DRDO studies Chinese PL-15 missile, to integrate key tech into Astra Mark-2: Report

The missile was discovered during Operation Sindoor, India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans to integrate advanced features from the Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missile into its indigenous Astra Mark-2 project, after conducting a detailed examination of an unexploded missile fired by a Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor in May, people aware of the matter told Hindustan Times.

On May 9, during the hostilities between India and Pakistan, the PL-15E missile was discovered fully intact in a field near Punjab’s Hoshiarpur.

The people cited in the HT report said the 145-kilometre-range export variant of China’s advanced beyond-visual-range missile remained unexploded as it does not have a self-destruct system, unlike all Indian air-to-air missiles.

The missile was discovered during Operation Sindoor, India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Believed to have been fired by a Pakistani JF-17 or J-10C aircraft, the missile failed to hit its intended target and crashed about 100 kilometres within India’s borders.

According to one of the people cited in the report, the examination has led to the identification of several superior features in the Chinese weapon. Key features included a small active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, next-generation propellant supporting speeds above Mach 5, and sophisticated anti-jamming capabilities.

These capabilities, particularly the radar advancements, are now being adapted for India’s indigenous Astra missile programme.

Another person familiar with the matter noted that India’s missile systems -- including BrahMos, Rampage, and SCALP -- showcased impressive accuracy and performance during the operation.

Earlier today, defence minister Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan as he flagged off the first batch of BrahMos missiles manufactured at the BrahMos Aerospace unit in Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow.

Singh described BrahMos as a symbol of India's rising strength.

"BrahMos is not just a missile, it is proof of India's strategic confidence. From the Army to the Navy and the Air Force, it has become a key pillar of our defence forces," he said.

He asserted that India's defence capabilities now serve as a powerful deterrent. "Every inch of Pakistan's territory lies within range of BrahMos. What happened during Operation Sindoor was just a trailer," he warned.