View source for PL-9

{{short description|Air-to-air missile}}
{{Infobox Weapon
|is_missile=yes
|name= PL-9
|image=
|caption=
|origin= People's Republic of 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<br>Xi’an Eastern Machinery Factory
|unit_cost=
|propellant=
|production_date= 1989—present
|service= c. 1989
|engine=[[Solid-fuel rocket]]
|weight=123kg (PL-9)<br>115kg (PL-9C)
|length=2.9m (PL-9/C)
|height=
|diameter=0.157m (PL-9C)
|wingspan= 0.856m (PL-9C)
|speed=Mach 2+<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deagel.com/Defensive-Weapons/PL-9_a002626001.aspx|title=PL-9|website=Deagel.com|access-date=18 February 2019}}</ref>
|vehicle_range=15km (PL-9)<br>22km (PL-9C, air-to-air)<br> >8km (DK-9, surface-to-air)
|ceiling=
|altitude=4.5km (surface-to-air)
|filling=11.8kg [[blast-fragmentation|blast-frag]], or expanding rod (RF-fuse) 
|guidance=multi-element infrared
|detonation=laser proximity fuse
|launch_platform=Aircraft, helicopter gunships, ground-launched
}}

The '''PL-9''' ({{zh|s=霹雳-9|p=Pī Lì-9|l=Thunderbolt-9}}) is a short-range, [[infrared-homing]] [[air-to-air missile]] (AAM) developed by the [[People's Republic of China]].

==History==
The PL-9 program was initiated in 1986. The missile entered batch production in 1989. Two improved variants, PL-9B and PL-9C, was certified in 1992 and 2002. The latest version of the PL-9 is PL-9D.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=16-19}}

The missile was originally designed by Dong Bingyin (董秉印) at the Luoyang Electro Optical Center, which is also known as Institute 612 and renamed in 2002 as the China Air-to-Air Guided Missile Research Institute (中国空空导弹研究院). After Dong Bingyin died, his position was succeeded by Mr. Jin Xianzhong (金先仲). The deputy general designer of PL-9 is the same deputy general designer of [[PL-12]], Dr. Liang Xiaogeng (梁晓庚).

The PL-9C is one of the later versions of the PL-9, which also has a [[surface-to-air]] variant (DK-9). The PL-9C tactical low-altitude [[surface-to-air missile]] (SAM) was first revealed during the 1989 [[Paris Air Show]]. The launch unit is available in both towed and self-propelled arrangements. The self-propelled version has a launch complex consisting four-rail launcher and the associated target acquisition and radar and electro-optical director mounted on a 6X6 [[WZ551]] [[armored personnel carrier]] (APC). The towed version has a four-rail launcher mounted on a four-wheel carriage. The launch unit is supported by a range of truck-mounted ground equipment for maintenance and missile testing.

==Design==
The PL-9 utilizes the airframe modified from the [[PL-5]] and [[PL-7]] missile. The seeker head is fitted with sensors from [[PL-8 (missile)|PL-8]] and [[Python (missile)|Python-3]] missile.{{sfn|Wood|Yang|Cliff|2020|p=36}} The missile is fitted with a cryogenic [[liquid nitrogen]] gas-cooled [[Infrared|IR]] seeker capable of +/-40 degree off boresight angles. Flight control is by long span pointed delta fins at the front of the missile with Sidewinder-type slipstream driven [[rolleron]]s on the aft tail fin surfaces to prevent roll and so enhance the operation of the guidance system. The missile has a maximum effective range of 35&nbsp;km {{citation needed|date=October 2020}}, although a hit at such a range is unlikely, as maximum effective range calculations tend to assume a meeting engagement against a target flying at high altitude straight at the missile, minimizing the range the missile itself needs to cover. The single-shot hit probability for a single missile launch at an approaching target is 90%. The missile can be used at a stand-alone system, or as a part of the Type 390 (DK-9) brigade (regiment)-level combined AAA/SAM air defence system. The missile entered production in 1991 and saw limited service with the [[People's Liberation Army|PLA]] ground forces.

==Variants==
;PL-9
;PL-9B
;PL-9C
;PL-9D
;DK-9: PL-9 modified surface-to-air missile.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/pl-9.htm |title=PL-9 DK-9 |website=globalsecurity }}</ref>

==Operators==
===Current operators===
{{Refimprove section|date=September 2019}}

;{{flag|Bangladesh}}
* [[Bangladesh Air Force]] (BAF)<ref name="SIPRI">{{cite web |url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |title=Trade-Register-1971-2018.rft |website=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute |access-date=2019-04-21}}</ref>

;{{flag|Namibia}}
* [[Namibian Air Force]]<ref>{{harvnb|Cooper|Weinert|Hinz|Lepko|2011|p=73}}</ref>

;{{flag|Nigeria}}
* [[Nigerian Air Force]]<ref>{{harvnb|Cooper|Weinert|Hinz|Lepko|2011|p=94}}</ref>

;{{PAK}}
* [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF)

;{{PRC}}
* [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]]
* [[People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force]]

==See also==
* [[PL-5]]
* [[PL-7]]
* [[PL-8 (missile)|PL-8]]
* [[PL-10]]

==References==
;Citations
{{Reflist}}
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
* {{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}}
* {{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://airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/Books/2020-11-%2030%20Air-to-Air%20Missiles%20and%20Guidance%20Systems.pdf?ver=C8qY98R8IETgcweqak0tqA%3d%3d |date=November 2020 |publisher=China Aerospace Studies Institute |location=Montgomery |isbn=9798574996270}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100113005329/http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl9.asp Chinese Defence Today]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090322134444/http://www.loec.cn/e06.html Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre PL-9C]

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

[[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:Short range air-to-air missiles]]