air-to-air missileThe PL‑16 may achieve a range of over 300 km (186 mi) through a variable‑thrust rocket motor, as suggested by an unverified online image.
This development follows the recent emergence of images depicting the U.S. Air Force’s newly unveiled AIM‑260 air‑to‑air missile, a joint advanced tactical weapon with a minimum range of 193 km (120 mi).
While the precise timing of the AIM‑260’s operational deployment remains uncertain, U.S. officials have identified China’s PL‑15 missile as a primary driver of the program.
The PL‑15 currently forms the core of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s missile portfolio. Its anticipated successor, the PL‑16, has been under development in recent years, though specific details remain highly classified.
An online image reportedly shows a briefing slide outlining China’s air‑to‑air missile evolution, progressing from the PL‑11 through the PL‑12, the PL‑15, and the forthcoming PL‑16.
The credibility of the image has not been independently verified.
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