the image of a formation of fighter jets conducting real combat training, released on the english version of the chinese military website, has completely gone viral on the internet. apart from sparking heated discussions among domestic netizens, who h
*e been expressing their views through various forms of social media such as weibo, wechat moments, twitter, and more, it has also led to extensive coverage by numerous foreign military websites. earlier, a photo of a j-16 fighter jet carrying a whit
e "light pole missile" appeared on chinese social media, which netizens interpreted as the legendary pl-17 ultra-long-range air-to-air missile with dual-pulse capability, a maximum range of over 400 kilometers, and a maximum no-escape zone of 200 kilo
meters. however, the chinese military and domestic authoritative media h**e not publicly reported or responded to this. the rumor about the chinese air force's j-16 being equipped with the pl-17 ultra-long-range air-to-air missile, which features mult
i-mode guidance, communication data links, and networked guidance, quickly faded after a brief uproar.in a photo credited to photographer zhao yutong, a formation of four fighter jets affiliated with a certain **iation brigade of the chinese air for
ce can be seen conducting real combat training. two of the jets are j-16 multi-role fighter jets carrying a total of 10 air-to-air missiles, including 4 pl-10, 1 pl-12, 4 pl-15, and 1 pl-17. the pl-17 ultra-long-range air-to-air missile, in particular
has attracted considerable attention due to its longer and thicker body compared to the pl-10, pl-12, and pl-15. this distinct feature is clearly visible in the photo, le**ing a deep impression on netizens.PL-17是一种超远程空对空导弹，被网友戏称为预警机、轰炸机、运输机、加油机、反潜机等。
军用飞机的“杀手锏”射程超过400公里（一些外国军方**声称射程可达500公里）。 这使得PL-17成为世界上射程最远的空对空导弹，可谓独一无二。 与正在研制中、尚未投入服役、射程可达260公里的AIM-260超远程空对空导弹相比，PL-17的技术指标已经遥遥领先。 据悉，PL-17最高飞行速度可达6马赫，超过5马赫的导弹被称为“高超音速导弹”，这表明PL-17是一种高超音速超远程空对空导弹。 其制导方法采用双向数据链和机载有源相控阵（AESA）导引头相结合，具有强大的电子对抗能力。
在接收到预警机的空中态势信息后，即使歼-16的机载雷达尚未探测并锁定目标，也能及时发射PL-17导弹，配合预警机，进行“A发射B导”的制空作战，在空中猎杀上述预警机等大型军用飞机。 PL-17已正式装备中国空军，成为歼-16多用途战斗机的标准配置，将加强中国空军的远程制空作战能力，实现战略转型。 文章还提到，PL-17导弹的发展引起了美国军方的高度重视。
美国空军正在加速部署高度机密的AIM-260联合先进战术导弹以及其他远程空对空导弹计划，这主要是由于对中国PL-17超远程空对空导弹正式服役的担忧。 泰勒·罗格威担心，洛克希德·马丁公司的下一代AIM-260空对空导弹仍在研制中，而中国已经装备了具有超远程打击能力的PL-17空对空导弹，使美国导弹相形见绌。 目前在中国空军服役的PL-15远程空空导弹采用双脉冲推进技术，最大射程已超过200公里，超过了美国空军AIM-120D空空导弹的最大射程160公里的水平。
中国空军正式宣布使用PL-17超远程空空导弹，表明中国在空空导弹领域已达到世界顶尖水平，领先于其他国家，这无疑增强了中国空军的战略威慑能力。 这些事态发展令美国感到担忧，促使美国加快部署相关导弹，以保持军事优势。