PL-15

with four PL-15 inside the weapons bay The PL-15 is developed by Luoyang-based China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA). The missile was test fired in 2011 and referenced by Chinese state media in 2015. It was spotted in 2013 mounted on a prototype of Chengdu J-20. This is similar to the situation between SD-10 and its domestic counterpart the PL-12. In January 2024, the PL-16 missile was confirmed to have a smaller airframe design with folded fins and a high-performance dual-pulse motor to maintain a performance level similar to the regular PL-15. US intelligence has alleged that the range of the missile was upgraded using technology provided by UAE based AI firm G42 to Huawei. ==Operational history==

China The PL-15 entered People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) military service around 2015 to 2017. The carrying platforms include the Chengdu J-10C, the Shenyang J-16 and the Chengdu J-20. It has also been spotted on the Shenyang J-11B. marking what analysts believe to be the missile's first combat deployment. Photos of several PL-15E missile debris found inside Indian territory surfaced. A relatively intact rear section was found in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India. On 13 May 2025, the Indian authorities also confirmed the usage of PL-15/15E by Pakistan. Many circumstances could lead to the loss of missiles in relatively intact states. The recovery of the debris could offer technical insights into PL-15E's capabilities and limitations. An investigation conducted by Reuters found that the Indian intelligence underestimated the range of PL-15E. Pakistani officials claimed the PL-15 that shot down Indian Dassault Rafale aircraft was launched from about away, with Indian officials claiming even farther distance—making it one of the longest-range air-to-air kills on record. The Indian Armed Forces claims to have recovered multiple PL-15e that had landed "intact", and plan to use them as benchmarks for developing future upgrades for the Astra AAM used by the IAF. ==Design==

Propulsion The PL-15 uses a dual-pulsed solid-fuel rocket motor capable of a burnout speed greater than Mach 5 and a range of more than . During its terminal phase, the second pulse of its motor ignites, providing additional energy and speed to increase kill probability at long distances. If launched at supersonic speed, the missile can maintain velocities above Mach 5 for much of its flight. sporting both active and passive modes for the different mission set. It also features improved resistance to countermeasures and better performance against low-observable targets. The hybrid guidance system supports a mid-course two-way datalink led by AEW&C aircraft and autonomous terminal radar homing. ==Foreign sales==

In 2021, Pakistan acquired the PL-15E air-to-air missile from China as part of a $1.5 billion defense deal. The agreement included 20 J-10CE fighter jets and approximately 240 PL-15E missiles, making Pakistan the first international buyer of the PL-15E variant. Pakistan secured a $1.4 billion loan to fund the purchase of this package, including additional logistical and support services. ==Variants==

;PL-15: PLAAF domestic version with an estimated range of . ;PL-15E with folding fins: PL-15E with folded tail fins that likely allow J-20 and J-35 internal weapons bays to carry six missiles.: A further development of PL-15 that allows J-20's internal weapons bay to carry six missiles simultaneously (whereas PL-15 is quad-packed). The PL-16 missile, while smaller in dimension, features a compressed airframe, folded fins, and a high-performance dual-pulse motor to deliver equal or better performance compared to the regular PL-15. ==Operators==

; • People's Liberation Army Air Force: PL-15 • People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force: PL-15 ; • Pakistan Air Force: PL-15/PL-15E ==See also==