The PL-8 (Chinese: 霹雳-8; pinyin: Pī Lì-8; lit. 'Thunderbolt-8') is a Chinese air-to-air missile (AAM) originated from the Israeli Python-3 AAM. Experience gained from PL-8/Python-3 had helped China greatly in developing its next missile, the PL-9.

The performance of Israeli Python-3 anti-air missile in the Lebanon conflict was observed by the Chinese military, People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) was reportedly impressed with this missile, and paid for licensed production as the PL-8 AAM in the 1980s, with the plan of producing the Python-3 with 100% local components approved by the PLAAF in 1982. The technology transfer accelerated Chinese missile development in the late Cold War. The program was code-named “Number 8 Project” (八号工程) and formally started on September 15, 1983. The missile entered service in 1986