operators
Carried by
Description
The PL-2 is an infrared homing air-to-air missile developed in the People's Republic of China. Its development began after a Chinese J-5 fighter recovered an unexploded American AIM-9B Sidewinder during the 1958 Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. China transferred the recovered missile to the Soviet Union, which subsequently shared technical data and examples of its K-13 missile in 1961. Replication of the K-13 started in 1962, leading to live-fire tests in 1967 and series production in 1970. Production of the PL-2A ended in February 1984. The PL-2B variant, based on the AIM-9E, was developed starting in 1976 and produced between 1981 and 1986. The PL-2 served as the baseline for several derivative missiles, of which only the PL-5B was successful.
As an air-to-air weapon, the PL-2 utilizes passive infrared homing guidance to acquire and track targets.
The missile was widely deployed by the Chinese military, serving with the People's Liberation Army, the People's Liberation Army Air Force, and the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force. It was also exported to several international operators, including the Bangladesh Air Force, the Myanmar Air Force, and the Air Force of Zimbabwe, where it was eventually replaced by the PL-5.