PiLi-7 Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile

The PiLi-7 (PL-7) is the infrared-homing, short-range air-to-air missile (SRAAM) developed by Zhuzhou Aero-Engine Factory (ZAF). The missile bears strong resemblance to the French Magic R550, suggesting that is may be a reverse-engineering copy of the latter. The missile 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 is not equipped by the PLA.

The PL-7 development of the PL-7 began in 1982 and the first batch was test-fired in late 1984. The 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. Some suggested that the missile’s indigenously-developed infrared seeker is inferior to the Magic R550 in performance. This view was enhanced by the missile’s lack of all-aspect attacking ability.

Specifications

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

Last update: 12 October 2008