Sun May 11 00:40:00 UTC 2025: **Pakistan Admits Using Chinese PL-15 Missile Against India**
NEW DELHI – The Pakistan Air Force has admitted to using the Chinese-made PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile against Indian targets, marking the first known combat use of this advanced weapon. Debris from the missile was recovered near Hoshiarpur in Punjab, India, with one near-intact missile seized by Indian security forces. This discovery will allow Indian experts to analyze the missile’s technology firsthand.
The incident reportedly occurred on February 7th, following Indian airstrikes targeting terrorist camps. Pakistan deployed J-10, JF-17, and F-16 fighter jets, allegedly using the PL-15 against Indian jets near the border. While Pakistan initially claimed to have downed Indian Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI fighters using the PL-15, this claim has been unsubstantiated.
The PL-15 (Thunderbolt-15) is a long-range, radar-guided missile developed by the 607 Institute in China and manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). While the self-developed variant boasts a range of 200-300 kilometers, the exported PL-15E variant supplied to Pakistan has a reported maximum range of 145 kilometers. The missile features a solid-fuel dual-pulse rocket motor, achieving speeds exceeding Mach 5. Its active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar seeker offers enhanced resistance to electronic warfare countermeasures, and its two-way data link allows for mid-course corrections. It carries a 20-25 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead designed to effectively destroy agile aerial targets.
Experts believe the recovery of a near-pristine PL-15 missile is a significant boon for India, providing invaluable data on its seeker, propulsion system, data link, and electronic counter-countermeasures. This will help in better understanding and potentially countering this advanced Chinese weaponry.
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