China's Next-Gen PL-16 Air-to-Air Missile Reportedly Under Development
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- China is reportedly developing its next-generation PL-16 air-to-air missile, a successor to the PL-15 which serves as the backbone of its air force.
- The development comes amid the US's own advancements with the AIM-260 missile.
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It comes weeks after the first image emerged of the US Air Force’s new AIM-260 air-to-air missile – a joint advanced tactical missile with a range of at least 193km (120 miles).
It is not clear when the AIM-260 will enter service, but US officials have cited China’s PL-15 missile as a key driver for the programme.
The PL-15 currently serves as the backbone of the Chinese air force’s missile inventory. Its next-generation successor, the PL-16, has reportedly been under development in recent years though details remain highly classified.
However, an image has surfaced online of what is said to be a briefing slide on the development of air-to-air missiles in China – from the PL-11 to the PL-12, the PL-15 and the new PL-16.
The authenticity of the image has not been independently confirmed.
