India-Pak tensions: Fully intact, undetonated Chinese PL-15 missile found in Punjab's Hoshiarpur

NEW DELHI: Remnants of a missile fired by Pakistani army was found in Punjab's Hoshiarpur on Friday, a day after Indian air defence systems intercepted all the missiles & drones Islamabad fired, reported news agency ANI.However, BJP I-T cell chief Amit Malviya and various other reports claimed that the missile was Chinese PL-15 in fully intact condition."A fully intact Chinese PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile was recovered in Hoshiarpur, Punjab—clearly launched from a PAF jet, most likely a JF-17. It failed to detonate," Amit Malviya wrote on X.The PL-15 is a highly advanced long-range air-to-air missile developed by China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) to enhance its beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat capabilities.Designed to target aircraft from a distance of approximately 200 to 300 kilometers, the PL-15 is considered a significant leap in China’s aerial warfare technology. It features an active radar homing guidance system and is equipped with a two-way data link, allowing it to receive mid-course updates from the launch platform or other sources such as AWACS aircraft.How it benefits India?If it turns out to be intact Chinese PL-15, India could gain several strategic and technological advantages. Studying such a missile would allow Indian defence scientists and engineers to analyse its internal systems — seeker, propulsion, datalink, and electronic counter-countermeasures.This could not only aid in reverse engineering and the development of more advanced indigenous BVR (beyond-visual-range) missiles like the Astra Mk-2 or Mk-3 but also help devise effective countermeasures.Understanding how the PL-15 locks onto targets and resists jamming would enable India to refine its electronic warfare capabilities and better equip its fighter aircraft to survive in contested airspace.Additionally, India could use this intelligence to enhance the readiness and tuning of its ground-based air defence systems like S-400 to intercept similar threats.There would also be value in sharing insights with strategic allies such as the United States, France, or Israel, possibly earning goodwill or gaining access to complementary technologies.From an operational standpoint, knowledge of the PL-15’s strengths and vulnerabilities could help Indian pilots adjust their tactics in potential aerial engagements with Chinese jets like the J-20 or J-16. Overall, capturing and studying a PL-15 could serve as a powerful force multiplier for India in its ongoing rivalry with China.