not so different. 5EII is the fastest ir missile in game, and PL-8B is the second fastest, can’t be compared to just AIM-9L, which is almost the slowest
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Actually no, the PL-8B accelerates slightly slower than the PL-5EII and they both have a 0.5s guidance start delay. The warheads are 58 and 60kg (PL-5, PL-8) and the delay is also the same to arm the proxy fuse (0.5s).
The stat card speed is useless information and not really true. The maximum overload says 40 for the PL-8B and 35 for the PL-5EII, but the actual maximum lateral fin acceleration is 31 m/s for PL-5 and 31.2 for PL-8B, it is almost identical. They both have a maximum fin angle of attack of 19.8 degrees, and they both have the same wing area multiplier and drag value.
Due to the ever so slightly better acceleration of the PL-5EII off the rail, the missile closes with a target sooner and thus means it will be less likely to get flared. The PL-5EII also has a 23s guidance limit vs the 20s on the PL-8B, which honestly means nothing as both are out of energy after that much time anyway.
That leaves only some PID numbers as the remaining changes, but these are also very similar and I don’t think they will have a meaningful impact on performance.
TL;DR
They are almost the same missile as far as the datamined information goes, with very very minor differences. Pick which one looks cooler to you.
5 Likes
As far as air to air missiles go;
AIM-92A ATAS: 429 m/s
PL-5EII: 336 m/s
PL-5B/C: 330 m/s
Magic 2: 314 m/s
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.
Pl-5e2 has slightly better acceleration due to the weight no? Or is the acceleration on the python that violent?
17 vs 12 but still insignificant if you ask me as I said
Yes the PL-5EII has faster acceleration of the rail
It’s booster burns 2s compared to the PL-8’s .78s
But the PL-8’s booster is much stronger and has a sustainer which the PL5 doesn’t have
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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.
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It’s like Magic 2 good acceleration also due to its weight.
Oh, Sweet, Tysm.
In reality, the PL-5EII actually features a superior dual-band four-element seeker compared to the PL-8B’s four-element seeker.
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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)
If you have sources for either it would be better for discussion, I don’t think you quite understand what the terminology means.
Whatever makes you feel like it will perform better.
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@Yamahagi 's own bug report on the matter
https://community.gaijin.net/issues/p/warthunder/i/Vm2IhvAqFgYY
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.
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That’s mostly because pl5e2 is export product while pl8b is used domestically only right? Pl9c is basically export pl8b
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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.
yeah