PL-21 explained

PL-21
Type:	Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile
Diameter:	(estimated)^[1]
Is Missile:	yes
Is Vehicle:	yes
Origin:	People's Republic of China
Used By:	People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
Manufacturer:	Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology
Vehicle Range:	300 km ^[2] ^[3]
Weight:	250 kg
Guidance:	Active radar with AESA
Launch Platform:	Chengdu J-20 Shenyang J-16

The PL-21 or PL-XX is an under development^[4] active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile by the People's Republic of China.

Development and history

The PL-21 is estimated to have a range of over 300 kilometers and powered by a ramjet engine.

Book: Wood . Peter . Yang . David . Cliff . Roger . Air-to-Air Missiles: Capabilities And Development In China . November 2020 . China Aerospace Studies Institute . Montgomery . 9798574996270 . 9 February 2022 . 19 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220209154538/https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/Books/2020-11-%2030%20Air-to-Air%20Missiles%20and%20Guidance%20Systems.pdf?ver=C8qY98R8IETgcweqak0tqA%3D%3D . dead .

Web site: This new ramjet engine could triple the range of Chinese missiles. 12 June 2017 .
Web site: The US Wants To Arm Fighters With These New Long-Range Missiles To Hunt Down China & Russia's Best Jets.
Web site: China's New Fighter Jet Is A Problem For Australia.
News: PL-21 Emerges: China’s Deadliest Air-to-Air Missile May Soon Arm Pakistan’s Stealth J-35A . 27 May 2025 . The PL-21, which remains under active development by Chinese defence firms, is envisioned as a next-generation missile capable of targeting AWACS, refuelling tankers, and electronic warfare aircraft from ranges exceeding 400 kilometers. . Defence Security Asia.