PL-7

The PL-7 (Chinese: 霹雳-7; pinyin: Pī Lì-7; lit. 'Thunderbolt-7') is the PRC version of the French Magic R.550 short-range air-to-air missile. It is a short-range, Infrared homing missile used by Chinese fighters.^[1] It was designed by Wu Shendao, and produced at the Factory 331 (Zhuzhou Aeroengine factory) (中国株洲航空发动机厂).

An Iranian PL-7 (right)

Specifications

• Length - 2.74 m
• Diameter - 157 mm
• Wingspan - 0.66 m
• Weight - 89 kg
• Warhead - 12.5 kg
• Speed - Mach 2.5
• Range - 0.5 to 14 km
• Guidance - Infrared homing

Operational history

During the late 1998–2001 Zimbabwean intervention in the Second Congo War, Air Force of Zimbabwe BAE Hawks were reportedly modified to be armed with PL-7s for air interception missions in support of Zimbabwean and Laurent Kabila's government forces.^[2]

Operator

 Bangladesh

• Bangladesh Air Force^[3]

 People's Republic of China

• People's Liberation Army Air Force

 Iran

• Iranian Air Force

References

1. Duncan, Lennox; Hewson, Robert (2001). Jane’s Air launched Weapons, Edition 2001. United Kingdom: Jane’s Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-0866-6.
2. "HAL's Gamble – Will the "Advanced Hawk" break into the Export market?". 17 February 2017.
3. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). "Chapter Six: Asia". The Military Balance. 120 (1): 255. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707967. S2CID 219627149.

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20060510171721/http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl7.asp