Chinese Defence Today - PL-7 Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile

The PiLi-7 (PL-7) infrared-homing short-range air-to-air missile developed by Zhuzhou Aero-Engine Factory (ZAF) is a reverse-engineering copy of the French Magic R550. The development began in 1982 and the first batch was test-fired in late 1984. The formal batch production began in 1987. The PL-7 is claimed to be highly manoeuvrable, with automatic target seeking, acquisition and homing ability as well as off-boresight firing capability. The missile might be fitted with an indigenously developed infrared seeker, whose performance is inferior to it of the Magic missile. In addition, the PL-7 also lacks all-aspect attacking ability. The PL-7 has been promoted by CATIC to the export market as a part of the weapon package for the Chengdu J-7 (F-7) fighter and Nanchang Q-5 (A-5) attacker. The missile did not enter service with the PLA.

Missile length: 2.75m
Missile diameter: 0.157m
Wingspan: 0.66m
Launch weight: 90kg
Warhead: 12kg HE
Propulsion: One solid-propellant rocket motor
Off-boresight capability: N/A
Speed: Mach 2
G Limit: 35G
Range: 0.5~14km
Guidance: Tail-aspect infrared