PL-17 vs Typhon missile system: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

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AMissiles

PL-17

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

BMissiles

Typhon missile system

Transporter erector launcher

First system

Second system

Measured figures

Head to head

6 of 16 rows sourced on both sides

≈ 400kmOperational; ~

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Range

All recorded figures & sources

≈ 400 km

Operational; ~

Single source

~400 km^[source]

Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.

Configuration

Details

PL-17 and Typhon missile system configuration
Specification	PL-17	Typhon missile system
Type	Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (very-long-range)^[source]	Transporter erector launcher^[source]
Place of origin	People's Republic of China^[source]	United States^[source]
In service	2024–present^[source]	2023–present^[source]
Used by	People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force^[source]

Manufacturer	Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology^[source]	Lockheed Martin^[source]

Engine	Dual-pulsed solid-propellant rocket^[source]	HEMTT^[source]

Guidance system	Active radar homing / infrared homing / passive radiation homing .^[source]	—

Launch platform	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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