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'{{for|the Australian aircraft|Transavia PL-12 Airtruk}} {{Infobox Weapon |is_missile=yes |name=PL-12<br>SD-10 ||image=[[File:JF17-10-113-1736.jpg|300px]] |caption=A model of an export version of the PL-12, SD-10A, (bottom-left corner) on display at the Farnborough Airshow 2010. |origin={{PRC}} |type=[[Air-to-air missile]]<br>[[Surface-to-air missile]] |used_by=[[People's Liberation Army Air Force]] <br> [[PLAGF|People's Liberation Army Ground Force]] <br> [[People's Liberation Army Navy]] <br> [[Pakistan Air Force]] |manufacturer=[[CATIC]] |unit_cost=$84,000 [[USD]] |propellant=[[Solid fuel]] |production_date=[[2002]] |service=[[2007 in aviation|2007]] |engine=[[solid propellant|Solid fuel]] [[dual-thrust]] rocket motor |engine_power= |weight=438 lbs (199 kg) |length=12.89 ft (3.93 m) |height= |diameter=203 mm (8 in) |wingspan=670 mm |finspan=752 mm |speed=Mach 4 |vehicle_range= 70 km<ref name="deagel">http://www.deagel.com/Air-to-Air-Missiles/PL-12_a001825001.aspx</ref><ref>http://www.centurychina.com/cgi-bin/anyboard.cgi/plaboard/?cmd=get&cG=33635373334343&zu=33363537323230&v=2&gV=1&p=</ref><ref>http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl12.asp</ref> |ceiling= 21 km |altitude= 0-21 km |filling=[[High explosive]] [[fragmentation (weaponry)|fragmentation]] warhead |guidance= Inertial / Data-link (mid-course)<br>[[Active radar homing]] (terminal phase) |detonation=[[Proximity fuse]] |launch_platform=[[J-11|J-11B / J-11BS]]<br>[[J-10|J-10A / J-10S]]<br>[[J-8II]]<br>[[JF-17]]<br>[[Type 054 frigate|Type 054]], [[Type 054A frigate|Type 054A]] frigates }} {{externalimages |image1=[http://www.centurychina.com/plaboard/uploads/2_SD10_missile.jpg] |image2=[http://yalun.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/pl12_02large1.jpg] |image3=[http://i36.tinypic.com/20p3dwz.jpg] |image4=[http://i37.tinypic.com/29d925u.jpg] |image5=[http://i37.tinypic.com/152kime.jpg]}} The '''PL-12''' (''PiLi-12'', 霹雳-12), also designated '''SD-10''' (''ShanDian-10'', 闪电-10), is a radar-guided [[air-to-air missile]] developed by China's Luoyang Electro-Optical Technology Development Center. PL-12 is in service with the [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]] (PLAAF) and its export version, SD-10, is expected to enter service with the [[Pakistan Air Force]]. ==Development history== The PL-12 active-radar BVR air-to-air missile became the highest priority air-to-air weapons programme for [[China]]'s military industry during 2002, and supplanted several previous developmental projects (such as the [[LY-60 / FD-60 / PL10|PL-10]] and PL-11) in terms of effort and importance. It provides the People's Liberation Army Air Force with a sophisticated, domestic airborne weapon on par with mainstream Western Airforces around the world. It will equip the mainstream of future modern Chinese fighters, and current compatible fighters. The PL-12 is listed as part of [[CATIC]]'s current 'Thunder-Lightning' family of air-to-air missiles, that includes the PL-5E, PL- 9C and TY-90 systems (all developed by the Luoyang Electro-Optical Technology Development Center). The chief designer of PL-12 is Fan Huitao (樊会涛) of [[AVIC I]]. Prior to the emergence of the PL-12, China's active radar seeker AAM development programme was sometimes identified as the 'AMR-1'. During Air Show China 1996, held during November in Zhuhai, the China Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute/No 607 Research Institute exhibited a newly-developed active radar seeker, the AMR-1. This seeker was, in turn, believed to have been applied to a new air- to-air missile design, derived from the LY-60 surface-to-air missile, and dubbed the 'PL-12'. This active radar missile, and the earlier semi-active radar homing PL-11, seemed to have a common design heritage with the Italian Aspide missile, supplied to China during the late 1980s. The status of the PL-11 and 'LY-60/PL-12' development programmes is unclear, but sources within CATIC say these earlier programmes have all been abandoned in favor of the PL-12. The existence of the PL-12 programme was acknowledged by Chinese officials for the first time in early 2002 (the first pictures of the new missile appeared from Chinese sources during 2001). According to CATIC sources the missile has a range of 80&nbsp;km<ref>"China SD-10 Missile Technology" Janes Defense Weekly February 8, 2004</ref>. Earlier speculation around the AMR-1/LY-60 programme suggested that a ramjet engine was being developed for it, and such a powerplant would allow a missile to be effective at such long ranges. Recently an article from the PLA Newspaper (Dec. 02, 2008) reveals that SD-10 has more than 100&nbsp;km effective range. == Description== [[File:JF17-10-114-1739.jpg|thumb|180px|right|SD-10A on display with the [[JF-17]] light-weight fighter at the Farnborough International Airshow 2010.]] The new PL-12 active guided air-launched anti-aircraft missile uses the radar and data link from [[Russia]]'s very capable [[Vympel R-77]]<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/pl-12.htm PL-12] Globalsecurity.org</ref>, combined with a Chinese missile motor. Some sources claim the resulting combination has a greater range than the Russian missile, and a fire-and-forget active guidance (from R-77) capability comparable to the modern [[United States|U.S.]] [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]].<ref>[http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.14/pub_detail.asp Military Sales to China: Going to Pieces] Jamestown Foundation China Brief (Volume 2, Issue 23)</ref><ref>[http://www.ausairpower.net/DT-Missile-Survey-May-05.pdf Missiles in the Asia Pacific] AusAirPower.net</ref><ref>[http://www.janes.com/news/security/capabilities/jdw/jdw070514_1_n.shtml China unveils weapon developments] Janes.com 14 May 2007</ref> The PL-12 is outwardly very similar to the US-designed AIM-120 AMRAAM. The two share a comparable aerodynamic configuration, although the PL-12 is a little longer, wider and heavier than the AMRAAM. The PL-12 has four rear-mounted control fins that each have a very distinctive notch cut into their base. These fins are longer and more prominent than those of the AMRAAM and are cropped at an angle (rather than in line with the missile body). Four larger triangular fins are fixed to the mid-section of the missile. Internally, the leading edge of the centrebody fins is in line with the start of the missile's [[rocket motor]]. That motor is a variable-[[thrust]] solid rocket booster, that offers two levels of motive power for different sections of the flight envelope. CATIC is known to be developing X-band and Ku-band active [[radar]] seekers, which may be intended for the PL-12. However the latest reports confirm that China has been co-operating closely with Russia's AGAT Research Institute, based in [[Moscow]], and that AGAT is the source of the PL-12's essential active seeker. This joint development effort (perhaps with the name 'Project 129') has reportedly seen the supply of AGAT's 9B-1348 active-radar seeker (developed for the Vympel R-77, AA-12 'Adder') to China for integration with the Chinese-developed missile. Alternatively, technology from AGAT's 9B-1103M seeker family may be offered to China. Russia is also the source for the missile's [[inertial navigation system]] and [[datalink]]. The PL-12 has four engagement modes. To take the greatest advantage of its maximum range it will use a mix of command guidance (via a datalink) plus its own inertial guidance before entering the active radar terminal guidance phase. The missile can also be launched to a pre-selected point, using its strap-down inertial system, before switching on its own seeker for a terminal search. Over short ranges the missile can be launched in a 'fire-and-forget' mode using its own active seeker from the outset. Finally, the PL-12 has a 'home-on-jam' mode that allows it to passively track and engage an emitting target, without ever using its own active radar or a radar from the launch aircraft. This capability is the foundation on which the capability of anti-radiation missile is developed. The seeker is connected to a digital flight control system that uses signal processing techniques to track a target. The missile's warhead is linked to a laser proximity fuse. The PL-12 is claimed to have an operational ceiling of at least 21&nbsp;km, with a maximum effective range of 100&nbsp;km and a minimum engagement range of 1,000 m. The missile has a 38+ g manoeuvering limit and, according to CATIC, it has been tested for a 100-hour captive 'live flight' life. According to Chinese claims, PL-12 is more capable than the American [[AIM-120 AMRAAM|AIM-120 A/B]], but slightly inferior than the [[AIM-120 AMRAAM|AIM-120C]]. The PL-12 can be deployed by the [[Chengdu J-10]], [[Shenyang J-8|Shenyang J-8F]], [[Shenyang J-11]] and [[JF-17]] combat aircraft.<ref>[http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl12.asp SinoDefence.com]</ref>. ==Surface launched version== Like the [[AIM-120]] AMRAAM, PL-12 is also used as SAM, and tests have already successfully completed as the possible replacement of LY-60, but such system has not entered service because China has already been developing the vertical launched version. The vertical launching system is developed by the [[Luoyang]] Optronic Technological Development Center in [[Henan]], and the system is called '''CCL''', short for '''C'''oncentric '''C'''ylindrical '''L'''auncher, which is similar to American Mk 48 VLS in appearance, but due to the very limited information publicized, it is difficult to tell if the Chinese VLS is a "cold launch" system or a "hot launch" system like that of American Mk 48 VLS. ==LS-II ADS== At the 7th [[Zhuhai Airshow]] held at the end of [[2008]], a mobile air defense system (ADS) based on PL-12/SD-10 were revealed to the public. The weapon system is designated as LS-II ADS, with LS stands for Lie Shou, meaning Hunter in Chinese (猎手). The launching system does not incorporate VLS technology, but is very similar to [[Raytheon]] SL-AMRAAM (Surface Launched - Advanced Air-to-Air Missile). The launching platform is [[PRC HMMWVs|Dongfeng (东风, East Wind) EQ2050 Iron Armor (Tiejia, 铁甲) or other Chinese High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)]], and like SL-AMRAAM, both the short-range IR guided AAM and medium-range AAM are included. The Chinese LS-II ADS launching platform differs from its Raytheon counterpart in that the latter has a total of 6 missiles, while former only has four. LS-II ADS only contains two short-range IR guided AAMs ([[PL-9]]) and two medium-range AAMs (PL-12/SD-10), with PL-12/SD-10 missiles mounted in the center, and the PL-9 missiles mounted on the outside. The second pair of medium-range AAMs of Raytheon SL-AMRAAM system outside the short-range IR guided AAMs does not exist on the Chinese LS-II ADS. In addition to the launching vehicle, LS-II ADS also include two other vehicles, which is also often based on the [[PRC HMMWVs|Dongfeng (东风, East Wind) EQ2050 Iron Armor (Tiejia, 铁甲) or other Chinese High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)]], for the purpose to simplify logistics, though chassis of other vehicles are also available. One of the two other vehicle is for power source, and LS-II ADS can be fully functional without it, though on a shorter continuous operation. When engaging targets, PL-9/DK-9 would engage targets at lower altitude while PL-12/SD-10 would engage targets at higher altitude, and multiple missiles can be fired together to simultaneously engage multiple targets. Another vehicle of LS-II ADS carries a passive-phased array radar for fire control. The new radar is based on the anti-stealth radar shown a year earlier at defense exhibition at [[Abu Dhabi]] in [[2007]], and appears to be a scaled-down version of the former. However, the developer dubbed the radar as ''Anti-low radar cross section early warning radar'', though some capability against stealth target do exist. Electro-optical fire control system is mounted separately on the roof of the driver's cabin of the launching vehicle, and can function independently in the absence of the radar. LS-II ADS is integrated to the larger air defense network via LIN87 data link. ==Potential export opportunities== * The [[Egyptian Air Force]] has shown interest in the PL-12 as well as the [[JF-17 Thunder]]. ==Operators== ;{{PRC}} * [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]] * [[People's Liberation Army Navy]] ;{{PAK}} * [[Pakistan Air Force]] ==Specifications== *'''Length:''' 3.93&nbsp;m (12.89&nbsp;ft) *'''Body diameter:''' 203&nbsp;mm (8&nbsp;in) *'''Wing span:''' 670&nbsp;mm *'''Fin span:''' 752&nbsp;mm *'''Launch weight:''' 199&nbsp;kg (438&nbsp;lb) *'''Warhead:''' HE fragmentation *'''Fuse:''' Active proximity fuse *'''Guidance:''' Inertial mid-course and/or datalink updates, with [[active radar homing|active radar terminal homing]] *'''Propulsion:''' Solid [[dual-thrust]] rocket motor *'''Maximum Range:''' 70&nbsp;km<ref name="deagel"/> *'''Minimum Range:''' 1 [[km]] *'''Maximum g-force:''' > 38 g *'''Maximum Altitude:''' 21 [[km]] *'''Maximum Speed:''' > [[Mach number|Mach]] 4 *'''No Escape Zone (NEZ):''' 45 [[km]] (look-up) or 35 [[km]] (look-down) against target with [[radar cross-section|RCS]] of 3 sq. metres ==References== {{Reflist}} * [http://www.china-defense.com/forum/uploads/post-131-1226519613.jpg] ==External links== * [http://www.jf-17.com/weapons.htm SD-10 Details on JF-17.com] * [http://www.paffalcons.com/main.php SD-10 Details on PAF Falcons site] * [http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl12.asp PL-12 at Sinodefence.com] * [http://www.centurychina.com/cgi-bin/anyboard.cgi/plaboard/?cmd=get&cG=33635373334343&zu=33363537323230&v=2&gV=1&p= Possible Janes Source] {{Aviation lists}} {{Chinese_Missiles}} [[Category:Air-to-air missiles of the People's Republic of China]] [[Category:Modern Chinese weapons]] [[Category:People's Liberation Army Air Force guided missiles]] [[Category:Surface-to-air missiles of the People's Republic of China]] [[ja:PL-12 (ミサイル)]] [[pnb:ایس ڈی-10]] [[ru:PL-12]] [[zh:霹雳-12导弹]]'