Pakistan Deploys Chinese PL-15 Missile in Combat, Downs Indian Rafale Amid Escalating Tensions

The Pakistan Air Force used the Chinese-made PL-15E missile in combat against India, marking its first confirmed use. Debris was found in Hoshiarpur, India. Pakistan claims to have downed five Indian aircraft, including a Rafale, during engagements on May 7, 2025. India has not confirmed all losses, but evidence supports the downing of at least one Rafale. The conflict follows India's Operation Sindoor, a response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. The use of the PL-15E shifts regional military dynamics, highlighting China's influence and escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed nations.

PL-15E Missile Debut Confirmed by Debris in India

The first concrete evidence of the PL-15E’s use came when missile debris was recovered in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India. Photographs released by Indian media and open-source intelligence analysts show fragments of the missile, including a section behind the radome and the seeker head, which uses active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar technology. The missile was identified as the PL-15E, the export variant of China’s PL-15, a long-range air-to-air missile developed by the 607 Institute and manufactured by AVIC.

The PL-15E has a declared range of approximately 145 kilometers and is capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5. It features a dual-pulse solid-propellant motor, inertial navigation, Beidou satellite updates, and a two-way datalink. Its deployment by Pakistan represents a significant leap in the country’s air-to-air combat capabilities.

Indian Aircraft Losses: Rafale Confirmed, Others Suspected

Pakistan’s Prime Minister and military spokespersons have claimed that five Indian aircraft were shot down during the night of May 7, 2025, including three Rafales. While Indian authorities have not officially confirmed the full extent of the losses, multiple independent sources and photographic evidence support the downing of at least one Rafale.

A key piece of evidence is the wreckage of a Rafale EH fighter jet, bearing the serial number BS-001, found in Bathinda, Punjab. This aircraft was India’s first Rafale EH, a single-seat variant. Images of the vertical tailfin and rudder, along with parts of the M88 engine, have circulated widely on social media and were later confirmed by a high-ranking French intelligence official speaking to CNN.

Additional imagery shows what appears to be the wreckage of a MiG-29 or Su-30MKI, based on the presence of a Russian-made K-36DM ejection seat, found in Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir. Reuters reported that an Indian combat jet crashed in the region, with the pilot hospitalized. The presence of a single ejection seat suggests the aircraft was likely a MiG-29.

Operation Sindoor and the Escalation of Conflict

The aerial confrontation follows India’s launch of Operation Sindoor, a coordinated strike on nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. Indian officials stated that the strikes targeted facilities linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), based on intelligence indicating imminent threats.

Pakistan responded with retaliatory air and artillery strikes across the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in civilian and military casualties on both sides. At least 12 civilians and one Indian soldier were reported killed in Pakistani shelling, while Pakistan claimed that 26 civilians were killed in the Indian airstrikes.

Technological Edge and Strategic Implications

The use of the PL-15E missile by Pakistan introduces a new dimension to the regional air power balance. The missile’s long range and advanced guidance systems challenge India’s air defense capabilities, even as the Indian Air Force fields advanced platforms like the Rafale equipped with Meteor missiles, and the Su-30MKI with R-77s. India’s S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems, with ranges up to 400 kilometers, have also been activated in response to the escalating threat.

Pakistan’s J-10CE fighters, which carried out the missile engagements, are equipped with powerful AESA radars and were acquired as part of a $1.525 billion deal with China in 2021. The deal included 240 PL-15E missiles, 20 J-10CE aircraft, and 10 WS-10B engines. The J-10CE’s radar and avionics suite provide it with a significant targeting advantage over older platforms.

Conflicting Narratives and Information Warfare

While Pakistan has claimed the downing of five Indian aircraft, including Rafales, Jaguars, and possibly a Mirage 2000, only the loss of the Rafale and a Mirage 2000 have been independently verified. Indian officials have remained largely silent on the matter, with some sources confirming the crash of aircraft without specifying causes. This ambiguity has fueled speculation and information warfare on both sides.

Social media has played a central role in disseminating imagery and claims, including photos of missile debris, aircraft wreckage, and ejection seats. However, analysts caution that not all images can be independently verified, and some may be part of coordinated propaganda efforts.

A New Chapter in South Asian Aerial Warfare

The confirmed use of the PL-15E missile and the downing of a Rafale mark a turning point in South Asian aerial warfare. This is the most intense air conflict between India and Pakistan since the 1999 Kargil War and possibly the largest single-day loss of Indian aircraft since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. The introduction of advanced Chinese weaponry into the conflict underscores Beijing’s growing influence in the region and raises the stakes for future engagements.

As both nations continue to mobilize and reinforce their positions, the risk of further escalation remains high. The international community has called for restraint, but with both sides suffering losses and public sentiment inflamed, the path to de-escalation remains uncertain.

References

• Pakistan’s first combat use of Chinese PL-15E air-to-air missiles confirmed after debris found in India
• 'Indian Rafale Shot Down by Pakistan’ French Intelligence Source Tells CNN
• BREAKING: China's PL-15 air-to-air missile made combat debut
• Operation Sindoor live updates: Donald Trump says he hopes India and Pakistan stop now after going 'tit-for-tat'
• Escalation in the Skies: India-Pakistan Aerial Confrontation Deepens Amid Missile Claims and Possible Downed Jets
• China’s PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Appears To Have Been Used In Combat For The First Time
• Breaking News | Pakistan may have downed up to six fighter jets in what could be India’s heaviest air losses since 1971
• Mirage 2000 wreckage unveils MICA missile in Pakistan strike