Python-3
The Python-3 is a much-improved AAM with all-aspect attack ability, higher speed, range, and performance. It performed well before and during the 1982 Lebanon War, scoring 35 (other sources claim 50) kills.
China's PLAAF was quite impressed with this missile, and paid for licensed production as the PL-8 AAM in the 1980s. The program code named "Number 8 Project" (八号工程) and formally started on September 15, 1983. From March 1988 to April 1989, technology transfer to China was complete while license assembly and license built parts continued, and by the spring of 1989, the complete domestic Chinese built missile received state certification. The major supplier of the missile was Xi'an Eastern Machinery Factory (西安东方机械厂) located at Xi'an, and China is also reported to have developed a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) system for the PL-8.
- Length: 295 cm (116 in)
- Span: 80 cm (31 in)
- Diameter: 16 cm (6.3 in)
- Weight: 120 kg (260 lb)
- Guidance: IR
- Warhead: 11 kg (24 lb), active proximity fuse
- Range: 15 km (9.3 mi)
- Speed: Mach 3.5
| Real World against Arma | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Detail | Real | ARMA | Config Value |
| Weapon Type | SRAAM | weaponType = "x"; | |
| Mass | 120 | 120 | mag: mass = "n"; |
| Warhead Mass | 11 | 110 | ammo: hit = "n"; |
| Warhead Type | HE Blast Frag | HE | ammo: warheadName = "x"; |
| Fuse Type | Prox/impact | NOTE: No Direct Arma value | |
| Fuse Range | 3-5m | 30 | ammo: proximityExplosionDistance = n; |
| Seeker | IR | IR | See class component type |
| Auto Seek Target | No | No | ammo: autoseektarget = n; (0 or 1) |
| Counter Measure Immunity | High | 0.92 | ammo: cmimmunity = n; (Range 0 > 1) |
| Camera View Available | No | No | ammo: cameraViewAvailable = n; (0 or 1) |
| Flight Profile | N/A | N/A | ammo: flightProfiles[] = {"<TYPE>"}; |
| BoreSight Angle | 70 | 100 | ammo: missileLockCone = n; (Degrees) |
| Max Speed (m/s) | 1372 | 700 | ammo: maxSpeed = n; (n= m/s) |
| Min Range | 1000 | 250 | ammo: minRange = n; (Dist in m) |
| Max Range | 20000 | 8000 | ammo: maxRange = n; (Dist in m) |
| Indirect Hit Value | 85 | ammo: indirectHit = 50; | |
| Indirect Hit Range | 13 | ammo: indirectHitRange = n; (m) | |
| Maneuverability | 20G | 23 | ammo: maneuvrability = n; (Higher = more agile) |
| Danger Radius Hit | N/A | ammo: DangerRadiusHit = n; (Dist for AI aware in m) | |
| Suppression Radius Hit | N/A | ammo: SuppresionRadiusHit = n; (Dist for AI suppresion in m) | |
| Pylon/Rail | LAU-7,LAU127 | N/A See Hardpoint below | |
| ARMA Class details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammo | Mag | Weapon | Hardpoint |
| rksl_amo_python3 | rksl_mag_python3_x1_direct | rksl_wpn_python3 | PYTHON3_DIRECT |
| rksl_mag_python3_x1_lau127 | PYTHON3_LAU127 | ||
| rksl_mag_python3_x1_lau7 | PYTHON3_LAU7 | ||