PL-15

The PL-15 (Chinese: 霹雳-15; pinyin: Pī Lì-Yāo Wǔ; 'Thunderbolt-15', NATO reporting name: CH-AA-10 Abaddon^[6]) is an active radar-guided long-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China, used by both the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Naval Air Force (PLANAF), as well as the Pakistan Air Force.

It is the primary beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile carried by PLA fixed-wing combat aircraft. Its within-visual-range counterpart is the PL-10.

History

A Chengdu J-20 with four PL-15 inside the weapons bay

The PL-15 is developed by Luoyang-based China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA).^[7] The missile was test fired in 2011 and referenced by Chinese state media in 2015.^[3] It was spotted in 2013 mounted on a prototype of Chengdu J-20.^[8]

The PL-15 entered People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) military service around 2015^[9] to 2017.^[3] The carrying platforms include the Chengdu J-10C, the Shenyang J-16 and the Chengdu J-20. It has also been spotted on the Shenyang J-11B.^[8] The PL-15 has begun to replace the earlier PL-12 as the standard beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) for both PLAAF and People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF) fighters.^[4][8]^{[needs update]}

The PL-15E, the export variant, was presented at the 2021 Zhuhai Airshow. The PL-15E has less range than the PL-15, possibly due to changes in propellant or rocket motor.^[8] This is similar to the situation between SD-10 and its domestic counterpart the PL-12.^[8]

There were constant rumors about a variant or derivative of the PL-15 designed for compressed carriage.^[10] In 2020, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reported the development of the PL-16 missile, a thinner version of the PL-15, to allow J-20 to carry six missiles inside its internal carriage.^[11] In January 2024, the PL-16 missile was confirmed to have a smaller airframe design with folded fins and a high-performance dual-pulse motor to maintain a performance level similar to the regular PL-15.^[7] At the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, the export variant PL-15E was shown to have folding rear fins, increasing the internal payload of the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35.^[12][13] The PL15 and PL-15E with folding fins could supplement or replace the regular PL-15 in the future.^[10]

The PL-15E first debuted in combat on 7 May 2025, during the 2025 India–Pakistan strikes.^[14] Debris of PL-15E missiles fell in various areas of India during the conflict, which was captured by the Indian Armed Forces. A relatively intact rear section was found in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India. It is likely that the debris will be analyzed by Indian and possibly American intelligence.^[15]

Design

Propulsion

The PL-15 uses a dual-pulsed solid-fuel rocket motor^[1][3] capable of a burnout speed greater than Mach 5^[16] and a range of more than 200 kilometres (120 mi). During its terminal phase, the second pulse of its motor ignites, providing additional energy and speed to increase kill probability at long distances.^[17][4] If launched at supersonic speed, the missile can maintain velocities above Mach 5 for much of its flight.^[5]

Airframe

The missile has a length of about 4 metres (13 ft)^[4] with a diameter of about 200 millimetres (7.9 in).^[18] It features cropped control fins (compared to the PL-12) designed for internal carriage by stealth aircraft.^[8]

Guidance

The missile is guided by a miniature active electronically scanned array radar seeker,^[19] sporting both active and passive modes for the different mission set. It also features improved resistance to countermeasures and better performance against low-observable targets.^[5][8] The hybrid guidance system supports a mid-course two-way datalink led by AEW&C aircraft and autonomous terminal radar homing.^[3]

Operational history

Pakistan

PL-15Es were used by the Pakistan Air Force in the 2025 India–Pakistan strikes. On 7 May 2025, wreckage of a Pakistani PL-15E was recovered in a field near the Indian city of Hoshiarpur, Punjab state.^[14]

Variants

PL-15

PLAAF domestic version with an estimated range of 200–300 km (120–190 mi).^[3][4][2]

PL-15E

Export version of PL-15 with a reduced maximum launch range of 145 km^[20]

PL-15E with folding fins

PL-15E with folded tail fins that likely allows J-20 and J-35 internal weapons bays to carry six missiles.^[10][12]

PL-16 (CH-AA-X-13)^[5]

A further development of PL-15 that allows J-20's internal weapons bay to carry six missiles simultaneously (whereas PL-15 is quad-packed). The PL-16 missile, while smaller in dimension, features a compressed airframe, folded fins, and a high-performance dual-pulse motor to deliver equal or better performance compared to the regular PL-15.^[7]