Amid the ongoing escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, a fully intact Chinese-made PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile has been recovered in Punjab's Hoshiarpur.
About PL-15 Missile:
The PL-15, known as “Thunderbolt-15,” is a long-range, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM).
It was developed by China’s 607 Institute and manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).
It can engage enemy aircraft at distances well beyond visual range.
Features:
It features a dual-pulse solid-propellant rocket motor, allowing it to reach speeds exceeding Mach 5.
The domestic Chinese version boasts a range of 200–300 km, while the export variant, the PL-15E, has a declared maximum range of 145 km, though operational factors may reduce this to 100–120 km depending on the launch platform.
The missile is equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 20–25 kg, optimized to destroy maneuvering aerial targets.
The PL-15 employs a sophisticated guidance system, combining inertial navigation, Beidou satellite updates, a two-way datalink for mid-course corrections, and a terminal active radar seeker using advanced AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) technology.
This suite provides high accuracy, resistance to electronic jamming, and the ability to engage targets in contested environments.
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