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World Air Force News - China
 
 
PL-13 Air to Air Missile carried by Chinese J-20 jet fighter.
 
After photos emerged online earlier this year showing the J-20 China's latest jet fighter carrying two types of missiles outside of its weapons bay during a test flight, the Global Times, a tabloid under the auspices of the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, reported that one of the missiles may be the PL-13, Air to Air Missile.
     
After photos emerged online earlier this year showing the J-20 China's latest jet fighter carrying two types of missiles outside of its weapons bay during a test flight, the Global Times, a tabloid under the auspices of the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, reported that one of the missiles may be the PL-13, Air to Air Missile.
PL-13 outside J-20 weapons bay (photo credit: spotter)
     

PL-13 capabilities are thought similar to the AIM-9X missile of the United States.The aerodynamic rudder of the PL-13 looks very similar to the Russian-built R-27, but the design of its strake wing is more like a R-77, another Russian-designed missile.

The PL-13 is said to reach up to a speed of Mach 5 and has an Active Phased Array Radar guidance system. The missile is thought to have a range of more than 100km thus making it a LRAAM (Long Range Air to Air Missile).