Munitions

PL-15 / PL-15E

Also known as
  • PL-15
  • PL-15E
  • Thunderbolt-15
  • CH-AA-10
  • CH-AA-10 Abaddon

The PL-15 is a Chinese active-radar beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, with the PL-15E export version documented in Pakistani service during the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict. Its long range, AESA seeker, data-link guidance, and recovered debris made it one of the most closely watched munitions from the May 2025 air battle, although the effects of individual missile shots remain contested in public sources.

PL-15 / PL-15E, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Munitions
Image source: PL15E Air-to-Air Missile Image

Role in Conflicts

2025 India-Pakistan Conflict
Air Defense
Side
Pakistan

Pakistan used Chinese-built PL-15E beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles during the May 2025 air battle; recovered PL-15 debris in India confirms use, while public aircraft-downing claims remain disputed.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
China
Type
Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile
Service note
Mid-2010s to present; PL-15E export use documented in 2025
Designer
China Airborne Missile Academy
Designed
Early 2010s development, with export PL-15E displayed publicly in 2021
Unit cost
Not publicly released
Produced
2010s-present
Number built
Not publicly released

Specifications

Guidance
Active radar homing with an AESA seeker and two-way data-link mid-course updates reported
Propulsion
Dual-pulse solid-fuel rocket motor
Range
PL-15 reported around 200 km class; PL-15E export variant reported around 145 km / 90 miles
Launch platforms
Reported on J-10C, J-20, J-16 and JF-17 Block III family aircraft
Role
Long-range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile
Variants

Public sources distinguish the domestic PL-15 from the PL-15E export version, with later display examples showing revised folded-fin arrangements for internal carriage.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
PL-15Domestic Chinese service missile

Baseline Chinese-service beyond-visual-range missile associated with modern PLAAF fighters and reported around the 200 km class.

Sources: PL-15 Chinese Active Radar-Guided Very Long Range Air-to-Air Missile, New Version Of Chinese PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Tailored For Stealth Fighters Revealed

PL-15EExport variant

Export version displayed at Zhuhai with a public 145 km / 90 mile range figure and documented in Pakistani service.

Sources: China Fires Longer-Range AAM at Export Market, Chinese-Made PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Components Came Down Intact Inside India

Folded-fin PL-15ECompressed-carriage export display configuration

A 2024 Zhuhai display showed a PL-15E arrangement with folding rear fins intended to improve internal carriage on stealth fighters.

Sources: New Version Of Chinese PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Tailored For Stealth Fighters Revealed

Carrier Aircraft

The PL-15 family is documented on Chinese and Pakistani fighters, with public sources distinguishing general PL-15 carriage from specific PL-15E export integration.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
Chengdu J-10C, Single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsChengdu J-10CMultirole fighter

Mitchell lists PL-15 among J-10 air-to-air missiles, and Janes reported Pakistan Air Force J-10C aircraft shown with PL-15 missiles in dual-launch wing hardpoints.

Sources: J-10 Technical Data, Janes JF-17 Block III PL-15 Integration

Chengdu J-20, Stealth air superiority fighter, Aircraft & UAVsChengdu J-20Stealth air-superiority fighter

Mitchell lists the PL-15 in the J-20's air-to-air missile fit, and IISS says the fighter can carry four PL-15s in its main weapons bay.

Sources: J-20 Technical Data, IISS APRSA 2024 Chapter 6

Shenyang J-16, Twin-engine, two-seat multirole strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVsShenyang J-16Multirole strike fighter

Mitchell lists PL-15 among the J-16's air-to-air missile options.

Sources: J-16 Technical Data

PAC/CAC JF-17 Thunder fighter, Multirole combat aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsPAC/CAC JF-17 Thunder fighterLight multirole fighter

Janes reported official Pakistan Air Force imagery showing a JF-17 Block III armed with PL-15 missiles, evidence of integration on that JF-17 variant.

Sources: Janes JF-17 Block III PL-15 Integration

Media

PL-15 / PL-15E Images

PL-15 / PL-15E, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Munitions - view 1
Source: PL15 and PL-12 Missile Image
PL-15 / PL-15E, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Munitions - view 2
Source: Operation Sindoor Briefing Showing Retrieved PL-15
PL-15 / PL-15E, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Munitions - view 3
Source: PL-15 Image
Related Weapon Systems
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Sources

Chinese-Made PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Components Came Down Intact Inside IndiaPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict direct use: PL-15E missiles were used by Pakistan during the air clashes, with missile components falling inside India; also supports radar seeker, data-link, export range, and propulsion context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03J-20 Technical DataPublisher: Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies | Note: Supports the J-20's air-to-air missile fit, including PL-15 carriage. | Accessed: 2026-07-03J-10 Technical DataPublisher: Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies | Note: Supports J-10 family air-to-air missile fit, including PL-15 carriage. | Accessed: 2026-07-03J-16 Technical DataPublisher: Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies | Note: Supports the J-16's air-to-air missile fit, including PL-15 carriage. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Janes JF-17 Block III PL-15 IntegrationPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Block III integration with PL-15 missiles and J-10C aircraft shown with PL-15 missiles before the May 2025 crisis. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Four Days in May: The India-Pakistan Crisis of 2025Publisher: Stimson Center | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict direct use: PL-15 missiles were used by Pakistan, with recovered debris in India; also supports the caveat that aircraft-loss claims and missile effects remain disputed. | Accessed: 2026-07-03PIB Operation Sindoor Air Defence MeasuresPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict direct use: the Government of India identified recovered pieces of Chinese-origin PL-15 missiles among hostile technologies documented after Operation Sindoor. | Accessed: 2026-07-03China Fires Longer-Range AAM at Export MarketPublisher: International Institute for Strategic Studies | Note: Supports PL-15E export background and the publicly stated 145 km range figure from the 2021 Zhuhai display. | Accessed: 2026-07-03IISS APRSA 2024 Chapter 6Publisher: International Institute for Strategic Studies | Note: Supports the J-20 as an associated aircraft for the PL-15 and its internal carriage of four missiles. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Air-to-Air Missiles Push the Performance, Payload EnvelopePublisher: International Institute for Strategic Studies | Note: Supports background on the China Airborne Missile Academy/Luoyang PL-15 and its AESA radar-guided air-to-air missile context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03New Version Of Chinese PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Tailored For Stealth Fighters RevealedPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports PL-15/PL-15E variant and carriage context, including folded-fin PL-15E display details and PL-15 use on modern Chinese fighters. | Accessed: 2026-07-03PL-15 Chinese Active Radar-Guided Very Long Range Air-to-Air MissilePublisher: U.S. Army ODIN Worldwide Equipment Guide | Note: Supports general PL-15 background, active radar guidance, very-long-range air-to-air role, and Chinese-origin system context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03PL15E Air-to-Air Missile ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a PL-15E mockup at Zhuhai Airshow 2024, released under CC0. | Accessed: 2026-07-03PL15 and PL-12 Missile ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for PL-15 and PL-12 air-to-air missile display, released under CC0. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Operation Sindoor Briefing Showing Retrieved PL-15Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Government of India Operation Sindoor briefing image showing retrieved PL-15 missile material, licensed under Government Open Data License - India. | Accessed: 2026-07-03PL-15 ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a PL-15 display photo, released under CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-03