China AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
PL-15
A Chinese beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile with an AESA active radar seeker and dual-pulse rocket motor, fielded on the J-20, J-16 and J-10C. Its publicly estimated range rivals or exceeds Western BVR missiles, driving Western programs to develop longer-range counters.
In service since 2018
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
200
km range
4
Mach
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
In service since 2018. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 4 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 200 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Blast-fragmentation, radar proximity fuze |
|---|---|
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Active radar homing (AESA), Inertial navigation with data-link mid-course update |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 4 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 210 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Solid-fuel dual-pulse rocket |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Boeing AGM-86 ALCM Head-to-head comparisons
PL-15 vs
Meteor Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) PL-15? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) PL-15 has a maximum range of 200 km.
How much does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) PL-15 weigh? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) PL-15 has a combat weight of 210 kg.
What is the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) PL-15 used for? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) PL-15 is a missile typically used for air superiority.
How much does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) PL-15 cost? +
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) PL-15: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
Similar systems
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
PL-10
Defence Research and Development Organisation
Astra Mk1
MBDA
Meteor
Raytheon (RTX)
AIM-120D AMRAAM
Related coverage
PL-15 in the news
Article guide · Aug 6, 2026
Air-to-Air Missile Range: Guidance Type, Not Country
All 15 infrared-guided air-to-air missiles in our database top out at 50 km; all 15 active-radar ones start at 60 km. Guidance, not country, sets the tier.
Article comparison · Jul 11, 2026
Longest-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, Ranked
Russia's R-37M claims 300km, nearly double the AIM-120D. But not one of the 39 ranged air-to-air missiles in our database publishes an official spec.