The Chinese air force's guided-weapons-procurement programmes mirror its fixed-wing projects in their profusion, and the leisurely pace of development.
Like its combat-aircraft projects, the air force's air-launched-weapons procurements have relied heavily on licensed and unlicensed manufacture of Western designs while also pursuing the development of indigenous designs.
The air force has been attempting to acquire a beyond-visual range air-to-air-missile (AAM) capability for a considerable period - with as yet no sign that it has deployed even a semi-active-radar-guided AAM.
The PL-10 semi-active-radar-guided AAM development programme has been running since at least the early 1980s. It now appears unlikely ever to be fielded, having been superseded by the PL-11 programme. The PL-11 AAM resulted from a tie-up with Italy's Alenia in the latter half of the 1980s, covering the licence production of the Aspide. China's ostracism from the Western nations' arms manufacturers following the 1989 Tiananmen Square events included the demise of the Aspide deal.
The air force, however, has continued to support the development of an Aspide copy - in the guise of the PL-11. It may also be looking to adapt this design with an active-radar seeker, potentially sourced from Russia's AGAT.
Given that the air force received the Vympel R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) as the primary armament for its Sukhoi Su-27s, and is being offered the weapon as part of the F-8IIM upgrade, then the future of the Pl-11 must remain in question. The air force is also expected to buy an export variant of the Vympel R-77 (AA-12 Adder) active-radar-guided AAM. In terms of short-range AAMs, China has turned out copies of AIM-9 models, as well as of France's Matra Magic.
It also procured several thousand Rafael Python 3 missiles from Israel in the late 1980s, and is now considering buying the Python-4. In competition, Vympel is offering an upgraded variant of its R-73 (AA-11 Archer), the K-74ME. The R-73 was originally supplied as part of the Su-27 procurement deal.
There are also indications that China is attempting to indigenously develop a short-range imaging-infra-red AAM. Given, however, its recent track record in home-grown weapons development, the exact future of this project must remain in doubt.
Source: Flight International
