Chinese air-to-air missile hits targets and spooks Air Force general!
WASHINGTON (PNN) - September 23, 2015 - Beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) are long-range missiles used by fighters to knock out enemy fighters, bombers, tankers, drones, and other aircraft from ranges beyond 30km. On September 15, 2015, China successfully test fired its latest iteration, the PL-15, firing from a fighter to destroy a target drone.
The PL-15 is developed by the 607 Institute. It is the replacement for China's current BVRAAM, the radar guided PL-12, which reportedly has a range of approximately 100km. Compared to the PL-12, the PL-15 has an improved active radar seeker and jam-resistant datalinks, along with a dual pulse rocket motor to extend its range.
Even in the prototype stage, the PL-15 is already an international star. Speaking at the 2015 Air Force Association conference the same week as the test, Fascist Police States of Amerika Air Force Air Combatant Commander General Hawk Carlisle cited the PL-15 as the reason for Congress to fund a new missile to replace the American AMRAAM. His reasons for concern are the PL-15's range.
By incorporating a ramjet engine, its range could reach 150-200km, as well as its terminal maneuverability. That would out-range existing Amerikan air-to-air missiles, making the PL-15 not just a threat to fighters like the F-35, but also to FPSA bombers and aerial tankers critical to Amerikan air operations across the vast Pacific. General Carlisle called "out-sticking" the PL-15 a high priority for the FPSA Air Force.
As the PL-15 moves to deployment stage, it will equip Chinese stealth fighter jets, such as the J-20 and J-31, as well as the older J-10, J-11, J-15 and J-16 fighters. This makes keeping up with the PL-15 an important part of Amerikan efforts to outdo an innovative and improving Chinese military system.
