PL-15 vs Python (missile): Specs Compared

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AMissiles

PL-15

Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile

Credit

颐园居 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

BMissiles

Python (missile)

Short-range air-to-air missile

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

PL-15PL-15E

3.996 m

Length source ↗

Python (missile)Length

3.1 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Measured figures

Head to head

12 of 39 rows sourced on both sides

4mPL-15E

3.1m

Length

All recorded figures & sources

3.996 m

PL-15E

Single source

399.6 cm (13 ft 1.3 in) (PL-15E)^[source]

3.1 m

Length

Single source

Configuration

Details

PL-15 and Python (missile) configuration
Specification	PL-15	Python (missile)
Speed	Mach 5+^[source]	Mach 4^[source]
Type	Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile^[source]	Short-range air-to-air missile^[source]
Place of origin	People's Republic of China^[source]	Israel^[source]
In service	2016–present^[source]	—
Manufacturer

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

Guidance system	Active radar homing^[source]	infrared homing + 320×240 pixel dual waveband electro-optical imaging seeker, lock on after launch, with infrared counter-counter-measures (IRCCM)^[source]

Launch platform	J-20 , J-35 , J-10C , J-15T , J-16 , J-11BG , JF-17 Block-3^[source]	Aircraft: BAE Sea Harrier CASA C-101 Aviojet F-4E Kurnass 2000 F-5E/F Tiger-II McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Dassault Mirage III Dassault Mirage 5 Dassault Mirage 2000 Eurofighter Typhoon IAI Nesher/Dagger/Finder IAI Kfir HAL Tejas KAI T-50 Golden Eagle Leonardo M-346FA Master Saab JAS 39 Gripen Sukhoi Su-30MKI Su-25KM Scorpion^[source]

Used by	People's Liberation Army Air Force^[source]Operator listed in the retained article; inventory date not specified People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force^[source]Operator listed in the retained article; inventory date not specified Pakistan Air Force^[source]Operator listed in the retained article; inventory date not specified	See operators^[source]

Used by

People's Liberation Army Air Force^[source]Operator listed in the retained article; inventory date not specified

People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force^[source]Operator listed in the retained article; inventory date not specified

Pakistan Air Force^[source]Operator listed in the retained article; inventory date not specified

See operators^[source]

Wars	—	Yom Kippur War Falklands War 1982 Lebanon War 2006 Lebanon War^[source]

Unit cost	—	Shafrir series: Shafrir-1: US$20,000^[source]

Produced	—	Shafrir series: 1961–1983 Python series: 1980–present^[source]

Warhead	—	11 kg (24 lb 4 oz)^[source]

Detonation mechanism	—	proximity^[source]

Flight altitude	—	N/A^[source]

Reported operators	—	Reported operator · Argentina Reported operator · Bolivia Reported operator · Brazil Reported operator · Chile Reported operator · China Reported operator · Colombia Reported operator · Ecuador Reported operator · El Salvador Reported operator · Georgia Reported operator · Honduras Reported operator · India Reported operator · Israel Reported operator · Philippines Reported operator · Romania Reported operator · Singapore Reported operator · Republic of China (Taiwan) Reported operator · Thailand Reported operator · Venezuela Reported operator · Vietnam