A rendering of a Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu Aircraft Company JF-17 Block III recently seen equipped with PL-15 missiles. (Janes)
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has published video imagery showing, for the first time, a JF-17 Block III fighter aircraft armed with the long-range PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM).
Imagery of a Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu JF-17 Block III, armed with four PL-15 BVR missiles, appeared in an official PAF video on air force readiness that was published on the service’s YouTube channel on 29 April.
While Pakistan received its first batch of PL-15 missiles in 2021, according to Janes data, the new video provides official evidence that the missile has been integrated with the JF-17 Block III. Janes previously reported that the Block III variant entered the PAF service in 2023.
In the same video, the PAF also showed a J-10C in a camouflage colour scheme of green-grey, equipped with PL-15 missiles in dual-launch wing hardpoints. Earlier, Janes had reported that J-10C aircraft in this colour scheme are used in the maritime strike role.
Missile capabilities
Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the PL-15 has been in Chinese military service since 2016. Designed as an enhanced version of the earlier PL-12 BVRAAM, the PL-15 is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system and is capable of a speed of Mach 4. Janes estimates that the PL-15 has a maximum range of 300 km. In contrast, the earlier PL-12 (SD-10/10A) missile, which Pakistan also possesses, has an estimated maximum range of 70–100 km.
In the PAF video, the JF-17 Block III aircraft featured the serial number 22-311 and was also equipped with wingtip-mounted PL-10 short-range imaging infrared (IIR)-guided AAMs. The aircraft lacked a squadron insignia.
