Famous Chinese Shopping City Books

SD-10 Wikipedia

image:www.jf-17.com/sd-10/wwwjf-17com0002.jpg

The SD-10 is a BVRAAM (Beyond visual range Air to Air Missile) developed for the People's Liberation Army Air Force. The early versions are speculated to be at least equivalent to United States' AIM-120B AMRAAM system. BVRAAMs have become a very important weapon in modern air-to-air combat & have become a requirement of every Air Force.

The SD-10 is also another joint venture between China & Pakistan (like JF-17 & K-8).

Denied the chance of having new F-16s, MLU of its current fleet & AIM-120 AMRAAMs by USA in 1990s & the inclusion of BVRAAMs by Pakistan's long time foe India sent Pakistan to its long time ally China to develop their own versions of BVRAAM.

The countries which were denied AIM-120 AMRAAMs by the US have gradually become interested in the concurrent JF-17 program because of the SD-10, but both China & Pakistan are reluctant to sell it. Egypt for one became interested in JF-17 because of SD-10. They are also interested in Technology transfer of JF-17 it self. Earlier Pakistan & China had agreed technology transfer of K-8 advance trainers to Egypt. However it is speculated that Egypt too like North Korea, Bangladesh, Nigeria & Zimbabwe would be denied SD-10 early on.

Due to Pakistan's good relations with South Africa, it is speculated that SD-10 would be denied to Zimbabwe even though the entire Zimbabwian Air Force was formed by Pakistan Air Force. Both China & Pakistan feel that the missile are too sensitive to be sold to North Korea, while Bangladesh & Nigeria may not be able to afford it.

Besides JF-17 Thunder the SD-10 will also be mounted on China's J-10 fighters. Some F-7 Skybolt|F-7 PG versions may also be mounted with it, however it would still not save F-7s from being grounded & mostly be replaced by JF-17s.

airlistbox

Category:Air-to-air missiles
Category:Weapons of the People's Republic of China
Category:Modern Chinese weapons

Last Modified:   2005-11-04