PL-12

'Thunderbolt-12', NATO reporting name: CH-AA-7 Adze[7][8]) is an active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China.

[1] The first public information of the Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute's PL-12 – then called the SD-10 – emerged in 2001.

[10] The missile entered People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) service in 2005.

The development process was assisted by Vympel NPO and Tactical Missile Corporation and benefited from Russian technology transfers.

The domestic version of the PL-12 features a variable-thrust rocket motor with a range of 70–100 kilometres (43–62 mi), while the export variant SD-10 features a reduced range of 60–70 kilometres (37–43 mi).

SD-10A on display with the JF-17 light-weight fighter at the Farnborough International Airshow 2010.
Map with PL-12 operators in blue