The outbreak of India-Pakistan hostilities in April 2025 greatly affected current aerial warfare, revealing how South Asia’s military technology balance is shifting. The main driver behind this shift is Pakistan introducing the PL-15 into combat for the first time, which has indirectly put in question the credibility of India’s main Franco-Israeli-Russian defence solutions. The PL-15’s engagement against India’s Rafale jets, Israeli drones, and Russia’s S-400 systems has made clear how they can be less effective than expected, encouraging a reappraisal of military policies and aircraft purchase plans around the globe.

This article considers how Pakistan’s deployment of the PL-15, integrated with advanced Chinese JF-17 Block III and J-10CE aircraft, has dented the technological advantages enjoyed by Rafale jets, Indian drones, and S-400 air defence systems. The analysis brings to light the imbalanced dynamic of this kind of counter-technology warfare and considers its importance for future conflicts and international defence supply chains.

For the first time in April 2025, China’s PL-15 BVR air-to-air missile engaged in combat use while India and Pakistan faced off in the air. However, by combining more than 200 km range, active radar guidance, and two-way data link, the PL-15 represents a noticeable step up from earlier models.

Pakistan took a major step by equipping its JF-17 Block III and J-10CE planes with the PL-15E missile

Pakistan took a major step by equipping its JF-17 Block III and J-10CE planes with the PL-15E missile. While these jets were generally believed to be less powerful than India’s Rafale and Su-30mki aircraft, they became much more effective by the addition of the PL-15 missile’s extended range and sophisticated guidance features. The missile’s operational debut was confirmed by the recovery of largely intact missile debris in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, providing India with critical intelligence on Chinese missile technology.

In most people’s opinion, Indian Rafale fighters armoured with Meteor and SCALP missiles as well as Israeli Spectra EW systems would succeed in dominant aerial duels. Signs showed that the PL-15 may outperform earlier predictions. The published Pakistani claims about early Rafale shootdowns remain unverified yet illustrate how effective the PL-15 has been and how vulnerable the Rafale is to its radar seeker.

The AESA radar of the PL-15 that utilises gallium nitride (Gan) semiconductors represents better target-finding capability and more solid defence against jamming measures than Rafale’s electronic warfare systems

The AESA radar of the PL-15 that utilises gallium nitride (Gan) semiconductors represents better target-finding capability and more solid defence against jamming measures than Rafale’s electronic warfare systems. Because the PL-15’s guidance was so effective, it avoided Indian EW systems, exposing a gap in India’s defences tailored against earlier threats.

Through reverse analysis of Israeli drones, Pakistan allegedly developed improved countermeasures for the PL-15, resulting in a cycle that increased its lethality toward Indian aircraft. Such asymmetric development shows that superior technology can be overturned rapidly when there are opportunities for battlefield captures and reverse engineering.

India’s use of Israeli drones for both surveillance and strikes were heavily undermined early in the conflict

India’s use of Israeli drones for both surveillance and strikes were heavily undermined early in the conflict when Pakistan’s integrated air defences, complemented by Chinese EW systems, succeeded in bringing down many Israeli drones. Algorithms used by the drones for precise targeting, which had been improved through combat in places such as Gaza, found barriers in Pakistani EW strategies, which were informed by machine learning techniques that analysed data from Chinese and Middle Eastern conflicts.

The heavy losses of drones affected India’s understanding of the combat area and denied it important military intelligence, advantageous to Pakistan. With the loss of close to 77 drones within a day, India could see the expense gap given that Pakistani counter-EW systems, costing less, successfully defeated valuable Israeli platforms.

The effective neutralisation of S-400 batteries by Pakistani fighter jets was due to pilots using stealthy flight methods and electronic decoys that avoided radar detection

India intended for the S-400 Triumf air defence system, recently acquired from Russia, to create a strong barrier against any Pakistani aerial and missile incursions. However, Pakistan’s reliance on hypersonic missiles from JF-17 and J-10CE fighters made it clear that S-400 had difficulties operating in the mountainous terrain of Kashmir. The effective neutralisation of S-400 batteries by Pakistani fighter jets was due to pilots using stealthy flight methods and electronic decoys that avoided radar detection.

Pakistani forces undermining the S-400 defence raised issues about its durability and responsiveness to modern and variable battlefield conditions. Russia and its clients must reassess their deployment approaches and make necessary upgrades to the S-400’s radar and interception capabilities in such terrain.

The introduction of Chinese PL-15 missiles into Pakistan’s JF-17 and J-10CE fighters has visibly disrupted the technical superiority enjoyed by the Franco-Israeli Russian alliance

Asymmetric counter-technology warfare is illustrated by the conflict, with the weaker side using chosen incorporation of modern foreign weapons to challenge the superiority of its opponents. The introduction of Chinese PL-15 missiles into Pakistan’s JF-17 and J-10CE fighters has visibly disrupted the technical superiority enjoyed by the Franco-Israeli Russian alliance.

The process has several fundamental implications.

• Technology Transfer and Reverse Engineering:Where battlefield discoveries, such as the whole PL-15 missiles, are concerned, can facilitate rapid reverse engineering and adjustment, thereby supporting the development of local countermeasures.
• Integration of Civilian and Military Technologies:The PL-15’s use of Gan-based radar, which began with civilian 5G, shows that technologies initially created for civilian tasks can be adapted for military use in gaining tactical value.
• Terrain and Environment as Important Operational Factors:Pakistan’s mountainous environment exposes environmental conditions as critical elements in modern air defence.
• Electronic Warfare Evolution:The confrontation between Israeli drones driven by AI and Chinese electronic warfare defences reflects the considerable impact of AI and machine learning in current air battles.

The triumph of the PL-15 missile in neutralising sophisticated Western and Russian systems carries a major impact on the worldwide arms trade

The triumph of the PL-15 missile in neutralising sophisticated Western and Russian systems carries a major impact on the worldwide arms trade. It calls into question the perceived invulnerability of Western and Russian high-end platforms and confirms the credibility of Chinese missile technology in contested airspaces.

Nations watching the fighting are expected to re-evaluate their air-to-air methodologies and acquisition plans, likely pushing up the rapid adoption of Chinese missile platforms or the preparation of countermeasures to them. This change may stimulate higher demands for sophisticated EW suites, hypersonic missile protection, and environmentally adjustable air defence systems worldwide. In addition, the India-Pakistan conflict is a real arena for testing emergent technologies, which will shape future military doctrines focusing on integral multi-domain battles, fast technology adoption, and asymmetric response.

the April 2025 India-Pakistan conflict made clear that the PL-15 Chinese missile can successfully minimise the joint defence strength of France, Israel, and Russia in one theatre

In conclusion, the April 2025 India-Pakistan conflict made clear that the PL-15 Chinese missile can successfully minimise the joint defence strength of France, Israel, and Russia in one theatre. This form of asymmetrical technology warfare, resulting from both selective technology transfers and adaptations on the battlefield and in the environment, is transforming the framework of current air combat operations.

The combat introduction of the PL-15 challenges prevailing ideas about air dominance and reveals how technical competition in regional conflicts is continually changing. The insights gained from these developments will echo within global military establishments and significantly influence both doctrine and industry in air warfare and global weapons trades.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia