PL-15

For the handgun with the same name, see Lebedev pistol.

The PL-15 (Chinese: 霹雳-15; pinyin: Pī Lì-Yāo Wǔ; lit. 'Thunderbolt-15', NATO reporting name: CH-AA-10 Abaddon[6]) is an active radar-guided long-range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China, used by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Naval Air Force (PLANAF), and the Pakistan Air Force.

It can reach Mach 5 and has a range of up to 300km, though the PL-15E export version that is sold to Pakistan is reported to have a reduced range of only about 145km.[7]

It is the primary beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile carried by PLA fixed-wing combat aircraft. Its within-visual-range counterpart is the PL-10.

History

A Chengdu J-20 with four PL-15 inside the weapons bay

The PL-15 is developed by Luoyang-based China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA).[8] The missile was test fired in 2011 and referenced by Chinese state media in 2015.[3] It was spotted in 2013 mounted on a prototype of Chengdu J-20.[9]

The PL-15 entered People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) military service around 2015[10] to 2017.[3] 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.[9] The PL-15 has begun to replace the earlier PL-12 as the standard beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) for both PLAAF and People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF) fighters.[4][9][needs update]

The PL-15E, the export variant, was presented at the 2021 Zhuhai Airshow. The PL-15E has less range than the PL-15, possibly due to changes in propellant or rocket motor.[9] This is similar to the situation between SD-10 and its domestic counterpart the PL-12.[9]

There were constant rumors about a variant or derivative of the PL-15 designed for compressed carriage.[11] In 2020, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reported the development of the PL-16 missile, a thinner version of the PL-15, to allow J-20 to carry six missiles inside its internal carriage.[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.[8] At the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, the export variant PL-15E was shown to have folding rear fins, increasing the internal payload of the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35.[13][14] The PL15 and PL-15E with folding fins could supplement or replace the regular PL-15 in the future.[11]

Captured PL-15 displayed by India

The PL-15E debuted in combat on 7 May 2025, during the 2025 India–Pakistan strikes.[15] Debris of PL-15E missiles fell in various areas of India during the conflict. A relatively intact rear section was found in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India. It is likely that the debris will be analyzed by Indian and possibly American intelligence.[16]

Design

Propulsion

The PL-15 uses a dual-pulsed solid-fuel rocket motor[1][3] capable of a burnout speed greater than Mach 5[17] and a range of more than 200 kilometres (120 mi). During its terminal phase, the second pulse of its motor ignites, providing additional energy and speed to increase kill probability at long distances.[18][4] If launched at supersonic speed, the missile can maintain velocities above Mach 5 for much of its flight.[5]

Airframe

The missile has a length of about 4 metres (13 ft)[4] with a diameter of about 200 millimetres (7.9 in).[19] It features cropped control fins (compared to the PL-12) designed for internal carriage by stealth aircraft.[9]

Guidance

The missile is guided by a miniature active electronically scanned array radar seeker,[20] 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.[5][9] The hybrid guidance system supports a mid-course two-way datalink led by AEW&C aircraft and autonomous terminal radar homing.[3]

Operational history

Pakistan

PL-15Es were used by the Pakistan's Air Force in the 2025 India–Pakistan strikes. This was proven on 7 May 2025, when wreckage of the missle was recovered in a field near the Indian city of Hoshiarpur after a Pakistani strike.[15]

By 13 May 2025, a 3rd intact PL-15E BVRAAM was recovered by Indian authorities. It is considered particularly noteworthy due to recovery of several key systems including the missile's propulsion mechanism, datalink, inertial reference unit and seeker section.[21]

Variants

PL-15
PLAAF domestic version with an estimated range of 200–300 km (120–190 mi).[3][4][2]
PL-15E
Export version of PL-15 with a reduced maximum launch range of 145 km[22]
PL-15E with folding fins
PL-15E with folded tail fins that likely allows J-20 and J-35 internal weapons bays to carry six missiles.[11][13]
PL-16 (CH-AA-X-13)[5]
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.[8]

Operators

 People's Republic of China
 Pakistan

See also

Similar missiles

References

  1. ^ a b Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 41.
  2. ^ a b c Chen, Chuanren (20 July 2017). "New Chinese Weapons Seen On J-10C Fighter". Aviation International News. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, pp. 38–39.
  4. ^ a b c d e Bronk 2020, p. 36.
  5. ^ a b c d "6: Waiting in the Wings: The Asia-Pacific Air-to-Air Challenge". Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2024 (Report). The International Institute for Strategic Studies. May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  6. ^ Barrie, Douglas (21 February 2023). "China's air force modernisation: gaining pace". International Institute for Strategic Studies. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Explainer | How did China's J-10C match up to French Rafale in India-Pakistan aerial clash?". South China Morning Post. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Barrie, Douglas (20 January 2024). "Air-to-air missiles push the performance, payload envelope". International Institute for Strategic Studies. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Newdick, Thomas (1 September 2022). "A Guide To China's Increasingly Impressive Air-To-Air Missile Inventory". The Drive. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  10. ^ Barrie, Douglas (21 February 2018). "It's Not Your Father's PLAAF: China's Push to Develop Domestic Air-to-Air Missiles". War on the Rocks. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Joe, Rick (30 November 2024). "Assessing the J-35A: The Chinese Air Force's New Stealth Fighter". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  12. ^ Barrie, Douglas (24 April 2020). "Air-launched missiles: a low-observable numbers game". International Institute for Strategic Studies. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  13. ^ a b Newdick, Thomas (11 November 2024). "New Version Of Chinese PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Tailored For Stealth Fighters Revealed". The War Zone. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  14. ^ Waldron, Greg (15 November 2024). "PL-15E at Zhuhai suggests China squeezing more missiles into stealth jets". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 15 November 2024.
  15. ^ a b Newdick, Thomas (7 May 2025). "China's PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Appears To Have Been Used In Combat For The First Time". The War Zone. Archived from the original on 7 May 2025.
  16. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (9 May 2025). "Chinese-Made PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Components Came Down Intact Inside India". The War Zone. Archived from the original on 10 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  17. ^ Barrie, Douglas (9 September 2022). "Air-to-air warfare: speed kills". Military Balance Blog. International Institute for Strategic Studies. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  18. ^ Newdick, Thomas (1 September 2022). "A Guide To China's Increasingly Impressive Air-To-Air Missile Inventory". The Drive. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  19. ^ Wood, Yang & Cliff 2020, p. 39.
  20. ^ Champion, Marc (7 May 2018). "Chinese Missiles Are Transforming Balance of Power in the Skies". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  21. ^ "3rd Intact Chinese-Made PL-15E BVR Missile Debris Recovered in Punjab, Send to DRDO for Propulsion and Datalink Analysis". Defence.in. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  22. ^ "China's most advanced air-to-air missile destined for export market". South China Morning Post. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  23. ^ Huang, Kristin (30 September 2021). "New version of China's most advanced air-to-air missile the PL-15 is destined for export market". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Update: Pakistan shows JF-17 Block III fitted with PL-15 missiles for first time". Default. 5 May 2025. Archived from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  25. ^ Khattak, Arsalan (6 May 2025). "PAF's JF-17s Now Carry Long-Range Missiles With Hundreds of Kilometers Range". ProPakistani. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Despite Rafale, Indian attempt to advance towards Pakistan fails". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 7 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  27. ^ "China delivers PL-15 missiles to Pakistan amid tensions with India: Should New Delhi be worried?". Firstpost. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
Bibliography