The picture shows a new type of missile called the PL-13, which is the first appearance of the missile. 
图中显示了一种名为PL-13的新型导弹，这是该导弹的首次亮相。
 

After photos emerged online in 2013 showing the J-20 — China's first generation fighter — carrying two types of missiles suspended from its weapons bay during a test flight, the Global Times, a tabloid under the auspices of the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, reported that one of the missiles may be the PL-13, the nation's fifth generation air-to-air missile.

2013年，网上出现了中国第一代隐形战斗机歼-20携带两种导弹的照片，这些导弹在试飞期间悬挂在其武器舱内。中国共产党官方《人民日报》赞助的报刊《环球时报》报道，其中一种导弹可能是PL-13，国产第五代空空导弹。

 

The picture shows a new type of missile called the PL-13, which is the first appearance of the missile. From the disclosed picture, the PL-13 adopts a double-inlet ramjet engine, which is very similar to Russia. The latter was a kind of joint development between the "Purple Flag" Design Bureau and the French company Matra in the early 1990s.

图中显示了一种名为PL-13的新型导弹，这是该导弹的首次亮相。从公开的图片来看，PL-13采用了双进气道冲压发动机，这与俄罗斯非常相似。后者是“信号旗”设计局和法国马特拉（Matra）公司在20世纪90年代初联合开发的。

 

With similar capabilities to the AIM-9X missile of the United States, the J-20 carrying a PL-13 missile would be able to counter the F-22 stealth fighter in a potential air war against the United States, the paper said. The aerodynamic rudder of the PL-13 looks very similar to the Russian-built R-27, but the design of its strake wing is more like the R-77, another Russian-designed missile.

该报称，与美国的AIM-9X导弹具有类似的能力，携带PL-13导弹的J-20将能够在针对美国的潜在空战中对抗F-22隐形战斗机。PL-13的气动方向舵看起来与俄罗斯制造的R-27非常相似，但其边条机翼的设计更像俄罗斯设计的另一种导弹R-77。

 

As the PL-13 can reach hypersonic speeds of Mach 5, it is nearly impossible for aircraft to evade the missile after it is launched. With a combination of the Active Phased Array Radar and the PL-13 air-to-air missile, none of the US-built fighters currently used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force would be able to match the J-20 in a potential air war.

由于PL-13可以达到5马赫的高超音速，飞机几乎不可能在导弹发射后躲避它。由于有源相控阵雷达和PL-13空对空导弹的结合，目前日本空中自卫队使用的美国制造的战斗机在潜在的空战中都无法与J-20匹敌。

 

The China Luoyang Air-to-Air Missile Research Institute is interested in using ramjet engines to further improve the PL-12 missiles. The appearance of the PL-13 air-to-air missile image points to the possibility that the Vympel Missile Design Bureau of Russia sold the technology for manufacturing such missiles to China. The PL-13 air-to-air missile image shows that the missile uses an aspirated ramjet engine with two air inlets.

中国洛阳空空导弹研究所有意使用冲压发动机进一步改进PL-12导弹。PL-13空空导弹图像的出现表明，俄罗斯“三角旗(Vympel)”导弹设计局可能将制造此类导弹的技术出售给中国。PL-13空对空导弹图像显示，该导弹使用带有两个进气口的吸气式冲压发动机。

 

The PL-13 image appears to show a two-intake ramjet motor, a configuration that Vympel had come to prefer as it was developing its R-77M-PD, following early 1990s collaboration with France’s former MATRA Corporation. The ramjet intake shape on the PL-13 appears to conform to one known Vympel configuration. Furthermore, the four cruciform fins at the front end of the PL-13 are also characteristic of other Vympel missiles like the R-27.

PL-13图像似乎显示了一个双进气口冲压发动机，在20世纪90年代初与法国前马特拉公司合作后，“三角旗”导弹设计局在研发R-77M-PD时更喜欢这种配置。PL-13上的冲压发动机进气道形状似乎符合一种已知的“三角旗”导弹设计局配置。此外，PL-13前端的四个十字形尾翼也是R-27等其他“三角旗”导弹设计局导弹的特点。

 

But the front and rear cross-wing wings of the Chinese PLA-13 air-to-air missile are quite similar to the R-27 missile developed by the Pennant Missile Design Bureau. At the same time, the ramjet technology used by China's PL-13 missiles may also come from South Africa, and South Africa has a project called "Remote Air-to-Air Missiles" (LRAAM).

但中国PLA-13空对空导弹的前后交叉翼与“三角旗”导弹设计局研发的R-27导弹非常相似。与此同时，中国PL-13导弹使用的冲压发动机技术也可能来自南非，南非有一个名为“远程空空导弹”（LRAAM）的项目。

 

The range of the R-77M-PD missile can reach 160 kilometers, and the range of the PL-13 missile should be similar or even further. Since the PL-13 air-to-air missile adopts an air-jet ramjet engine, it should be able to fly at high speed. It is estimated that it can reach 4 times the speed of sound.

R-77M-PD导弹的射程可以达到160公里，而PL-13导弹的射程应该是相似的，甚至更远。由于PL-13空对空导弹采用了喷气冲压发动机，它应该能够高速飞行。据估计，它可以达到音速的4倍。

 

The "Poliage Design Bureau" has already introduced passive guidance R-27 and R-77 to the international market. It can be assumed that PL-13 also has a similar passive guidance mode. In the wartime, this passive mode is very conducive to attacking high-value support planes such as airborne early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, and aerial refueling aircraft. In addition, PL-13 can also be used as a basic platform to develop light anti-radiation missiles or supersonic anti-ship missiles in the future.

“三角旗设计局”已经将被动制导R-27和R-77引入国际市场。可以假设PL-13也有类似的被动制导模式。在战时，这种被动模式非常有利于攻击空中预警机、电子战机、空中加油机等高价值保障飞机。此外，PL-13还可以作为未来发展轻型反辐射导弹或超音速反舰导弹的基础平台。