View source for PL-7

{{Short description|Short-range air-to-air missile}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}
[[File:Iranian Air Force exhibition (15).jpg|thumb|An Iranian PL-7 (right)]]
The '''PL-7''' ({{zh|s=霹雳-7|p=Pī Lì-7|l=Thunderbolt-7}}) is the PRC version of the French [[Magic R.550]] [[Air-to-air missile#Short-range air-to-air missile|short-range air-to-air missile]]. It is a short-range, [[Infrared homing]] missile used by Chinese [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]].<ref name="janes-alw">{{cite book|last1=Duncan |first1=Lennox| last2=Hewson |first2=Robert |title=Jane’s Air launched Weapons, Edition 2001.|publisher= Jane’s Information Group|location= United Kingdom |year=2001 |ISBN=978-0-7106-0866-6}}</ref>  It was designed by Wu Shendao, and produced at the Factory 331 (Zhuzhou Aeroengine factory) (中国株洲航空发动机厂).
==Specifications==
* '''Length''' - 2.74 m
* '''Diameter''' - 157&nbsp;mm
* '''Wingspan''' - 0.66 m
* '''Weight''' - 89&nbsp;kg
* '''Warhead'''  - 12.5&nbsp;kg
* '''Speed''' - Mach 2.5
* '''Range''' - 0.5 to 14&nbsp;km
* '''Guidance''' - [[Infrared homing]]

==Operational history==

During the late 1998–2001 Zimbabwean intervention in the [[Second Congo War]], [[Air Force of Zimbabwe]] [[BAe Hawk|BAE Hawk]]s were reportedly modified to be armed with PL-7s for air interception missions in support of Zimbabwean and [[Laurent Kabila]]'s government forces.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/hals-gamble-will-the-advanced-hawk-break-into-the-export-market/ | title=HAL's Gamble – Will the "Advanced Hawk" break into the Export market? | date=17 February 2017 }}</ref>

==Operator==
;{{BGD}}
*[[Bangladesh Air Force]]<ref name="Military Balance">{{Cite journal |author=International Institute for Strategic Studies |author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |year=2020 |title=Chapter Six: Asia |journal=The Military Balance |volume=120 |issue=1 |page=255 |doi=10.1080/04597222.2020.1707967|s2cid=219627149 }}</ref>
;{{PRC}}
* [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]]
;{{IRN}}
* [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force|Iranian Air Force]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*https://web.archive.org/web/20060510171721/http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl7.asp

{{Chinese_Missiles}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pl-7}}
[[Category:Air-to-air missiles of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:Cold War weapons of China]]
[[Category:Short range air-to-air missiles]]

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