Well the controversy is whether the saved drag is worth the thrust loss which all TVC is subject to. Obviously they made the choice after consideration, but it’s still in high contentions.
It’s existence along is far from confirmed so it currently is hard to determine anything. I am really confused as to why so much stuff are revealed this year and why this wasn’t one of them. On the other hand J-20 has tested something new but the video was blurry as hell and clearly J-20 had no room for PL-17, so it could be a different designation long range missile is in testing.
considering america likely made the same compromise it seems the drag saving are pretty high and it makes sense the control surfaces on the jatm are miniscule compared to any other missile, ofc going by the renders released of the missile
considering the ranges on the pl15 seem to be more than satisfactory china might be playing the long game and specializing for their future 6th gen fleet, it might be a bit early considering they havent put the j35 in full production but that is a consideration
It could be for future drone refuelling much like the american solution. I am not sure but it could well be that they want drones to do the job and drones are really not big enough for the soft refuelling pipes. It would make sense that in the future 076s or modified would also carry some to assist the aerial refuelling.
This should be the original image. I’m not sure what this wingless missile is – it might be the rumored PL-16, or possibly a wingless training variant of the PL-15.
I mean the fact that it’s completely finless is what makes me doubtful of it being an actual missile. The overall dimensions seems to be at least consistent with PL-15 and with no considerations of drag being finless could be explained.
Where’s this from? CCTV promo video? Cause we have indeed seen some CCTV sources say ‘new AA missile tested on J-20’ except the fact it was too blurry to determine what it was.
i think its a trainning missile ? cus it does seem to have holes on the exact same spot where pl-15 has fins almost like u could fit it with fins in the exact same spot. i expect pl-16 to be a more thicker than pl15.
