AVIC PL-15 Family - I Am Abaddon

Akizyro · June 15, 2026, 10:36pm

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Suggestion No.111

G’day lads. I want to suggest the powerful Chinese PL-15/PL-15E air to air missile with a range of 200+km for China’s top tier aircraft :)

Description:

Spoiler

The PL-15, designated CH-AA-10 Abaddon by NATO, is a modern Chinese BVR air to air missile designed to engage enemy aircraft at longer ranges. It uses active radar guidance (ARH), mid course data updates, and a powerful dual pulse motor that helps maintain speed and maneuverability throughout flight. The missile is carried by advanced Chinese fighters such as the J-20, J-10C, etc.

The PL-15E would be the export version for it. It appears they are the same (please check the “differences” section below for more info).

History:

Spoiler

Development of the PL-15 began in the late 2000s under the China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA) as a successor to the PL-12. The missile was test fired in 2011 (allegedly by a J-11B?) and first attracted public attention in 2013 when it was observed on a J-20.

Chinese state media publicly referenced the program in 2015, and the missile entered operational service between 2015 and 2017, gradually equipping aircraft such as the J-10C, J-16, and J-20. It allegedly influenced the United States’ decision to accelerate development of the AIM-260 JATM.

The export variant, designated PL-15E, was unveiled at the 2021 Zhuhai Airshow as part of China’s weapon exports. Both the PL-15 and 15E are made by AVIC. The missile was later integrated onto export fighters including the J-10CE and JF-17 Block III. In 2025, the PL-15E gained particular attention after its reported first combat use by the Pakistan Air Force, by downing at least one Rafale. Remains were later found.

The newest “variant” of the PL-15’s (that has been built) would be a folding fin variant of the PL-15E. This was first shown during the Zhuhai 2024 airshow. The folding fins help it to be stored in larger quantities inside of aircraft. (photos from Fighterman_久丽美学研究)

The PL-15 and PL-15E “differences”:

Spoiler

Now this is going to be a rather controversial part (or whatever word fits here). For years, the marketed range for the PL-15E has been 145km, but this may have just been a range for different international calculating methods. It could be the case that both are the same, because according to an interview from 《兵工科技》24 with an AVIC spokesperson, they said this (if it’s translated correctly):

R: the PL-15 is one of the most recent a2a msls we’ve made, it uses a dual-pulse motor, the PL-15E is for export, compared to what we use is it any different?
W: for our own PL-15, the main detail is the operational range. the range of our PL-15 is 200km and the export is shown with a relatively shorter range
R: then what calculation method was used for the PL-15E?
W: if you’re talking about the 145+km range on the display board, then that’s the launch envelope after it’s launched from a fighter. that is to say, the range from the time it takes to be launched to hit an enemy plane is about 145km
R: then, if calculated using other methods from other countries, would it be greater than 145km? that is not calculating based on the distance from the msl to the enemy plane once it leaves the plane but instead from a separate approach
W: depending on different methods to calculate, there would be some differences in the range
R: continuing on the range question, dose the PL-15E also use a dual-pulse motor?
W: yeah

Based on that, one can at the very least heavily assume that it has the same range, just that the “range” is as it is because of different calculations. We also know thanks to the interview that the PL-15E also has a dual pulse motor.

Aside from the official confirmation of the AVIC spokesperson, the Pakistan India conflict also revealed something. According to Pakistani officials, the missile was fired around 200km away from the Rafale, and even further away according to Indian officials. To my knowledge, Pakistan only has the PL-15E, meaning the range is at least 200+km.

If you have anything proving this further or disproving this, then please do share the sources which are at a similar level