PL-7

The PL-7 (Chinese: 霹雳-7; pinyin: Pī Lì-7; lit. 'Thunderbolt-7') is the PRC version of the French Magic R.550 short-range air-to-air missile. It is a short-range, infrared homing missile used by Chinese fighter aircraft. It was designed by Wu Shendao, and produced at the Factory 331 (Zhuzhou Aeroengine factory) (中国株洲航空发动机厂).

== Specifications == Length - 2.74 m (9 ft) Diameter - 157 mm (6.2 in) Wingspan - 0.66 m (26 in) Weight - 89 kg (196.2 lb) Warhead - 12.5 kg (27.55 lb) Speed - Mach 2.5 (1,917.5 mph, 3,086 kmh, 1,666.26 kn) Range - 0.5 to 14 km (0.31 to 8.7 mi, 0.27 to 7.55 nmi) Guidance - Infrared homing

Operational history

During the late 1998–2001 Zimbabwean intervention in the Second Congo War, Air Force of Zimbabwe BAE Hawks were reportedly modified to be armed with PL-7s for air interception missions in support of Zimbabwean and Laurent Kabila's government forces.

== Operators == Bangladesh Bangladesh Air Force China People's Liberation Army Air Force Iran Iranian Air Force: Received at least 400 PL-7s. Democratic People's Republic of Korea Korean People's Army Air Force Myanmar Myanmar Air Force Sudan Sudanese Air Force

References

== External links == https://web.archive.org/web/20060510171721/http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl7.asp