PL-10: Infrared guided sidewinder: In the late 1990s, Beijing kicked off the transformation with the PL-10, a high-off-boresight, infrared-guided short-range missile rivalling the US AIM-9X Sidewinder and Russia’s R-73 Archer. PL-12: Medium range AESA active radar guided missile: The follow-on PL-12 added a medium-range active radar-guided punch akin to the AIM-120 AMRAAM, gradually giving the PLAAF confidence that it could match or exceed Russian and Western benchmarks. PL-15: AESA ramjet In recent years, the PL-15 — reportedly featuring an AESA radar seeker and solid fuel ramjet propulsion — extended Beijing’s aerial reach further, threatening front-line fighters and support aircraft alike at ranges believed to exceed 200 km. PL-17: 400km range PL-15 The PL-17 upped the ante, with a reported operational range of 400 km, explicitly designed to push back the ‘safe zones’ where American tankers and AWACS typically orbit in support of fighter patrols. 空警-3000 空警-3000,据信搭载了划时代的共形天线技...