When Pakistan says it neutralized five Indian warplanes inside India, people understandably raise eyebrows: “How? Without even crossing the border?” That’s where the story shifts from conventional dogfighting to electronic warfare and unmatched missile dominance. Enter the PL-15—a missile that doesn’t need to see its prey to kill it.
The PL-15 is not just another Chinese toy bolted onto our JF-17 Block III. It’s a 200 km range beast that makes old-school missiles like the PL-12 (with a 100 km range) look like BB guns. But it’s not just about the reach. The real kill switch is the missile’s active radar seeker paired with an inertial navigation system that guides it straight to the heart of the target—even if it’s running dark.
Here’s what likely went down: Indian jets—be it Su-30s, Jaguars, or Rafales—scramble from bases like Pathankot, Barnala, or Bathinda. The moment they lift off, our radar pickets, AWACS birds in the sky, and ground sensors tag them. It’s not a dogfight; it’s a data war. They’re seen, tracked, logged. And when they breach the red zone, the JF-17 doesn’t fly into danger—it fires from afar.
The missile gets real-time updates from the JF-17 via secure datalink. Midway to the target, the PL-15 flips on its own radar, locks in, and boom—a kill without a trace. No pilot saw the plane. No crossing the LOC. Just a radar blip turned into silence.
But how does Pakistan know it got the kill?
Simple. When an enemy aircraft vanishes from radar, emits a distress ping, or stops responding to IFF systems, it’s more than a hint. Our SIGINT picks it up. AWACS confirm. And sometimes, the panic from the other side—emergency broadcasts, comms blackout, or visual smoke from the wreckage—makes it indisputable.
This is the era of Beyond Visual Range warfare. No visuals, no theatrics—just cold, clinical elimination. The airbase is no longer a sanctuary. With PL-15s in the sky and Pakistani systems online, even enemy runways offer no cover.
Still think it’s not possible? Read JF-17 PL-15 VLRAAM Update.
Lately, many have asked whether Pakistan possesses the capability to neutralize Indian air defense systems — the answer is a resounding yes.
One standout example is the Ababeel missile, a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) recently re-tested with cutting-edge MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle) technology. This advancement allows a single Ababeel to deploy multiple warheads, each targeting different enemy locations, effectively overwhelming missile defense systems.
With a range of around 2,200 kilometers and flexible warhead configurations—ranging from 3 x 500kg to up to 8 x 185kg—Ababeel significantly boosts Pakistan’s strategic deterrence. Powered by solid fuel and guided by inertial and terminal navigation systems, it’s designed for both nuclear and conventional payloads. First tested in 2017 and again in 2023 to validate operational readiness, the missile directly counters India’s growing ballistic missile defense (BMD) capability.
In short, Ababeel isn’t just a missile—it’s a strategic message: Pakistan is not only keeping pace but reshaping the regional deterrence equation with technological parity and second-strike credibility.
