|
Hongjian -> RE: Naval and Defense News (1/20/2017 5:29:38 PM)
|
The most recent photo of the PL-15 is very bad quality/censored one, but might confirm that the J-10B/C has the capability to carry it now:
[image]http://i64.tinypic.com/m7yfci.jpg[/image]
My guess is that the PL-10/PL-15/PL-21 development schedule has closely followed this previously known chart: The dates do make sense, especially with the PL-10, which was spotted first (in 2011, onboard J-20 prototype #2002). The confusing part now is that most next gen missiles depicted on that chart now look quite different in reality - even the PL-10 does, which is still the closest one as on the chart (note the rear fins):
[image]http://i68.tinypic.com/2q1rqdk.jpg[/image]
In case of the PL-10, we actually have evidence that the earlier prototypes of that missile indeed looked closer to that one depicted on the chart:
[image]http://i66.tinypic.com/24670x0.jpg[/image]
^note the "conventional" shape of the rear fin - which looks close to that in the chart, and compare it to the PL-10E, the export version of the final production variant:
[image]http://i65.tinypic.com/rh4roj.jpg[/image]
So, my argument is that; just like the PL-10 had, all other next gen missiles have undergone partly radical changes in the developmental road - but in the end all more or less ended up in service by the time depicted plus/minus a few years: The PL-12D ramjet PL-12 has evolved into the PL-15 after giving up the ramjet in favor for dual-pulse rocket engine, the PL-21 ramjet powered "large missile" also ended up shedding the ramjet design to become the "PL-x" we have spotted onboard the J-16/J-11B etc. Latter missile, since it was spotted onboard an operaional J-11B Flanker during Red Sword Excercise on last year, has some credibility that it might be already in at least limited service or IOC, since it took part in a major confrontational excercise.
|
|
|
|
