SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant development following the India-Pakistan aerial clashes during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, India has decided to transfer debris from Chinese-supplied PL-15E Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAMs) to a friendly nation upon its request.
According to Sources close to rethe Indian Defence Research Wing (idrw.org), Indian authorities recovered at least eight PL-15E missile remnants in Indian side after the conflict, with two found in near-intact condition. While countries such as the United States, Japan, and France have expressed keen interest in accessing the missile data for analysis, one unidentified nation is set to receive broken but not completely damaged missile debris for further study. This move underscores India’s growing role in defense intelligence sharing and highlights the strategic significance of the recovered Chinese weaponry.
The PL-15E, an export variant of China’s advanced PL-15 missile, was deployed by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory campaign launched by India in response to a Pakistan-backed terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 civilians. The PAF, using its Chinese-supplied JF-17 Block III and J-10CE fighter jets, fired multiple PL-15E missiles in an attempt to counter Indian Air Force (IAF) assets. However, Indian authorities recovered eight missile remnants, including one near-intact missile and three partially damaged ones, none of which hit their intended targets. At least two missiles were found in near-intact condition, complete with critical components such as the propulsion system, datalink, inertial reference unit, and active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar seeker.
The recovered debris, particularly the near-intact samples, represents an intelligence coup for India. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has taken possession of the wreckage for detailed technical analysis, focusing on studying the missile’s guidance algorithms, propulsion efficiency, and electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities. The PL-15E’s failure to engage IAF targets, likely due to effective jamming by India’s advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems, such as the Rafale’s SPECTRA suite and the S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ air defense system, has raised questions about the missile’s reliability in combat. Indian officials have described the recovery as an “unprecedented intelligence opportunity” to dissect China’s advanced missile technology.
The recovery of the PL-15E debris has attracted significant international attention, with the United States, Japan, France, South Korea, and Taiwan requesting access to the missile data. The Five Eyes intelligence alliance (comprising the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) views the wreckage as a critical opportunity to study China’s air-to-air missile technology, particularly given its relevance to potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific, such as over Taiwan or the South China Sea. Japan, facing the threat of China’s J-20 stealth fighters armed with the more advanced PL-15 variant, was the first to gain access to detailed data on the PL-15E’s seeker algorithms and datalink encryption, with Japanese radar engineers and EW experts collaborating with Indian counterparts. France, a key supplier of India’s Rafale jets, seeks to ensure the competitiveness of its Meteor missile against Chinese systems, while Taiwan aims to bolster its defenses against the PL-15-equipped Chinese air force.
The PL-15E, with a reported range of 145 kilometers and a dual-pulse solid rocket motor capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5, is a formidable weapon despite being a downgraded export variant of the PL-15, which boasts a 200–300 km range. Its AESA radar seeker and two-way datalink enable precise targeting and mid-course corrections, making it a cornerstone of China’s air combat strategy and a significant threat to modern fighter jets. The recovery of intact components, including the guidance software and ECCM module, offers insights into China’s missile design and potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited through advanced EW countermeasures.
According to sources close to idrw.org, India has agreed to transfer broken but not completely damaged PL-15E missile debris to an unnamed friendly nation. While the identity of the recipient country remains undisclosed, the decision reflects India’s strategic intent to strengthen defense diplomacy with key allies. The debris, though not as intact as the two near-complete missiles under DRDO analysis, includes critical components such as fragments of the propulsion system and guidance section, offering valuable insights into the missile’s construction and performance. This transfer is likely to be part of a broader intelligence-sharing agreement, potentially involving technology exchange or joint development of countermeasures.
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