- LY-60 / FD-60 / PL10
The LY-60/FD-60/PL-10 is a family of
PRC missiles developed by theShanghai Academy of Science and Technology , largely based on the ItalianAlenia Aspide missile - itself a version of the AmericanAIM-7 Sparrow missile. There are four versions of the basic design, three of which are surface-to-air and one air-to-air.Development
Development of the LY-60 was precipitated by the Chinese requirement for a beyond visual range (BVR) weapons system. Directly copying the AIM-7 proved unsuccessful, after which China purchased a number of
Alenia Aspide missiles fromItaly . Hopes of locally manufacturing the missile under license collapsed after theTiananmen Square crackdown of1989 .Variants
The LY-60 (Lei Ying, "Falcon") is a
surface-to-air missile system deployed by the People's Liberation Army. It entered service among air defense units beginning in 1994. Capable of intercepting air targets at medium and low altitudes, it sports advanced command and control features not found in any of its Western contemporaries.Fact|date=February 2007A LY-60 battery consists of a surveillance radar, three tracking/illumination radars, six TELs, and support equipment mounted on trucks. Between these systems, it can detect 40, track 12 and engage 3. Incorporating the moving target tracking processing system as well as frequency agility technology gives the missile system excellent capability in an
electronic warfare environment. [http://www.sinodefence.com/army/surfacetoairmissile/ly60.asp 1]It was once thought that the naval variant, the LY-60N, will replace the HQ-61 as the point defense missile of Chinese warships. However, it would seem the weapon is passed over in favor of the
HQ-7 , which now equips theLuhai class destroyer ,Luhu class destroyer , andJiangwei class frigate , because only very limited land-based system entered Chinese service for port/harbor defense.The LY-60N was, however, exported to Pakistan in the 1990s to re-fit its purchase of 6 ex-RN Type 21 Frigates, re-classified as the Tariq class. Some Tariq class ships were fitted with 6-cel LY-60N SAM, others with 2 x 2 cel Harpoon SSM's. [http://www.pakistanidefence.com/Pak%20Navy/TariqType21Frigates.htm] This [http://worldnavy.info/arms/missiles-ciws/ly-60/ly-60_02.jpgpic] shows the LY-60N on board of a Pakistani frigate.
The PL-10 ("Pi Li", "Thunderbolt") air-to-air missile was developed for the
People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF ), and is carried by Jian J-8B fighters.Additionally, a man-portable SAM version was developed designated FY-60.
pecifications
*Length 3.69 m
*Diameter 203 mm
*Wingspan 1 m
*Weight 220 kg
*Warhead 33 kg
*Speed Mach 4
*Range AA - PL-10 60 km LY-60 18 km
*Guidance Semi-Active Radar Homingee also
*
AIM-7 Sparrow
*List of missiles
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