Let's talk about long range missiles
/k/
China's PL-17 is said to have a maximum range of ~300mi, compared to the *very* conservative officially stated range of 200mi of the AIM-174B.
When looking at the lazy volume estimations, the PL-17 gets 4.25m^3 while the AIM-174B gets 4.72m^3, 11% more volume.
So why the range disparity? This stems from the PL-17 being purpose built to go as far as possible as the main and only priority.
That's not the case for the AIM-174B though. Look at the control surfaces of the thing, they're massive, indicating that it should have great maneuvering capabilities. Just like how the SM-6 is used for ABM.
So the idea that a PL-17 will be any threat to anything but a legacy tanker/AWAC towards the further end of it's range is pure bullshit, considering that nothing can actually carry it internally anyway. The AIM-174b can't be carried internally either, but it can actually hit a non-cooperative target.
I would include the R-37M but zigger shit doesn't exist so it's not worth talking about it.
please jannies don't nuke this I spent 15 minutes in photoshop stitching this bullshit together
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Last: 11/10/2025, 4:21:39 AM