View source for PL-12

{{Short description|Chinese medium-range, active radar homing air-to-air BVR missile}}
{{For|the Australian aircraft|Transavia PL-12 Airtruk}}
{{Infobox weapon
| is_missile         = yes
| name               = PL-12
| image              = PL-12AE air-to-air missile.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = PL-12AE mockup at [[China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition|Zhuhai Airshow]] 2024
| origin             = [[People's Republic of China]]
| type               = Medium-range, [[active radar homing]] [[air-to-air missile|air-to-air]] [[Beyond visual range|BVR missile]]
| used_by            = [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]]<br>
[[People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force]]<br>
[[Pakistan Air Force]]
[[Myanmar Air Force]]
| manufacturer       = 
| unit_cost          = 
| propellant         = 
| production_date    = 
| service            = 2005-present{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=19}}
| engine             = Dual thrust solid fuel rocket{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=38}}
| engine_power       = 
| weight             = {{convert|180|kg|lb}}<ref name="ORourke_p21">O'Rourke: page 21</ref>
| length             = 
| height             = 
| diameter           = 
| wingspan           = 
| finspan            = 
| speed              = Mach 4+{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=38}}
| vehicle_range      = {{convert|70-100|km|mi}}<ref name="Medeiros_p93">Medeiros et al.: page 93</ref><ref name="Fisher_2010-02-21">{{cite web |url=http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.224/pub_detail.asp |title=The Air Balance on the Taiwan Strait |last1=Fisher |first1=Richard D. Jr. |date=21 February 2010 |website=[[International Assessment and Strategy Center]] |access-date=1 November 2016 }}</ref>
| ceiling            = 
| altitude           = 
| filling            = 
| guidance           = [[Active radar homing]]<ref name="Cliff_p8">Cliff: page 8</ref>
| detonation         = 
| launch_platform    = Aircraft
}}

The '''PL-12''' ({{zh|s=霹雳-12|p=Pī Lì-12|l=Thunderbolt-12}}, [[NATO reporting name]]: '''CH-AA-7 Adze'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iiss.org/blogs/military-balance/2021/10/china-fires-longer-range-aam-at-export-market |title=China fires longer-range AAM at export market |website=International Institute for Strategic Studies |date=8 October 2021 |first=Douglas |last=Barrie }}</ref><ref name="IISS_2023">{{Cite book|title=The Military Balance 2023|date=15 February 2023 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |chapter=6 Asia |isbn=9781003400226 |doi=10.4324/9781003400226 |author=The International Institute for Strategic Studies }}</ref>) is an [[active radar homing|active radar-guided]] [[beyond-visual-range missile|beyond-visual-range]] [[air-to-air missile]] developed by the [[People's Republic of China]]. It is considered comparable to the US [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] and the Russian [[R-77]].<ref name="Cliff_p8"/>

==History==
[[File:JF17-10-113-1736.jpg|thumb|A model of an export version of the PL-12, SD-10A, (bottom-left corner) with a Pakistan Air Force [[CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder|JF-17]] on display at the Farnborough Airshow 2010.]]

Development of the PL-12 (SD-10) began in 1997.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=19}} The first public information on the PL-12{{Snd}} then called the SD-10{{Snd}} emerged in 2001.<ref name="Fisher_2008-02-02">{{cite web |url=http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.181/pub_detail.asp |title=China's Emerging 5th Generation Air-to-Air Missiles |last1=Fisher |first1=Richard D. Jr. |date=2 February 2008 |website=[[International Assessment and Strategy Center]] |access-date=1 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021052354/http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.181/pub_detail.asp |archive-date=21 October 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Development was assisted by [[Vympel NPO]] and [[wmru:Концерн «Моринформсистема-Агат»|Agat]] of Russia.<ref name="Medeiros_p92">Medeiros et al.: page 92</ref> Liang Xiaogeng is believed to have been the chief designer.<ref name="Fisher_2015-05-15">{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/article/54531/chief-designer-reveals-data-on-china-s-new-luoyang-pl-10-aam |title=Chief designer reveals data on China's new Luoyang PL-10 AAM |last1=Fisher |first1=Richard D. Jr. |date=18 September 2015 |website=janes.com |access-date=15 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105092300/http://www.janes.com/article/54531/chief-designer-reveals-data-on-china-s-new-luoyang-pl-10-aam |archive-date=5 January 2016 }}</ref> Four successful test firings were made in 2004.<ref name="Medeiros_p92"/> The missile entered [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]] (PLAAF) service in 2005.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=19}}

==Design==
The early batches of PL-12 missiles reportedly used the 9B-1348 radar seeker designed for the [[R-77]] missile. The development process was assisted by Vympel NPO and Tactical Missile Corporation and benefited from Russian technology transfers.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=38}} But as of 2018, the PL-12 was no longer reliant on Russian components for missile production.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=38}}

The guidance system comprises data-linked mid-course guidance and active radar homing for terminal guidance.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=38}} The missile uses a Chinese rocket motor<ref name="Fisher_2008-02-02"/> and airframe.<ref name="Fisher_2002-11-21">{{cite web |url=http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.14/pub_detail.asp |title=Military Sales to China: Going to Pieces |last1=Fisher |first1=Richard D. Jr. |date=21 November 2002 |website=[[International Assessment and Strategy Center]] |access-date=1 November 2016 }}</ref> The PL-12 may have a passive homing mode for use against jammers and [[Airborne early warning and control|AEW]] aircraft.<ref name="Fisher_2008-02-02"/> The maximum range is estimated to be {{convert|100|km|mi}}.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=39}}

PL-12's overall dimension is larger than [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]]. Per PLAAF assessment, PL-12's capability sits between AIM-120B and AIM-120C, and the improved PL-12A is claimed to be comparable with the AIM-120C-4. The domestic version of the PL-12 features a variable-thrust rocket motor with a range of {{convert|70-100|km|mi}}, while the export variant SD-10 features a reduced range of {{convert|60-70|km|mi}}.<ref name="the_drive">{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/a-guide-to-chinas-increasingly-impressive-air-to-air-missile-inventory |title=A Guide To China's Increasingly Impressive Air-To-Air Missile Inventory |website=The Drive |date=1 September 2022 |first=Thomas |last=Newdick }}</ref> According to the [[Royal United Services Institute]], the range performance of PL-12 stands between AIM-120B and AIM-120C-5.{{sfn|Bronk|2020|p=36}}

==Variants==
[[File:JF17-10-114-1739.jpg|thumb|right|SD-10A on display with the [[JF-17]] light-weight fighter at the Farnborough International Airshow 2010.]]
;PL-12: Domestic version with 60<ref name="theprint">{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/defence/how-china-is-fast-catching-up-with-the-west-in-the-race-for-air-to-air-missile-superiority/597206/ |title=How China is fast catching up with the West in the race for air-to-air missile superiority |website=The Print |first=Sameer |last=Joshi |date=6 February 2021}}</ref> to 100 km{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=39}} range.
;PL-12A: NATO reporting name is '''CH-AA-7A'''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Barrie |first=Douglas |date=9 September 2022 |title=Air-to-air warfare: speed kills |url=https://www.iiss.org/blogs/military-balance/2022/09/analysis-air-to-air-warfare-speed-kills |website=Military Balance Blog |publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies |access-date=6 November 2022}}</ref> Improved PL-12 with a modified seeker and digital processor. Reportedly fitted with passive mode for anti-radiation missions.<ref name="the_drive" />
;PL-12C: Variant with folded control fins, designed to fit inside the J-20 weapons bay. Did not enter service and used to develop the [[PL-15]].{{sfn|Bronk|2020|p=36}}
;PL-12D: Variant powered by [[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popsci.com/chinas-new-ramjet-engine-triple-range-missiles/ |title=This new ramjet engine could triple the range of Chinese missiles |website=Popular Science |date=12 June 2017 |first1=Jeffrey |last1=Lin |first2=P.W. |last2=Singer }}</ref> [[ramjet]]. Did not enter service and used to develop the [[PL-15]].{{sfn|Bronk|2020|p=36}}
;SD-10A (''ShanDian-10'', 闪电-10): Export version of the PL-12 with a reduced maximum launch range of {{convert|37-44|mi|km}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=2022-09-01 |title=A Guide To China's Increasingly Impressive Air-To-Air Missile Inventory |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/a-guide-to-chinas-increasingly-impressive-air-to-air-missile-inventory |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=The Drive |language=en}}</ref>
;SD-10B: Enhanced SD-10A with better anti-jamming capability.<ref name="Jennings_2015-03-04">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.janes.com/article/49749/bulgaria-to-be-offered-jf-17-fighter-by-pakistan |title=Bulgaria to be offered JF-17 fighter by Pakistan |last1=Jennings |first1=Gareth |date=4 March 2015 |magazine=[[Jane's Defence Weekly]]|access-date=15 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702031733/http://www.janes.com/article/49749/bulgaria-to-be-offered-jf-17-fighter-by-pakistan |archive-date=2 July 2015 }}</ref><ref name="theprint"/>
;LD-10: [[Anti-radiation missile]] based on SD-10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.militarydrones.org.cn/ld-10-anti-radiation-missile-p00775p1.html |title=LD-10 Anti-radiation Missiles |website=CN Defense }}</ref>

==Operators==
[[File:PL-12 operators.png|thumb|upright=1.35|Map with PL-12 operators in blue]]
===Current operators===
;{{PRC}}
* [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]]
* [[People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force]]
;{{PAK}}
* [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF) - 575 delivered of 750 ordered {{as_of|2021|lc=x}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Transfers of major weapons: Deals with deliveries or orders made for 1950 to 2021 (China to Pakistan, missiles) |url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |publisher=[[Stockholm International Peace Research Institute]] |access-date=26 January 2023 |quote=(750)  PL-12  BVRAAM  (2006)  2010-2021  (575)  For JF-17 combat aircraft}}</ref>
;{{MYA}}
*[[Myanmar Air Force]] - 24 delivered of 60 ordered {{as_of|2021|lc=x}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Transfers of major weapons: Deals with deliveries or orders made for 1950 to 2021 (China to Myanmar, missiles) |url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |publisher=[[Stockholm International Peace Research Institute]] |access-date=26 January 2023 |quote=(60)  PL-12  BVRAAM  (2015)  2018-2019  (24)  For JF-17 combat aircraft}}</ref>

==See also==
*{{lwc|AAM-4}}
*{{lwc|AIM-120 AMRAAM}}
*{{lwc|R-77}}
*{{lwc|Sky Sword II|TC-2}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

;Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Cite report |last1=Cliff |first1=Roger |date=May 2010 |title=The Development of China's Air Force Capabilities |publisher=[[RAND Corporation]] |url=http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/testimonies/2010/RAND_CT346.pdf |access-date=30 October 2016 }}
*{{cite report |last1=Gormley |first1=Dennis M. |last2=Erickson |first2=Andrew S. |last3=Yuan |first3=Jingdong  |date=2014 |title=A Low-Visibility Force Multiplier: Assessing China's Cruise Missile Ambitions |url=http://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/Books/force-multiplier.pdf |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=[[National Defense University (Washington, D.C.)|National Defense University]] Press }}
*{{cite report |editor1-last=Hallion |editor1-first=Richard P. |editor2-last=Cliff |editor2-first=Roger P. |editor3-last=Saunder |editor3-first=Phillip C. |date=2012 |title=The Chinese Air Force: Evolving Concepts, Roles, and Capabilities |url=https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/Books/chinese-air-force.pdf |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=[[National Defense University (Washington, D.C.)|National Defense University]] Press }}
*{{cite book |last1=Medeiros |first1=Evan S. |last2=Cliff |first2=Roger |last3=Crane |first3=Keith |last4=Mulvenon |first4=James C. |date=2005 |title=A New Direction for China's Defense Industry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f0TCkit3c6QC |publisher=[[RAND Corporation]] |isbn=9780833040794 }}
*{{Cite report |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Ronald |date=28 February 2014 |title=China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress |publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]] |url=https://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/223460.pdf |access-date=1 November 2016 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Wood |first1=Peter |last2=Yang |first2=David |last3=Cliff |first3=Roger |title=Air-to-Air Missiles: Capabilities And Development In China |url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/Infrastructure/2020-11-%2030%20Air-to-Air%20Missiles%20and%20Guidance%20Systems.pdf |date=November 2020 |publisher=China Aerospace Studies Institute |location=Montgomery |isbn=9798574996270}}
*{{Cite report |last1=Bronk |first1=Justin |url=https://static.rusi.org/russian_and_chinese_combat_air_trends_whr_final_web_version.pdf |title=Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends |date=October 2020 |publisher= Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies |location=United Kingdom }}
{{Refend}}

{{AVIC Aero Products}}
{{Chinese_Missiles}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pl-12}}
[[Category:Air-to-air missiles of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:Surface-to-air missiles of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:Anti-radiation missiles of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2000s]]