AIM-54 Phoenix vs PL-17: Specs Compared

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AIM-54 Phoenix — licensed reference photograph

AMissiles

AIM-54 Phoenix

Long range BVR air-to-air missile

Credit

Don S. Montgomery, USN · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified

BMissiles

PL-17

Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (very-long-range)

First system

Second system

Measured figures

Head to head

9 of 26 rows sourced on both sides

3.9m

—

Length

All recorded figures & sources

3.9 m

Length

Single source

12 ft 9 + 1 ⁄ 2 in (3.9 m)^[source]

900mm

—

Wingspan

Configuration

Details

AIM-54 Phoenix and PL-17 configuration
Specification	AIM-54 Phoenix	PL-17
Type	Long range BVR air-to-air missile^[source]	Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (very-long-range)^[source]
Place of origin	United States^[source]	People's Republic of China^[source]
In service	1974–present^[source]	2024–present^[source]
Used by	United States Navy (former) Iranian Air Force^[source]	People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

Designer	Hughes Aircraft Company^[source]	—

Designed	1960–1966^[source]	—

Manufacturer	Hughes Aircraft Company Raytheon Corporation^[source]	Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology^[source]

Unit cost	US$ 477,131 (1974 FY)^[source]	—

Produced	1966-1993^[source]	—

Warhead	AIM-54A/B - HE continuous rod AIM-54C – HE Mk 82; WDU‐29/B continuous rod^[source]	—

Detonation mechanism	Proximity fuze^[source]	—

Engine	Solid propellant rocket motor^[source]	Dual-pulsed solid-propellant rocket^[source]

Flight ceiling	103,500 ft (31.5 km)^[source]	—

Guidance system	Semi-active radar homing and terminal phase active radar homing^[source]	Active radar homing / infrared homing / passive radiation homing .^[source]

Launch platform	Grumman F-14 Tomcat^[source]	Chengdu J-20 Shenyang J-16^[source]

References	Janes^[source]	—

Role	—	active radar-guided very-long-range air-to-air missile^[source]

Source measurement	—	The PL-17 ( NATO reporting name : CH-AA-12 Auger ) or PL-20 is an active radar-guided very-long-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The missile has a claimed range of around 400 km (250 mi) and is intended to target high value airborne assets (HVAA) such as tanker and early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.^[source]PL-17 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage PL-17 is much larger than other long-range air-to-air missiles, at 6 m (20 ft) long (whereas PL-15 , AIM-120 are measured around 4 m (13 ft) long), which contains more solid fuel. The extended length makes the missile unfit for the internal weapons bay of the Chengdu J-20 . During the flight, PL-17 would rely on inertial guidance and satellite navigation to track targets. During the terminal phase, the missile would turn on its multimodal seeker with both active radar and passive sensors. The sensors include, reportedly, a miniature active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for tracking, passive anti-radiation seeker for locating radar-equipped targets, and a possible optical window feautring an additional infrared seeker as supplement.^[source]PL-17 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The missile body features a low-drag profile, and maneuverability is provided by four small control fins and thrust-vectoring engines. Estimates for its maximum operational range may vary, but the widely reported figure is ~400 km. The missile is powered by a dual pulse rocket motor and flies in lofted launch trajectory to achieve the reported range of 400 km (250 mi) class, according to the Royal United Services Institute . It has a top speed in excess of Mach 4.^[source]PL-17 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

—

The PL-17 ( NATO reporting name : CH-AA-12 Auger ) or PL-20 is an active radar-guided very-long-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The missile has a claimed range of around 400 km (250 mi) and is intended to target high value airborne assets (HVAA) such as tanker and early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.^[source]PL-17 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

PL-17 is much larger than other long-range air-to-air missiles, at 6 m (20 ft) long (whereas PL-15 , AIM-120 are measured around 4 m (13 ft) long), which contains more solid fuel. The extended length makes the missile unfit for the internal weapons bay of the Chengdu J-20 . During the flight, PL-17 would rely on inertial guidance and satellite navigation to track targets. During the terminal phase, the missile would turn on its multimodal seeker with both active radar and passive sensors. The sensors include, reportedly, a miniature active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for tracking, passive anti-radiation seeker for locating radar-equipped targets, and a possible optical window feautring an additional infrared seeker as supplement.^[source]PL-17 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The missile body features a low-drag profile, and maneuverability is provided by four small control fins and thrust-vectoring engines. Estimates for its maximum operational range may vary, but the widely reported figure is ~400 km. The missile is powered by a dual pulse rocket motor and flies in lofted launch trajectory to achieve the reported range of 400 km (250 mi) class, according to the Royal United Services Institute . It has a top speed in excess of Mach 4.^[source]PL-17 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage