AIM-9X Sidewinder vs PL-17: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

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AMissiles

PL-17

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

First system

Second system

Measured figures

Head to head

9 of 79 rows sourced on both sides

3.02m

—

Length

All recorded figures & sources

3.02 m

Length

Single source

9 feet 11 inches (3.02 m)^[source]

279mm

—

Wingspan

Configuration

Details

AIM-9X Sidewinder and PL-17 configuration
Specification	AIM-9X Sidewinder	PL-17
Speed	Mach 2.5+^[source]	—
Type	short-range 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]
Manufacturer	Raytheon^[source]	Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology^[source]

Status	Its latest variants (AIM-9X) remain standard equipment in most Western-aligned air forces.^[source]	—

Operators	USAF (the lead platform was the F-15C ) and the USN (the lead platform was the F/A-18C )^[source]	—

Introduction	November 2003^[source]	—

Guidance system	imaging infrared 128×128 element focal-plane array (FPA) seeker^[source]	Active radar homing / infrared homing / passive radiation homing .^[source]

Flight control	two-axis thrust-vectoring control (TVC) system^[source]	—

Propulsion and warhead configuration	It retains the same rocket motor, fuze and warhead of the AIM-9M^[source]	—

Cooling	internal cooling system^[source]	—

In service	1956–present^[source]	2024–present^[source]

Used by	See Operators^[source]	People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force^[source]

Wars	Second Taiwan Strait Crisis Vietnam War Yom Kippur War Iran–Iraq War Gulf of Sidra incident (1981) Falklands War 1982 Lebanon War 1989 air battle near Tobruk Gulf War Bosnian War Operation Allied Force 2023 Chinese balloon incident Gaza war Red Sea crisis Russian invasion of Ukraine 2026 Iran War^[source]	—

Unit cost	US$381,069.74 (Block II) US$399,500.00 (Block II Plus) US$209,492.75 (training missile) (All as of 2019 )^[source]	—

Produced	1953–present^[source]	—

Warhead	WDU-17/B annular blast-fragmentation^[source]	—

Detonation mechanism	IR proximity fuze^[source]	—

Engine	Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 solid-fuel rocket^[source]	Dual-pulsed solid-propellant rocket^[source]

Launch platform	Aircraft, naval vessels, fixed launchers, and ground vehicles^[source]	Chengdu J-20 Shenyang J-16^[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

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