View source for PL-5

{{Infobox weapon
|is_missile=yes
|name= PL-5
|image=Misil aire-aire de corto alcance (SRAAM) PiLi-5 (PL-5) - (inertes para entrenamiento).jpg
|caption=
|origin= China
|type=[[Air-to-air missile#Short-range air-to-air missile|Short-range air-to-air missile]]
|used_by=
|manufacturer=Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC), <br />Hanzhong Nanfeng Machine Factory
|unit_cost=
|propellant=
|production_date=
|service=
|engine=[[Solid-fuel rocket]]
|weight=148 kg (PL-5B, PL-5C), 83kg (PL-5E)
|length= 3.128 m (PL-5B, PL-5C), 2.893m (PL-5E)
|height=
|diameter=0.127m (PL-5E)
|wingspan= 0.657m (PL-5B, PL-5C), 0.617m (PL-5E)
|speed=Mach 2.5
|vehicle_range=1.3–16km (PL-5B, PL-5C), 0.5-16~18km (PL-5E)
|ceiling=
|altitude=
|filling=6kg [[blast-fragmentation|blast-frag]], or expanding rod (RF-fuse) 
|guidance=[[Infrared homing]], multi-element, dual band detector(PL-5EII)
|detonation=[[infrared|Active infrared]], laser proximity fuse(PL-5EII)
|launch_platform=Aircraft, helicopter gunships
}}

The '''PL-5''' (霹雳-5) [[air-to-air missile]] (PL stands for Pi Li, "Thunderbolt" in [[Chinese language|Chinese]], the generic designation for all PRC air-to-air missiles) is a short-range, [[Infrared homing]] missile used by Chinese [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]]. It is based on [[AA-2 Atoll]] technology and resembles the [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]].
The PL-5 was designed and developed at China's Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC), also known as Institute 612; its design team members included Chen Jiali (陈家礼), Dong Chunfeng, Hu Rongchao (胡荣超), Huang Bin, Zhang Ming (张明), and Zheng Zhiwei (郑志伟).  It was reportedly produced at the Hanzhong Nanfeng Machine Factory (also known as the Hanzhong Air-to-Air Missile Factory) of the [[China Aviation Industry Corporation I]].

The PL-5 have been continuously upgraded by Luoyang and the latest variant, the PL-5EII, added a dual band, multi-element detector as well as a laser proximity fuse similar to the [[PL-9]]. According to the Chinese export/import agency [[CATIC]], the PL5E has an all-aspect capability with the seeker having a maximum off boresight angle of ±25° before launch, and ±40° after launch.<ref>https://www.flightglobal.com/china-reveals-upgraded-variant-of-pl5-missile/20260.article </ref>

PLAAF [[Chengdu J-10|J-10]] and [[J-11 fighters|J-11]] fighter jets mainly use the [[PL-8 missile]], stealth fighters such as the [[Chengdu J-20|J-20]] and [[Shenyang J-35|J-35]] use the [[PL-10]], which are more advanced short-range air-to-air missiles when compared to the PL-5. However, due to greater weight and dimensions of the PL-8 and PL-10 missiles, for [[Chengdu J-7|F-7]] and [[JH-7]], the PL-5, [[PL-7]] and [[PL-9]] are still the preferable air-to-air missile at this stage.<ref name="AirForceWorld.com_PL5_missile">{{cite web |url=http://www.airforceworld.com/pla/j-7-j-7a-j-7b-fighter-china.htm |title=PL-5 air-to-air missile and J-7 fighter jet modification, Chinese PLAAF |work=AirForceWorld.com |access-date=5 Nov 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012201757/http://www.airforceworld.com/pla/j-7-j-7a-j-7b-fighter-china.htm |archive-date=12 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Operators==
[[File:PL-5 operators.png|thumb|400px|Map with PL-5 operators in blue]]

===Current operators===
* '''{{flag|Bangladesh}}''' uses PL-5 and PL-5EII{{sfn|The Military Balance 2019|p=253}}
* '''{{flag|Burma}} ''' PL-5B and PL-5EII
* '''{{flag|Egypt}}'''
* '''{{flag|Iran}}'''
* '''{{flag|Pakistan}}''' 900 ordered, PL-5E.<ref name="sipri">[http://www.sipri.org/databases/armstransfers/ Arms Transfers Database] Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.</ref>
* '''{{flag|Sri Lanka}}'''
* '''{{flag|Sudan}}'''
* '''{{flag|Tanzania}}'''
* '''{{flag|Venezuela}}''' 100 ordered, PL-5E.<ref name="sipri"/>
* '''{{flag|Zimbabwe}}'''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Tom |last2=Weinert |first2=Peter |last3=Hinz |first3=Fabian |last4=Lepko |first4=Mark |title=African MiGs, Volume 2: Madagascar to Zimbabwe |date=2011 |publisher=Harpia Publishing |location=Houston |isbn=978-0-9825539-8-5 |page=213}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

===Works cited===
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|The Military Balance 2019}} |author=International Institute for Strategic Studies |author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2019 |year=2019 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1857439885}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121111174758/http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl5.asp PL-5 SHORT-RANGE AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE, www.sinodefence.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090521160043/http://www.loec.cn/e05.html Luoyang Optoelectro Technology Development Center PL-5EII]

{{Chinese_Missiles}}

[[Category:Air-to-air missiles of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Short range air-to-air missiles]]


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