India has decided to incorporate technologies from the captured Chinese air-to-air missile PL-15 into its national missile Astra Mark 2, following a detailed technical analysis of the artifact, which was found almost intact.
The missile had been launched by a Pakistani fighter jet during confrontations in May but failed to hit its target and fell in the Punjab state. Since it lacked a self-destruct mechanism, Indian experts were able to study its construction closely.
The analysis revealed advanced features of the PL-15, such as a compact AESA radar, a solid fuel engine capable of exceeding Mach 5, and modern electronic countermeasure systems. These technological elements are being adapted to enhance the Astra Mark 2, which is expected to surpass the range and speed of the Astra Mark 1, currently in service with the Indian Air Force and operating on Su-30MKI fighters, and in the future, on lighter models like the Tejas.
The Astra Mark 1 has a range of up to 110 km and a speed of Mach 4.5, while the Astra Mark 2 is expected to engage targets up to 160 km, with plans to extend this range beyond 200 km. Additionally, India continues to operate European Meteor missiles on Rafale jets, acquired from France in 2019, further strengthening the country’s air defense capabilities.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @DRDO_India | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
🚨DRDO analyzes Chinese PL-15 missile, Astra-II will co-opt its advanced tech. pic.twitter.com/WiszUztyL8
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