PL-15

The PL-15 (Chinese: 霹雳-15; pinyin: Pī Lì-15; lit. 'Thunderbolt-15') is an active radar-guided very long range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China.

PL-15
A J-20 with four PL-15 inside the weapons bay.
Type	Long range, air-to-air BVR missile
Place of origin	People's Republic of China.
Production history
Manufacturer	607 (Air-to-Air Missile Research Institute)[1][2]
Specifications
Engine	Pulsed solid-propellant rocket[2]
Operational range	300-350 km[2][1]
Maximum speed	Mach 4[2]
Guidance system	active radar homing
Launch platform	J-20, J-10C, J-16, J-11B, JF-17 Block-3 (planned)

The PL-15 entered military service in 2016 and is carried by the Chengdu J-10C, Shenyang J-16 and the Chengdu J-20,[3] aircraft.

The missile features an active electronically scanned array radar,[4] and has a range exceeding 200 km – comparable to that of the Russian R-37 missile. It is 4 meters long and incorporates a dual-thrust rocket motor, capable of a speed of Mach 4.

Photos show that it has also been fitted to the newest version of the J-11B fighter upgraded with AESA radar.[5]

A reported PL-15 missile with a range of over 400 km carried by a J-16 fighter may actually be the PL-21 missile.[6]

Compared to the previous generation PL-12, the new and larger PL-15 has a longer radar detection range, increased anti-jamming capability and around twice the range. During the 2018 Airshow China, two J-20 fighters of the PLAAF displayed their internal payload bays, with each carrying four PL-15 and two PL-10E short-range missiles. The PL-15 effectively increases Chinese anti-access/area denial capability by targeting key "enabler" targets, such as aerial refueling and AEW&C aircraft.

Military expert Fu Qianshao suggested that China was developing an advanced long-range air-to-air missile capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 400 km.[1][7]