Click to see full-size image. Via Telegram.
Photos showing JF-17C Block III fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) armed with advanced Chinese-made PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles surfaced online on April 26, amid rising tensions between the country and India.
The PL-15 was developed by the Luoyang-based China Airborne Missile Academy. The missile is believed to have a range of 200-300 kilometers with a speed exceeding Mach 5.
Aside from having an active radar homing seeker, not much is known about the guidance system of the missile. Air-to-air missiles with such a long range are usually equipped with an advanced navigation system along with a data-link to receive updates on the coordinate of the targets after launch.
Rumors about Pakistan purchasing the PL-15 from China have been ongoing for years. The new photos provided the first evidence confirming that the missile is indeed in service with the PAF.
The PAF has more than 20 JF-17C Block III that can be armed with PL-15 missiles in service. Nearly 140 other Block I and II fighter jets are reportedly being upgraded to the same standard. The missile can be also used by some 20 J-10CE currently in service with the air force.
It is still unclear how many PL-15 Pakistan has received, and if the missiles are from the original version, or a downgraded expert version known as PL-15E with a range limited to 145 kilometers.
The photos of the heavily armed JF-17C fighter jets were likely released on purpose as a message to India. Tensions between the two nuclear powers have been on the rise since the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, which left 26 Indian civilians dead.
Click to see full-size image. Via Telegram.
Pakistan denied any involvement in the terrorist attack, which was claimed by The Resistance Front. Still, India responded harshly, expelling Pakistani diplomats, closing border crossings, and even halting a vital water-sharing agreement. The last move, never before taken even during full-scale wars.
While the PL-15 offers a major boost to the PAF, it can’t be considered a game changer as the Indian Air Force (IAF) has similar capabilities.
The IAF operates more than 30 Rafale fighter jets armed with French-made Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles. The radar homing missile has a range of up to 200 kilometers.
More interestingly, the IAF has over 260 Su-30MKI fighter jets in service which could in theory be armed with the Russian-Made R-37M missile, an extremely long-range air-to-air killer that was combat proven during the special military operation in Ukraine. With a range of up to 400 kilometers and a speed exceeding Mach 6, no other missile can be compared to R-37M.
It is important to note however that there is no information about India purchasing the missile, though such a move will not likely face any difficulties due to the country’s historic military relations with Russia.
Pakistan and India clashed on several occasions in recent years. In 2020, they came very close to an all out war when the IAF launched a series of strikes against targets in Pakistani territories following a car bomb attack in Jammu and Kashmir, and the PAF responded by shooting down a helicopter and a fighter jet.
A full-blown war between the two remains highly unlikely. However, if a confrontation breaks out, a fierce fight will likely take place in the skies.
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pakistan has no water anymore. india cut 8 rivers. without water no food, no electricity no economy. pakistan people can not clean their bums with clear anymore. india cut pakistan water.