SOURCE: AFI
In a significant development during the recent India-Pakistan clash, India has claimed a decisive victory in countering Pakistan’s use of the Chinese-supplied PL-15E beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs). The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully neutralized the missiles, fired by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets such as the JF-17 Block III and J-10CE, through advanced electronic warfare (EW) techniques. According to Indian defense officials, the IAF’s EW systems effectively jammed the datalink and seeker of the PL-15E missiles, rendering them ineffective during long-range engagements aimed at Indian fighter jets.
The clash, part of escalating tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, saw Pakistan deploy its Chinese-supplied arsenal in an attempt to challenge India’s air superiority. The PL-15E, an export variant of China’s advanced PL-15 missile, boasts a range of 145 km, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar seeker, and a two-way datalink for mid-course updates. Despite these features, India’s robust EW capabilities disrupted the missile’s guidance systems, preventing it from locking onto IAF jets like the Rafale and Su-30 MKI. This success underscores India’s technological edge in modern aerial warfare, particularly in countering advanced missile systems.
Further evidence of the PL-15E’s failure emerged as India recovered multiple missile debris on its soil. As reported by idrw.org, one near-intact PL-15E was discovered in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, on May 9, 2025, complete with critical components such as the propulsion system, datalink, inertial reference unit, and seeker section. Additionally, at least three to four more PL-15E missiles were recovered in the same region, showing signs of damage but no indication of explosion. This suggests the missiles either failed to acquire their targets or were incapacitated mid-flight, likely due to India’s EW interference, before crashing harmlessly.
The IAF’s ability to jam the PL-15E’s datalink and seeker highlights the effectiveness of India’s multi-layered defense strategy. Systems like the S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ and indigenous Akash air defense platforms, combined with advanced EW suites on IAF jets, played a pivotal role in neutralizing the threat. The Rafale’s SPECTRA electronic warfare system, known for its frequency agility and low probability of intercept (LPI) modes, likely contributed to evading the PL-15E’s AESA seeker, which struggled to maintain a lock under heavy jamming. This operation, dubbed Operation Sindoor, showcased India’s preparedness to counter emerging aerial threats, even from sophisticated weaponry supplied by China to Pakistan.
The recovery of the near-intact PL-15E has provided India with a rare opportunity to study China’s missile technology. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is analyzing the debris to understand the missile’s propulsion efficiency, seeker algorithms, and datalink encryption. Insights gained could enhance India’s indigenous missile programs, such as the Astra Mk-2 and Mk-3 BVRAAMs, and improve EW countermeasures to further neutralize similar threats. This development has also drawn international attention, with countries like the United States, South Korea, and Japan reportedly expressing interest in examining the debris to better understand China’s advancing defense technology.
Pakistan’s reliance on the PL-15E, integrated with its fleet of approximately 65–70 JF-17 Block III and J-10CE jets, was intended to shift the aerial balance in its favor. However, the missile’s failure to penetrate India’s defenses raises questions about its operational reliability, especially under contested electronic environments. The JF-17’s smaller KLJ-7A AESA radar, with an estimated detection range of 100–120 km, may have further limited the PL-15E’s effectiveness, as it struggled to provide the necessary guidance at extended ranges. This clash has exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s aerial strategy, potentially prompting a reevaluation of its dependence on Chinese-supplied systems.
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