China obtained information on the 9B1103M in 1998. Additionally, the PL-12 did not use the original 9B-1103M radar seeker, only incorporating partial technologies from it.
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I know, but 9B1103 was derived from 9B1348 and I would say the PL12 seeker probably was really a 9B1348 seeker from R-77, cause obviously China switched to full domestic seekers later, but the exact time they got these seekers I am not sure.
Rumour goes China got earlier versions of 9B1103 tech from Ukraine, which were designed for R37 and Buk, but IDK to what extent are they the same as the Russian versions cause they are in theory developed separately.
That isn’t entirely true though, China acquired R-27 production license around the same time.
The claim that the PL-12 uses the 9B-1103M seeker is a misconception. China’s missile institutes did not import the physical 9B1103M units during the PL-12’s development. Agat provided technical collaboration and consulting, not direct hardware transfer.
Spoiler
Ukrainian involvement is even less likely, as Sino-Ukrainian defense cooperation began much later. The 9B-1348 is also incorrect – as Liang stated, the PL-12’s seeker incorporated new technologies that were still immature during the R-77’s development phase.
Spoiler
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To my knowledge, China has never domestically produced R-27s.
I think they have, or at least upgraded them, they bought production license from Ukraine I am pretty sure, from artem. Cause R27s are pretty bad at BVR, and even WVR it is pretty much useless, especially when compared to AMRAAM and MICA. PLA then looked to Ukraine for upgrades of seeker.
China did apparently buy them in large amounts as well, but some say rather than purchase they are really ‘upgrades’.
Here it says R27R but since no other missile upgrades on this websites seem to be shown they could be ERs as well.
No documents or records related to R-27 production licensing have been found within China, strongly suggesting this is a misunderstanding. The only verified information pertains to China seeking guidance system upgrades for R-27s from Artem, driven by Russia’s high pricing versus Ukraine’s cost-effective alternatives.
Both are true. In the mid-1990s, after Artem representatives engaged with Chinese in Beijing, the company upgraded existing R-27 missiles previously acquired by China from Russia and directly sold several new batches of R-27s to China.
I’ve never seen a J-16 hang a PL8 of any sort does anyone have any images or proof it can use them?
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There shouldn’t be anything to stop it from using PL8, but PL10 will phase out PL8 eventually, maybe just starting with the newer jets.
Currently affair aside, anybody knows why the “L” is omitted here?
Also for some reason the in-game PL-12 is still using the SD-10A model :(, I guess given gaijin’s efforts this is hardly surprising.
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no reason, just a strange habit of Chinese simplying.
and btw, pl-15e aesa seeker comfirmed.
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PL=Pili(霹雳, thunderbolt)=P. The same word.
SD10A=P12. Both are utilized by the PLAAF and they are entirely identical. There is another P12AE with a range of 120km.
Yes I know SD-10A = PL12 in game, but I’d rather have a PL-12 model that has P12~ serial number on it than having a copy paste SD-10A model on Chinese domestic planes.
R-77 and AMRAAM have had similar flat antenna for years, I don’t think this is conclusively an AESA.
Regrettably, all fully disclosed PL12 missile body designation numbers are labeled as SD10A, whether used by the PLAAF or the Pakistan Air Force.
tr-77 and aim-120 use planar slot antenna, and the biggest difference is that they have slots, that’s how it works.
the small holes in pl-15e’s seeker should be sockets for aesa units. the unites are blown off, only the back plate and limiting frame with jagged edge
like this
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Also notice that this is not a ‘movable’ plate, it’s stationary. Also btw there are pics of PL15 falling into people’s backyard. Can’t send the images here. But have a look in this
thread
Those were in India.
Yeah I saw the picture online and that’s why I questioned here.
I’m not convinced it’s AESA
Well I mean no better proof than this. Do u have anything that works against it or any other AESA seeker?
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It doesn’t look different than standard non-ESA radar antenna; In fact it looks older like 9B-1103M.
Here are some newer types:
Here is an alleged 64 module AESA antenna for the R-77M, I don’t know if this is accurate.
The only thing the PL-15E seeker seems to have in common with these is the squared off segments, which is shared by both ESA and non ESA arrays. The slots of the backside are no indicator of ESA or not.
