PiLi-5 Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile

The PiLi-5 (PL-5) short-range air-to-air missile (SRAAM) was developed by Luoyang-based China Academy of Air-to-Air Missile and manufactured by Hanzhong Nanfeng Machinery Factory (202 Factory). The missile has been the standard SRAAM for both PLA Air Force and PLA Naval Aviation, carried by a range of fighter and ground attack aircraft. The PL-5 is thought to be comparable to the U.S. AIM-9G Sidewinder in general performance, but lacks the all-aspect attack capability found on third-generation SRAAMs such as PL-8 and PL-9.

Programme

The 607 Institute (now China Academy of Air-to-Air Missile) initiated the PL-5 SRAAM project in April 1966, with two variants being developed in parallel: the semi-active radar-homing PL-5A and IR-homing PL-5B. The programme made little progress throughout the 1960s and 1970s due to both technical difficulties and turmoil of the ‘Culture Revolution’. As a result, the missile was not completed until the early 1980s.

The first live test of the semi-active radar-homing PL-5A took place in August 1982, but the development was subsequently cancelled in 1983 as a result of the budget cut in defence programmes. The IR-homing PL-5B survived and was finally certified for design finalisation in September 1986. The missile entered service with the PLA in the late 1980s to replace the ageing PL-2 SRAAM. 607 Institute continued to upgrade the missile by introducing the improved PL-5C (which is comparable to the AIM-9H and L) and PL-5E in the 1990s.

Like its predecessor PL-2, the PL-5 was also based on the Russian K-13 (AA-2 Atoll) IR seeker technology, with a Chinese indigenously-developed rocket motor. The missile offers very limited off-boresight, and is only capable of tail attacking. However, the improved PL-5E was claimed to possess all-aspect attack capability, with much greater off-boresight capability. As well as serving with the PLAAF and PLANAF, the PL-5 has been exported to a number of countries in Asia and Africa.

Design

The PL-5 is almost identical to the U.S. AIM-9G Sidewinder in appearance, with four canard control surfaces located near the missile nose, and four large stabilising fins at the tail. The missile comprises an IR seeker, an IR or RF fuse, HE warhead section, rocket motor, and control mechanism. The improved PL-5E features double-delta clipped front control surfaces similar to the AIM-9P.

Guidance

The PL-5 uses an indigenous infrared seeker developed from the Russian R-13 technology. The seeker is cooled using compassed air to provide high detection sensitivity and resistance to the background radiations such as the Sun. However, the missile may not be fired when the Sun is within 16 degrees of the missile’s off-boresight targeting in normal weather conditions. Early variants such as PL-5B and PL-5C only has tail attacking capability, while the improved the PL-5E can attack target from any aspect.

Warhead

The PL-5 can be fitted with two types of warhead: the blast fragmentation warhead with an infrared (IR) proximity-fuse, and the expanding rod warhead with a radio-frequency (RF) proximity-fuse. The two types of warhead can be exchanged easily. The maximum effective blast radius of the warhead is 10m.

Specifications

Last update: 12 October 2008