Why would the purple not be present?
Why would it not be an “actual” AAM4B seeker? Your arguments aren’t totally justified ATM imo.
Obviously the AAM-4B seeker structure being shown isn’t production and has some kind of horn on it for whatever reason
The PL-12AE differs significantly from the early PL-12. The more noticeable external differences include: a small fuze antenna similar to the PL-15E (orange arrow, located at the front of the missile body, appearing as a red strip or reddish-brown short strip), a longer cable tray (green arrow, on the lower part of the missile body, connecting the flight control compartment and the servo mechanism), and the same position for the solid rocket motor ignition safety device (purple arrow, for Chinese missiles located at the very front of the motor).
As seen in the images, the PL-12AE has significantly reduced the length of its flight control compartment, warhead, and seeker. It is speculated that it may heavily incorporate technology from the PL-15E, with a relationship to the original PL-12 akin to that between the MICA and MICA NG.
The images below, from top to bottom:
I attempted to mark the connection point between the warhead and engine with red lines (though image scale and perspective will inevitably introduce some error). By measuring pixels, the length of the PL-12AE/PL-15 motor (including the nozzle) is approximately 2450mm, an increase of about 470mm (23.7%) compared to older PL-12 (1980mm). Assuming the nozzle length remains unchanged, this extension is largely due to a longer propellant( total impulse increased by no less than 20%). Rough conservative estimate , the total impulse of the PL-12AE may reach 200kN·s, with dv 1250mps, indicating very ample power.
I assume it uses a different seeker based on the difference in radome shapes
it’s difficult to speculate on the specifics of the seeker, but this has little impact on the warthunder—after all, our current MRAAM still use largely similar seeker parameters…
However, the smaller nose cone taper (and larger fins) do result in greater drag, so the PL-12AE’ long-range performance will have a significant gap compared to the PL-15E.
It’s hard to deduce the change of the structure to the change of seeker.
Afterall it is just a structure. I’d expect some change but there isn’t even any official intro so I remain sceptical of large scale deployment. The most interesting and promising part might actually be it appearing on a drone.
It matters because PL-15E uses AESA, whereas the PL-12AE may not. The shape of the radome is important towards how it calculates radar data.
This is mostly insignificant and the main difference will be in the motor performance between the two.
Yes, just an indicator.
Could also be due to a couple other things like change of material use, which means change of strength and mass.
I suspect this missile is sort of their option for nations that are less ‘close’ than Pakistan, where PL15s may not be entrusted, so it is really just keeping the options open rather than for large scale production, and so far only mock ups are seen.
用英语，实在不行上翻译
Just use translator
AIM-120C-5 leaked… Maybe Gaijin will restore the actual range of PL-12 now or give PL-12AE, or even PL-12A (which we don’t know if it even exists)?
We really don’t need any new missiles, if they just adjusted pl12’s to what they’re supposed to be they’ll stay competitive.
Well hopefully
Apparently Gaijin said that while there is evidence to suggest PL-12 is not SD-10, they say that without concrete range figures it will be hard for them to adjust the PL-12’s performance.
The existing data is sufficient for Gaijin to accurately model the PL-12/SD-10A.
Only issue is it again says a type of ARH AA missile and not PL-12.
203mm caliber, 3.9m length, and 200kg weight correspond to PL-12 or SD-10A, while SD-10 weighs 180kg with 3.8m length, and PL-12A weighs 214kg.
Is it known to be shorter? Or is this unofficial sources.
Data sourced from early airshow display boards and an interview with SD-10 deputy chief designer Liang Xiaogeng: SD-10 measures 3.85m in length, 0.203m in diameter, 0.674m wingspan, with total weight of 180kg. Operational altitude 0-25km, maximum speed Mach 4 (achieving 38G maximum usable overload at Mach 4/6,000m altitude). At 10km altitude with 1.2 Mach head-on engagement, maximum launch distance reaches 70km.
Do u have the source for that?
Also do u have where this source comes from? The graph as in.
I can only cite the source: “Authoritative Report on China’s Most Advanced Active Radar Air-to-Air Missile - Interview with SD-10 Deputy Chief Designer Liang Xiaogeng” [J]. Ordnance Industry Science Technology, 2004(5):17-23.
However, I regret that I currently cannot provide screenshots of the original article.
edit：I’ve located the original article, though the image clarity might be suboptimal.
How about the chart of the stats?
Do u have the original article?
