>The PL-15 is at the very least leveling the playing field and in some cases, posing problems that put the United States at a range disadvantage with AMRAAM,” Bronk adds. Indeed, the appearance of the PL-15 has already contributed to a rush from the U.S. side to push for longer-range AAMs, like the AIM-260 and AIM-174B.
>The PL-15 should also be characterized by the advantages of its AESA seeker, Bronk notes. “Just based on the physics of an AESA seeker versus a mechanically scanned seeker or a fixed PESA-type seeker, it should be higher resolution, more resistant to ECM, and work better in jamming environments.” Beyond that, it likely has a better ability to home in on stealth targets.
>The Chinese, for a long time, were essentially followers and were either customers for Russian weapons or were essentially producing clones of Western systems as best they could, whether that be Python clones, Sidewinder clones, or Sparrow clones,” Bronk continues. “The PL-15 is different, and so it represents a significant maturation of the Chinese industrial and research and development base.” Meanwhile, the PL-15 is just one of several Chinese AAM programs that are looking at very long-range performance in particular. While continuing to develop and improve its AAMs, China is also able to produce them in large quantities.
Why nobody else tried installing AESA seekers onto AAMs before?:
https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-j-10c-fighter-separating-myth-from-reality

Back | Go to board

Board:

/k/

Thread:

>The PL-15 is at the very least leveling the playing field and in some cases, posing problems that put the United States at a range disadvantage…