The PL-8B is a bit faster And has better performance if the target is trying to fly towards the sun for example
And the PL-5EII has better HOBS capabilities due to the seeker having a much better track rate and a bit slower/ less ΔV (higher acceleration off the rail tho)
In my experience the difference is so small it practically makes no difference which i use they feel the same imo
Tho PL-8B should have FOV and Seeker shut off IRCCM but currently limited to FOV
15 vs 17 degrees where it does not decoy to the sun is an insignificant difference and is not something you can utilize to gain any advantage against one or the other.
You can set the track rate to 1 from 60 and test, it will not be any better in that regard. As far as I am concerned that value is almost useless at the moment.
That’s what I said.
And the PL-5EII shouldn’t? They are of the same era of Chinese seeker design.
Of course it’s faster, but I meant is the range (in deck), from what I experience at least, Python and Sidewinder had pretty similiar range albeit Python can do much better simply because of the thrust.
I use PL-8B because I’m flying at 5,5km alt lots of times and shoot missiles down on enemies. Heavier PL-8B means that it will get a boost from graviti while flying downards (at least I think that)
Information on the PL-5E2 is far more accessible than for the PL-8B, primarily because AVIC provides basic Information about it on their official website.
The thing about PL-5Eii is that while it is faster off the rail (in terms of raw speed), which gets it to the enemy super fast and therefore makes its IRCCM work better, it also flies in a straight line a bit right after launch, which makes off-boresight shots not as good as Pl-8B, esp. below 1.5km. Great if you can point your nose directly at the enemy, not so much otherwise.
btw, anyone know where gaijin got info for the 1473 radar? I’m surprised it’s a copy paste of the n010 radar/zhuk radar, which from what i recall correctly, the chinese declined because they believed their indigenous radar was better than it? It was offered for it though