Harbyharb
Registered Member
I see the point you are making, but I suggest patience and keep an eye out for future outlook. Keep in mind that both the PL-12 and PL-15, in terms of development timetables, are fairly rushed products caught in the hasty PLAAF modernization efforts where it’s less about having a conservatively sized munition and then squeeze every last inkling of performance potential out of it by adopting the best propellent, weight and drag reduction method possible(like AMRAAM and JATM with the 7inch diameter frames), but using mature technology in a generously sized design, come up with something that is combat ready now instead of in the next decade.
I know PL-15 have been stealing the show at the moment for obvious reasons, but PL-12 as it is, is still more competitive than most of the IAF arsenal save for the meteor perhaps, and in itself is a very very sizable projectile that is both larger in diameter and longer than the AMRAAM. It is entirely within China’s capability (and interest) to continuously improve the PL-12 platform, such as adopting a low-drag finless aerodynamic layout like the JATM and PL-17, composite bodies and improved propellent formula, and arrive at a product that is both very very competitive in performance but is also far more adaptable.
