China Confirms Supplying Export-Variant PL-15E Missile to Pakistan, Easing Fears Over Technology Leak to India

India Defense

In a significant development amid the growing military tensions in South Asia, China’s Ministry of National Defense has officially confirmed that the PL-15E beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile supplied to Pakistan is indeed an export-specific variant. This confirmation aligns with what Indian defense experts had long believed — that the missile given to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is a downgraded version of China’s highly advanced PL-15 missile.

The announcement came during a press briefing on Thursday, where Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang responded to queries about India reportedly capturing a PL-15E missile during recent India-Pakistan skirmishes. This event had raised widespread concerns in Chinese military circles about the risk of India reverse-engineering the missile’s technology.

What China Said About the Missile

Zhang Xiaogang clarified that the missile supplied to Pakistan is strictly an export model. He mentioned that this missile has been displayed at various defense exhibitions both within China and internationally, and does not carry the same technological capabilities as the one used by China’s own military.

“The missile in question is an exported piece of equipment,” Zhang said, confirming that it is a specially downgraded version of the PL-15 designed for foreign trade. This statement is aimed at easing fears that India could extract critical Chinese military secrets from the captured missile.

What is the PL-15E Missile?

The PL-15E is an advanced BVR missile meant to hit aerial targets at long distances. It has been supplied to Pakistan for its new generation fighter jets, including the JF-17 Block III and the more advanced J-10C.

Specifications of the PL-15E (Export Version):

• Type: Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) Air-to-Air Missile

• Range: Around 145 kilometers (about 90 miles)

• Seeker: Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar

• Propulsion: Dual-pulse solid rocket motor

• Guidance: Inertial navigation system with data-link mid-course updates and terminal active radar homing

This missile is designed to strike enemy fighter jets, early warning aircraft, and other high-value airborne assets, giving Pakistan a notable edge in long-range air combat.

However, it is important to note that while the PL-15E is capable, it remains less powerful than China’s domestic-use PL-15, which reportedly has a range of 200 to 300 kilometers and more sophisticated guidance systems.

India’s Seizure and Its Implications

During a recent round of hostilities between India and Pakistan, India reportedly managed to capture a largely intact PL-15E missile. Defense officials in India have called this a rare and valuable intelligence windfall. According to a senior Indian defense source, examining this missile could reveal important information about:

• How it tracks targets

• What kinds of electronic jamming it can withstand

• How it communicates with the launch aircraft during flight

The missile failed to activate its self-destruct mechanism, which would normally prevent such recoveries. This mishap allows Indian defense scientists to potentially reverse-engineer parts of the missile, helping enhance India’s own missile programs and improve countermeasures against similar threats in the future.

China’s Reaction

Chinese military analysts and bloggers initially voiced concern over the incident, fearing that the missile’s capture might compromise sensitive technology. However, Zhang Xiaogang reassured that the PL-15E’s technology is deliberately scaled down for export, reducing the risk of any serious security breach.

A Chinese military blogger even claimed that any reverse-engineering attempt would offer limited benefit to India, as the export model lacks the advanced systems present in the original PL-15.

Why It Matters for India

Indian defense experts believe that studying the PL-15E could fast-track India’s own beyond-visual-range missile projects. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is currently working on Astra Mk-2 and future variants intended to rival missiles like the PL-15 and Europe’s Meteor.

Analyzing the PL-15E could:

• Expose weaknesses in its design

• Help develop better electronic jamming tactics

• Improve India’s existing missile systems and radar technology

• Strengthen defense cooperation with allies such as the United States, France, and Japan, who have shown interest in countering China’s growing military influence

China-Pakistan Defense Ties and Regional Impact

China’s confirmation about the PL-15E also underlines its strong defense relationship with Pakistan. Between 2020 and 2024, Pakistan reportedly accounted for over 60% of China’s arms exports. Supplying advanced fighter jets like the J-10C and long-range missiles like the PL-15E significantly boosts Pakistan’s air combat capabilities, especially amid ongoing tensions over Kashmir.

The missile made its combat debut in May 2025, when Pakistan claimed to have fired PL-15E missiles during retaliatory strikes against Indian positions after India’s “Operation Sindoor” targeted terrorist camps.

India’s Defense Readiness

Despite Pakistan’s claims, India successfully intercepted multiple PL-15E missiles during “Operation Sindoor 2.0” using advanced air defense systems, including the Russian-made S-400 Triumf and indigenous electronic warfare suites. India’s ability to track, jam, and neutralize these missiles over a vast 1,800-kilometer airspace demonstrated the Indian Air Force’s preparedness and technological edge.

Although Pakistan also claimed to have shot down several Indian aircraft, including Rafale fighters, these claims remain unverified. India has maintained silence on potential losses, likely to avoid adding fuel to propaganda narratives.

China’s open acknowledgment of supplying a downgraded PL-15E export model to Pakistan marks a significant moment in South Asian defense affairs. While it seeks to downplay concerns about sensitive technology falling into Indian hands, the missile’s capture provides India with a rare opportunity to study and potentially counter Chinese missile systems more effectively.

This event also highlights the fast-changing military landscape in the region, where air power, advanced missiles, and strategic partnerships are becoming increasingly decisive in shaping the balance of power.