India's capture of Chinese missile tech reshapes air defense
India has found fragments of the PL-15 missile, which could significantly enhance the capabilities of the Indian Air Force within a decade, potentially posing challenges for China.
The most recent "hot episode" in the relations between India and Pakistan ended with an air battle between their air forces, during which the Indians lost their first Rafale aircraft.
According to the portal The National Interest, Indian soldiers captured fragments of a Chinese medium-range air-to-air PL-15E missile launched by a Pakistani JF-17 Thunder aircraft. This is a significant asset for India, as they may be able to uncover its secrets.
Valuable Chinese PL-15E missile - here's how the Indians might have acquired it
It's worth noting that every new missile is typically equipped with a self-destruct mechanism designed to detonate it after a specified time to hinder reverse engineering by adversaries. However, like any mechanical or electronic component, it can be unreliable and may not have worked, as missiles are subjected to enormous forces.
Now, the Indians will try to recreate the components missing in their national weapons development program. Their focus will likely be on the active radar seeker with active electronically scanned array (AESA) and the communication link that ensures connectivity between the launched missile and the aircraft, allowing for updates to the target's location or even changes in its flight path. It's also possible that the Americans, among others, may seek access to the data or wreckage.
PL-15E - the export version of a weapon feared by Americans
The PL-15 missile was designed by the China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA) and first appeared in Chinese media in 2015. This was not a coincidence, as the new missile was expected to enter service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) between 2015 and 2017. Therefore, outside of China, it has only been delivered to Pakistan, making it relatively new.
The PL-15 measures approximately 4 metres in length with a diameter of 20 centimetres, and it has an estimated range of over 200 kilometres, significantly exceeding the capabilities of even the latest versions of the AIM-120D AMRAAM. This is why it is a major concern for Americans, who are working on developing countermeasures under programs such as XAIM-174B or AIM-260 JATM.
The exact secrets of the PL-15 are unknown, but it is believed to have a two-stage rocket motor that can propel the missile to speeds of Mach 5. It's also capable of short-term operation in its final flight phase to increase the chances of intercepting the target. It's worth noting that the export version, the PL-15E, is said to have a shorter range, estimated at 150 kilometres compared to the version reserved for the People's Republic of China.
