Americans are surely going to be shocked! Foreign media reports have revealed the technical specifications of China's PL-16 air-to-air missile! On June 2nd, foreign media reported that a Chinese technical briefing slide claimed the next-generation PL-16 air-to-air missile will achieve a range of over 300 kilometers by utilizing a variable-thrust rocket engine. It also features an AESA radar seeker and a bidirectional data link.

In comparison, the domestically developed PL-15 has a range of about 200 kilometers, while the U.S. AIM-120D has a range of approximately 180 kilometers. Last year, during the India-Pakistan aerial conflict, the PL-15 air-to-air missile gained global attention, but what might surprise the United States is how quickly our PL-16 has now come into the spotlight. In fact, previous foreign reports indicated that China’s PL-16 was officially launched for research and development as early as 2018, completed full-scale type testing in 2023, and is currently entering small-scale production and limited deployment trial use stages.

This missile will be prioritized for integration with the improved J-20, the J-35 carrier-based stealth fighter, and the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft. Why is this missile’s progress drawing such intense attention from the United States? First, previously, U.S. AWACS aircraft could safely operate beyond the range of the AIM-120, commanding fighter jets without risk. If this missile truly achieves a 300-kilometer range, it would force U.S. AWACS to retreat much farther—significantly undermining the entire U.S. air command structure. Should U.S. AWACS enter the 300-kilometer range, they would face a real risk of being shot down.

Second, the current U.S. mainstay missile, the AIM-120D, falls far short in range, while the next-generation AIM-260 program has been repeatedly delayed, making large-scale, rapid replacement unrealistic in the near term. As a result, U.S. stealth fighters like the F-22 and F-35 will find themselves at a disadvantage in beyond-visual-range combat—before even reaching Chinese aircraft, they may already be within the engagement envelope, drastically eroding their former air combat superiority and potentially placing the U.S. Air Force at a disadvantage.

Third, as the U.S. loses its air combat edge, this could impact its military deployment strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. Clearly, the balance of military power around us is increasingly shifting in favor of China.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866887927789577/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.