IAF Shows Debris Of Chinese-Origin PL-15 Used By Pakistan, Know About Long-Range Air-To-Air Missile

<p class=”p1″><span class=”s2″><strong>China PL-15 Missile</strong></span>: Amid the recent four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan, reports indicate that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) deployed Chinese-made PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles during aerial operations. Developed by the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, the PL-15 is considered one of its most advanced missile systems and has been integrated into the PAF&rsquo;s latest fighter aircraft.</p>
<p class=”p1″>Addressing a briefing, Air Marshal AK Bharti on Monday informed, “Over the past week, several enemy threats were neutralised. Displayed visuals include debris from a Chinese-origin PL-15 missile that missed its target, fragments of a long-range rocket, and downed unmanned aerial systems. Among them is the YIHA system, also of Chinese origin, used by Pakistan.” He later issued a correction saying that the YIHA drones are of Turkish origin.</p>
<p class=”p1″>The remarks came as the Indian military showed the debris of a likely PL-15 air-to-air missile, which is of Chinese origin and was used by Pakistan during the attack on India. The wreckage of the Turkish-origin YIHA and Songar drones that were shot down by India has also been shown.</p>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”>
<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#WATCH</a> | Delhi | The Indian military shows the debris of a likely PL-15 air-to-air missile, which is of Chinese origin and was used by Pakistan during the attack on India.<br /><br />The wreckage of the Turkish-origin YIHA and Songar drones that were shot down by India has also been shown <a href=”https://t.co/kWIaIqnfkQ”>pic.twitter.com/kWIaIqnfkQ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href=”https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1921860912526291243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p>Indian forces reportedly thwarted many of these attacks using an integrated air defence network that includes the S-400 systems, Akash surface-to-air missiles, Barak 8 defences, and anti-drone technologies.</p>
<h3><strong>What Is the China-Made PL-15 Missile?</strong></h3>
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<p class=”p1″>The PL-15 is a radar-guided, long-range air-to-air missile developed by the Luoyang-based China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA). It employs a combination of inertial, satellite navigation, datalink, and active radar guidance systems. According to <em>Global Times</em>, the missile was test-fired in 2011 and inducted into China&rsquo;s military in 2015. It has been deployed on platforms such as the Chengdu J-10C, Shenyang J-16, and Chengdu J-20.</p>
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<p class=”p1″>With a maximum range of 200 kilometres and the capability to reach speeds exceeding Mach 5, the PL-15 is powered by a dual-pulsed solid-fuel rocket motor. At the 2021 Zhuhai Airshow, China showcased the export variant of the PL-15, which has a slightly reduced range of 145 kilometres. The missile measures four metres in length and has a diameter of 200 millimetres, The <em>Hindustan Times</em> reported.</p>
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<p class=”p1″>As per a report by <em>CNN</em>, the PAF has recently inducted Chinese J-10CE fighter jets&mdash;an export variant of China&rsquo;s J-10C aircraft&mdash;into its fleet. These 4.5-generation aircraft are considered a major upgrade, equipped with advanced avionics and active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. The PAF also operates the JF-17 Block III, another 4.5-generation fighter co-developed with China.</p>
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<p class=”p1″>Experts in both Pakistan and China believe the PL-15 is likely integrated with the J-10CE fighters, providing the PAF with extended-range strike capabilities reportedly reaching 200 to 300 kilometres, <em>CNN</em> reported. However, the export versions of the missile have a range limited to 145 kilometres.</p>
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<p class=”p1″>While the PAF continues to operate a sizeable fleet of US-made F-16s, <em>CNN</em> notes that they remain in an early-2000s configuration, lagging behind modern upgrades. Defence analyst Bilal Khan told <em>CNN</em>, &ldquo;So, the F-16s are still a major piece to any PAF-led reprisal, but not the central or indispensable one.&rdquo;</p>
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<p class=”p1″>The latest hostilities erupted after Pakistan launched attacks on Indian defence facilities and urban centres in retaliation for India&rsquo;s targeted operations on terrorist locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). India&rsquo;s counter-attacks included strikes on key Pakistani airbases, notably the Nur Khan station in Rawalpindi, causing significant damage.</p>
<p class=”p1″>The evolving aerial capabilities of the PAF, bolstered by Chinese support, underscore the shifting dynamics of regional air power in South Asia.</p>