PL-3 was the first indigenously developed AAM in China. Originally, the idea was to build an improved version of Vympel K-13 in increasing speed, range, precision, lethality and maneuverability. The main contractor was the 612th Research Institute (later reorganized as Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC)).

PL-3型是中国第一种本国发展的空对空导弹（AAM）。 最初的想法是，通过提高速度，射程，精度，杀伤力和机动性来研制Vympel K-13的改进版本。主要承包商是第612研究所（后改组为洛阳光电技术发展中心（EOTDC））。

 

However, after the program begun in June 1962, the original goal proved to be too technologically ambitious for the Chinese industry back then to achieve. Additionally, Cultural Revolution occurred several years later also greatly affected the progress of the PL-3 program. As a result, PL-3 project had borrowed heavily from PL-2 and the program was protracted: after the 1st batch of 20 missiles completed in June 1968 and the 2nd batch of 30 completed in December 1969, the necessary tests was not completed until November 1974, four years after the initial start in 1970. The missile finally received its state certification in April, 1980, and 50 production version missiles was completed by 1981. However, during training and evaluations, it was revealed that PL-3 did not significantly outperform PL-2, and furthermore, all experience gained from PL-3 can be readily incorporated in the PL-2 improvement efforts, so there was no need to have an additional separate AAM program when the requirement could be meet by just one. Consequently, PL-3 was terminated in 1983. 

然而，该计划于1962年6月开始实施后，最初的目标对于当时的中国工业而言在技术上过于雄心勃勃。此外，几年后发生的文化大革命也极大地影响了PL-3型计划的进度。结果，PL-3型项目大量借用PL-2型项目，并且该计划被拖延：在1968年6月完成第一批20枚导弹和1969年12月完成第二批30枚导弹之后，直到1974年11月才完成必要的测试，即1970年首次启动的四年之后。该导弹终于在1980年4月获得了国家认证，到1981年已经完成了50枚生产型导弹。但是，在训练和评估过程中，发现PL-3型的性能并没有明显优于PL-2型，此外，从PL-3型获得的所有经验都可以轻松地纳入PL-2型的改进工作中，因此，当一个单独的AAM计划可以满足要求时，就不需要再制定一个单独的AAM计划。因此，PL-3型计划于1983年终止。

 

Specifications:

规格：

 

Max range: 11.5 km

Min range: 1.3 km

Max speed: Mach 2.5

Max altitude: 23 km

Weight: 93 kg

Length: 2.123 m

Diameter: 135 mm

Wingspan: 654 mm

最大射程：11.5公里

最小射程：1.3公里

最大速度：马赫数2.5

最高海拔高度：23公里

重量：93公斤

长度：2.123米

直径：135毫米

翼展：654毫米