| Is Missile: | yes |
| PL-4 | |
| Origin: | China |
| Type: | air-to-air missile |
| Used By: | China |
| Engine: | Solid fuel rocket |
| Weight: | 150 kg |
| Length: | 3.2 m[1] |
| Speed: | 2695 km/h |
| Vehicle Range: | 18 km |
| Guidance: | Semi-active radar homing (PL-4A) Infrared homing (PL-4B) |
| Launch Platform: | aerial |
The PL-4 was an air-to-air missile (AAM) developed by the People's Republic of China. It was designed by the 612 Research Institute and the Zhuzhou Aeroengine factory. The first version, the PL-4A, was China's first semi-active radar homing (SARH) AAM. It was developed into the infrared homing PL-4B.
The development program started in March 1966. The design may have been influenced by American AIM-7D Sparrow wreckage from the Vietnam War. Prototype ground-testing to the original 1960s requirements was completed in November 1980, with the second phase of development starting in July 1981.[2] The program was cancelled in 1984 due to obsolescence and, with the normalization of relations with the United States - the availability of modern Western weapons.[3]
The PL-4 was intended to arm the Chengdu J-9 - which was cancelled in 1980 - and then the Shenyang J-8II. Issues with the J-8II's Type 208 radar limited SARH performance,[3] and the missile's cancellation severely affected the aircraft's development.[4]