Difference between revisions of "PL-5B"
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! colspan="2" | Missile characteristics | ! colspan="2" | Missile characteristics | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''Mass''' || 84 kg | + | | '''Mass''' || 84.5 kg |
|- | |- | ||
| '''Guidance''' || IR | | '''Guidance''' || IR | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''Aspect''' || Rear- | + | | '''Aspect''' || Rear-aspect |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''Lock range | + | | '''Lock range (rear-aspect)''' || 5.5 km |
|- | |- | ||
| '''Launch range''' || 16 km | | '''Launch range''' || 16 km | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''Maximum speed''' || 2. | + | | '''Maximum speed''' || 2.5 M |
|- | |- | ||
| '''Maximum overload''' || 30 G | | '''Maximum overload''' || 30 G | ||
Revision as of 22:39, 9 May 2023
Contents
Description
The PL-5B is a Chinese infrared homing air-to-air missile, it was introduced in Update "Red Skies".
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
As a domestic heat-seeker AAM developed by the PRC by Institute 612, Ministry of Aviation Industry (now Luoyang Electro-optics Technology Development Centre), the PL-5 was a vast improvement over the previous model, the PL-2, with a higher tracking rate and overload.
| Missile characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Mass | 84.5 kg |
| Guidance | IR |
| Aspect | Rear-aspect |
| Lock range (rear-aspect) | 5.5 km |
| Launch range | 16 km |
| Maximum speed | 2.5 M |
| Maximum overload | 30 G |
| Missile guidance time | 23 secs |
| Explosive mass | 7.62 kg TNTeq |
Effective damage
The warhead of PL-5B was filled with 4.76 kg of HBX, equivalent to 7.62 kg of TNT, and comes with a proximity fuse that helps to blast enemy aircraft into pieces.
Comparison with analogues
At the same tier, the AIM-9J and the AIM-9P are very common and the PL-5B in many ways is similar to them in terms of explosive mass and overload, its acceleration speed is a two-bladed sword- on one hand, it caused overshoot due to its immense acceleration to top speed in merely a second; on the other hand, this acceleration also helped to shoot down enemies who had bailed from their manoeuvre, they would have a hard time dodging a missile travelling at Mach 2.2.
Usage in battles
PL-5Bs can be used in 3 ways: surprising the enemy, using it as a dogfight missile due to its surprising off-boresight capabilities and long-range snipes. Due to its massive acceleration, the PL-5B can reach a higher top speed than conventional missiles at lower altitudes. For example, whereas an AIM-9P/9J would take 3 to 4 seconds to reach its target from 2 km on the deck at high speeds, the PL-5 covers this same distance in less than 2 seconds. The missile can track targets at around 1.5 km (anywhere closer will drastically decrease the odds to payback on your foe), so surprising enemies who just missed their shots upon you or those who are chasing teammates and didn't pay enough attention to your existence is suggested to maximize PL-5B; alternatively, the immense acceleration and speed also means PL-5B can even surprise targets at even up to 6 km given the missile does constantly tracking on your designated target.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Higher explosive mass among the same tier IR AAMs that can make short work of enemies
- Excellent 30G overload
- Missile without launch overload limits such as AIM-9G and SRAAM
- Immense acceleration
- Higher range than most conventional IR missiles except the AIM-9D/G
- Short burntime while retaining very long range
Cons:
- Somewhat sensitive to the sun and flares
History
In the late 1960s, as the PL-2 was already deemed obsolete, the need for new SARH and IR missiles arose alongside the ongoing new interceptor projects. Both PL-3 and PL-5 had separate SARH (PL-5A [甲]) and IR (PL-5B [乙]) designs using the same missile airframe. Development started on both projects in April 1966, and the PL-5B had better progress by the late 1960s when it could already start its ground and airborne tests. Although the PL-5B had already completed its required tests by the 1970s, the Cultural Revolution hindered its further certifications and it would only enter PLAAF service by September 1986, while the PL-5A was cancelled in 1983 during budget cuts in the early times of economic reform.
Soon after the certification of PL-5B, the limited-all-aspect PL-5C and later PL-5E entered PLAAF service in the early 1990s alongside new domestic jets. The final version of the PL-5, named PL-5EII with a new IR seeker and up to 40G overload, entered service as the replacement of earlier missiles and was used by the JH-7A and the export JF-17 (FC-1) Thunder.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
