Pakistan downed Indian jets using Chinese PL-15 missiles, Turkish portal says PHOTO

The Pakistan Army used Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missiles to shoot down multiple Indian military aircraft launched overnight from May 6 to 7.

These missiles, with a range of up to 230 km, demonstrated their effectiveness in aerial combat by striking targets before entering close-range engagement, Caliber.Az reports, citing the X page of the Turkish defence outlet SavunmaSanayiST.com.

Pakistan Basını:

Çin yapımı PL-15E hava-hava füzesinin ilk imhası doğrulandı.

Kurban: Hindistan Hava Kuvvetleri'ne ait Fransız yapımı bir Rafale savaş uçağı. pic.twitter.com/xKUdUYjmNe

— SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) May 7, 2025

The PL-15 is a modern air-to-air missile developed by China's defence industry. It weighs 230 kg, is 4 metres in length, and can reach supersonic speeds of up to Mach 4 (4,773 km/h).

The missile is equipped with an active radar guidance system featuring an active electronically scanned array (AESA), which operates in both active and passive modes.

Thanks to its long range and high accuracy, the missile provides a significant advantage in air combat, enabling the destruction of enemy aircraft before close-range dogfights begin.

Earlier reports stated that the Pakistani military shot down five Indian aircraft and one UAV—specifically, three Rafale fighters, one Su-30, one Mig-29, and a Heron drone—in response to India’s nighttime strikes on six targets inside Pakistan.

In the early hours of May 7, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated dramatically following India's launch of "Operation Sindoor," a series of missile strikes targeting locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation lasted just under half an hour and involved Rafale fighter jets armed with SCALP cruise missiles and AASM Hammer precision-guided munitions.

Islamabad strongly condemned the strikes, denouncing them as an "unprovoked and blatant act of war." Pakistani officials reported the deaths of at least 26 civilians and injuries to 46 others, including women and children. Damage was said to include mosques and residential areas in Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, and Muridke.

In response, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian aircraft and carried out retaliatory missile attacks on Indian-held Kashmir, destroying a brigade-level military headquarters.

By Khagan Isayev