This stunning image (November 2016) indicated a new large VLRAAM was under development (PL-17?). Compared to PL-12, it has 4 tail control fins only (coupled with TVC?) and is significantly longer and thicker than PL-12 (length 5.7m, diameter 300mm). Its large size suggests the missile actually belongs to a new class of VLRAAM and not a PL-12 replacement. As the result it cannot be carried internally by the 4th generation fighters such as J-20 but is expected to be carried externally by 3.5th generation long-range fighters/interceptors such as J-16. However it may still be carried externally by J-20 underneath its wings. The missile appears to be propelled by a dual pulse rocket motor in favor of a ramjet engine, which has a smaller drag and a slimmer size. It is also speculated to fly a semi-ballistic trajectory similar to American AIM-54 in order to achieve an extra long range (range>500km, speed>Mach 4, cruising altitude 30km). PL-17 is believed to feature an advanced guidance system including a two-way datalink and a new active AESA seeker with enhanced ECCM capability. Before the launch the missile must obtain the target information via datalink from an AWACS, another stealth fighter such as J-20, a land-based long-range radar or even a satellite. The launch aircraft disengages right after releasing the missile. After the initial ascent stage, the missile may use Beidou+INS+datalink guidance from external sources during the mid-course cruising stage. At the terminal diving stage, in combination with the AESA seeker, it may also use an IIR seeker as indicated by a small optical window in its nose, which further increases its kill probability amid severe jamming. Therefore as an A2/AD weapon, PL-17 could pose a serious threat to high-value aerial targets deep behind the enemy line such as AWACS and tankers. Currently it is one of the only two types in this class besides AIM-174B. It was rumored in November 2016 that a PL-17 was test-fired successfully from a J-16. In January 2017 it was also seen being carried by a J-11B testbed. A recent image (April 2020) showing the missile being carried by a JH-7B testbed suggested that the development of PL-17 was moving forward. The latest image (November 2023) confirmed that PL-17 is in service with PLAAF and carried by a DF-4 pylon underneath the wings of J-16 (up to 2). Furthermore, PL-17 was speculated to be carried externally by J-20, but this has not been confirmed.
This new ultra long-range active radar homing AAM has been under development which appears similar to British Meteor. It features an active radar seeker and an integrated ramjet/solid rocket motor with a single or twin variable belly air inlets. PL-21 might feature 4 small stabilizing fins behind the active radar seeker, a characteristics of Russian R-27/AA-10. Two-way datalink antennas may have been installed in the tail section for mid-course correction. The maximum range of PL-21 is estimated to be 400km, effective range is 320km. It was rumored that the first ground launch test took place in March 2010. Similar to PL-20, PL-21 is expected to be carried by J-16 even Su-35S for long-range interception against enemy transport aircraft and AWACS. It is also expected to be carried internally by the new generation of stealth fighters including J-20 and FC-31.
- Last Updated 3/25/20
JG-500B (K/YJG500B/GB500/GB1) is the 2nd generation 500kg class LGB to replace the older JG-500. It features a proportional
navigation seeker which has a better precision, higher sensitivity and
is less susceptible to the windy environment. The LGB generally shares a similar design with JG-500, except for the seeker. Besides fixed targets, JG-500B can also be dropped against slow-moving targets (<30km/hr). JG-500B was first spotted being carried by a J-10B prototype in 2015 and has entered the service together with J-10C utilizing a K/JDC03A laser designation pod. A recent image (September 2017) indicated that PLAAF and PLAN JH-7As also started to carry JG-500B,
suggesting it has entered the full-scale production. The latest image (September 2020) indicated that a smaller variant of 100kg class LGB (GB100/TG100/JG100?) has entered the service with PLAAF JH-7A as well. The bomb features a 3rd generation laser/Beidou dual guidance to further improve its accuracy.
- Last Updated 1/18/24
JG-500B (K/YJG500B/GB500/GB1) is the 2nd generation 500kg class LGB to replace the older JG-500. It features a proportional
navigation seeker which has a better precision, higher sensitivity and
is less susceptible to the windy environment. The LGB generally shares a similar design with JG-500, except for the seeker. Besides fixed targets, JG-500B can also be dropped against slow-moving targets (<30km/hr). JG-500B was first spotted being carried by a J-10B prototype in 2015 and has entered the service together with J-10C utilizing a K/JDC03A laser designation pod. A recent image (September 2017) indicated that PLAAF and PLAN JH-7As also started to carry JG-500B,
suggesting it has entered the full-scale production. The latest image (September 2020) indicated that a smaller variant of 100kg class LGB (GB100/TG100/JG100?) has entered the service with PLAAF JH-7A as well. The bomb features a 3rd generation laser/Beidou dual guidance to further improve its accuracy.
YJ-83KH is an improved version of YJ-83K AShM with the radar seeker replaced by an IIR seeker (H: infrared). As the result YJ-83KH is less susceptible to normal IRCM such as flare or smoke, and has a good all-weather capability. Furthermore the missile has been speculated to have a limited land-attack capability against fixed high-value targets. Overall the missile resembles Japanese ASM-2 AshM. It is thought that the launch of YJ-83KH could be either fire-and-forget or having man-in-the-loop guidance at the terminal stage to achieve pinpoint accuracy. A blade datalink antenna can be seen on top of the forward missile body. A new datalink pod is carried by the aircraft for over-the-horizon attack. Like YJ-83K, up to 4 YJ-83KH can be carried by the naval JH-7As and H-6Gs. Its export version is called YJ-83KHE or CM-802AKG, which is claimed to have a stand-off capability against fixed land targets. CM-802AKG carries a 285kg warhead and has a range of 230km. A recent images (April 2017) indicated that YJ-83KH is currently in service with PLAN South Sea Fleet, which could be used against foreign military facilities on the Spratly Islands in South China Sea.
- Last Updated 11/3/22
This supersonic standoff missile was first on display at the 2012 Zhuhai Airshow as part of JF-17's "complete" weapon package. Unlike most modern ASMs flying at the low altitude, the missile flies a rare high ballistic trajectory, powered by a solid rocket motor. It appears that CM-400AKG may have evolved from the earlier SY-400 SRBM. Therefore the effectiveness of such attack profile is still unknown. Some specifications: weight 900kg, max range 240km, max speed Mach 5.5 (at diving stage?). It has INS during the mid-course and utilizes active/passive radar/IIR seeker with target-recognition capabilities at the terminal stage, which may improve its accuracy. CM-400AKG is speculated to have been designed to attack fixed or "slow moving", high value ground targets including large warships. Up to two CM-400AKGs can be carried by a JF-17 or JF-17C. A small yellow dorsal antenna was installed probably to provide the datalink between the missile and the aircraft. A recent image (July 2016) suggested that the program was still making progress with JF-17 seen undergoing weapon integration tests, possibly to meet the requirement of a new customer (Myanmar?). It was reported that PAF acquired 60 CM-400AKG between 2017-2018. The latest video (January 2024) confirmed that CM-400AKG is in service with PAF and could be carried by the new J-10CE as well.
- Last Updated 7/13/24
YJ-12 is first of the new generation of supersonic long-range AshMs which just entered the service with PLAN. A model of a mysterious supersonic ASM similar to French ASMP was first unveiled at the 2006 Zhuhai Airshow underneath the wing of a JH-7. However the initial speculation of a twin side air intake design as the possible configuration of YJ-12 turned out to be false. Developed by CASIC, YJ-12 appears bigger than Russian Kh-31 but smaller than Kh-41. It features an integrated liquid fuel ramjet engine with a solid rocket booster. Four long narrow air intakes are attached to the body in an "X" arrangement. The missile is thought to have a cruise speed of Mach 2.5 and a teminal speed of Mach 4. It has a range of 150-450km, depending on its cruising altitude. It typically flies a low-high-low profile. After launched from the carrier, it first climbs and cruises at a relatively high altitude before diving to a sea-skimming level at terminal stage and performs large-scale/high g maneuvers to avoid interception. Compared to the earlier YJ-83, YJ-12 is thought to carry a large warhead (250kg) capable of inducing substantial damage to large surface ships including aircraft carrier. YJ-12 was believed to have been test-fired from a modified H-6L prototype #872 between 2009 and 2010 and currently is in service with PLAN H-6L (x2) and H-6J (x4). YJ-12 was officially unveiled during the 2015 VJ Day Parade in Beijing. Its export version was first unveiled at the 2016 Zhuhai Airshow as CM-302. A recent image (April 2020) indicated that YJ-12 can also be carried by PLAAF H-6K/KG (x6). 
- Last Updated 4/27/24
YJ-9
This lightweight AShM recently entered the service with PLAN as part of the weapon package of Z-9D. Up to 4 missiles can be carried by Z-9D at a time. YJ-9 may have evolved from the earlier TL-10B developed by Hongdu. YJ-9 is a light, active radar guided anti-ship missile used against smaller FACs and gun boats (<1,000t). Its range is 15km, speed is Mach 0.8, weight is 105kg, and its warhead weighs 30kg. Besides Z-9D, YJ-9 is expected to be carried by the new Z-18F and Z-20F ASW helicopters as well. Its export version is dubbed YJ-9E. The missile has three versions depending on the guidance: YJ-9E (radar), YJ-9EA (TV) and YJ-9EB (semi-active laser). Recent news (September 2016) indicated that Zambian AF has ordered some YJ-9E ASM for its newly acquired L-15AFT aircraft. The latest video (December 2020) indicated the missile might have been upgraded with a new datalink antenna.
KF-9/9A
KF-9 (K/AKF9) is a new type of ATGM likely based on KD-10 featuring a new semi-active laser seeker and an improved solid rocket motor. Its can be carried underneath a twin rail pylon and has a range of around 10km. First seen in July 2024, KF-9 is currently in service with both Z-10 and Z-19 attack helicopters. Besides KF-9, another MMW guided fire-and-forget variant has been developed. The missile, dubbed KF-9A (?), is thought to be based upon the earlier BA-21 design and in the same class of American AGM-114L. KF-9A was first seen in a July 2020 video where it was launched from a Z-10 attack helicopter. The subsequent video showed that before the launch the target was identified and locked by the mast mounted MMW radar on top of a Z-19 scout helicopter within the helicopter formation. The target information was then transmitted to Z-10 via datalink. The later was expected to disengage right after the launch since the missile is fire-and-forget. Without the support of Z-19, Z-10 is believed to be able to fire KF-9A directly using the MMW guidance pod located underneath the missile. 
KF-10
Besides KF-9, a video released in February 2022 suggested that another type of long-range ATGM (KF-10 or K/AKF10) similar to Israeli Spike-NOLS has been developed for Z-10 and Z-19 where it can be carried underneath a twin rail pylon. The missile is speculated to feature a duel IIR/CCD seeker and is fire-and-forget. KF-10 has four (folded?) stabilizing fins mounted at the mid-section of the body and is speculated to have a max range of 25km, which allows the helicopter to launch the missile safely beyond the range of MANPADS. Consequently a small cylindrical datalink antenna was installed on the helicopter nose suggesting the man-in-the-loop technology could have been used. It might also have the lock-after-launch capability. KF-10 bears some resemblance to the earlier CM-502KG missile design developed by CASIC. 
KF-11
A recent video released in July 2022 suggested that yet another type of long-range NOLS ATGM (KF-11 or K/AKF11) has entered the service with PLA Army which is likely to be IIR/CCD guided and fire-and-forget as well. Compared to KF-10, KF-11 features four X-shaped narrow wings folded before launching from a twin rail pylon. Once the missile is launched, they will extend fully in order to achieve a greater range. KF-11 appears similar to the earlier CM-502 missile design which was developed by CASIC and has a range of 25km.
YJ1000
This 1000kg class laser guided "bunker buster" bomb is armed with a penetrating warhead designed to destroy hardened underground facilities. Developed by NORINCO, YJ1000 (previously known as YL5) was first unveiled at the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow armed with an HE warhead. In recent years the LGB has entered the service with PLAAF and is being displayed again at the 2022 Zhuhai Airshow (its exact designation still unknown). YJ1000 can be carried by JH-7A2 and J-16. It appears similar to American GBU-24.
