Name: J-10C Vigorous Dragon In Action: Pakistan’s first combat use of Chinese PL-15E BVR Missile
Uploaded: 2025-05-09T04:58:52.000Z
Duration: 3 min 48 s
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The Pakistan Air Force has employed the Chinese-made PL-15E very long-range air-to-air missile in combat for the first time.

This event was confirmed when Indian authorities recovered debris from a PL-15 missile in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, amid what could be India's heaviest air losses since 1971.

On April 26, 2025, the PAF released images of JF-17 Block 3 aircraft armed with PL-10 and PL-15E missiles, marking the first official confirmation that the JF-17 is capable of deploying such air-to-air missiles.

Pakistan acquired the PL-15E under a $1.525 billion dollar agreement signed in June 2021 that included 240 missiles, 20 J-10CE fighters, and 10 WS-10B engines.

While the J-10C features a larger radome and more powerful active electronically scanned array radar.

Offering better target detection and tracking performance than other platforms in the Pakistani fleet, the JF-17 Block 3 is fitted with the KLJ-7A active electronically scanned array radar.

The PL-15E is the export version of the PL-15, developed by China's 607 Institute, China Air-to-Air Missile Research Institute.

The PL-15E has a declared maximum range of 145 kilometers, compared to the 200 to 300 kilometers range of the PL-15 used by the Chinese Air Force.

Both variants are equipped with dual-pulse solid propellant rocket motors and are capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5. Their guidance systems incorporate inertial navigation, Beidou satellite updates, a two-way data link, and an active electronically scanned array radar seeker.

The PL-15 series includes warheads estimated to weigh between 20 to 25 kilograms, typically high explosive fragmentation types optimized for the destruction of maneuvering aerial targets.

In regional terms, the PL-15E introduces new variables to Indian air defense planning.

India fields 36 Rafale aircraft equipped with Meteor missiles, which have a longer range and enhanced no escape zone capabilities due to their ramjet propulsion.

The Indian Air Force also operates approximately 272 Su-30 MKI aircraft with their 77 missiles that have a nominal range of 110 kilometers.

Furthermore, India's S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile systems provide additional air defense coverage with engagement ranges of up to 400 kilometers.

The PL-15E variant has a length of 3.996 meters, a diameter of 203 millimeters, and a weight of up to 210 kilograms.

It is powered by a dual-pulse solid rocket motor that allows it to reach speeds exceeding Mach 5.

The missile is typically fitted with a high explosive fragmentation warhead estimated to weigh between 20 to 25 kilograms. This provides strong resistance to electronic countermeasures and enables engagements at extended ranges.

The declared maximum range for the PL-15E is 145 kilometers, although operational ranges depend on launch parameters and platform limitations.

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J-10C Vigorous Dragon In Action: Pakistan’s first combat use of Chinese PL-15E BVR Missile

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