Article - DRDO is Reverse Engineering Chinese Missile
Recent media reports suggest that India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is engaged in the analysis and potential reverse-engineering of a recovered Chinese missile.
The missile in question is the PL-15E Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM).
Here are the full details based on available reports:
1. The Missile and Its Recovery
Missile: PL-15E, which is the export variant of the advanced Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missile. It is known for its long range and sophisticated technology.
Recovery: The missile was reportedly recovered in an unexploded and largely intact condition near Hoshiarpur, Punjab in May 2025 (during an event referred to as "Operation Sindoor" in some sources).
Circumstance: The missile was allegedly fired by a Pakistani Air Force aircraft (such as a JF-17 or J-10C) but failed to hit its target and landed on Indian soil. Reports suggest the self-destruct mechanism, often present in sensitive military ordnance, did not function.
2. India's Goal: Reverse Engineering and Integration
The primary objective of the DRDO's analysis is to glean critical technological insights from the missile and use them to upgrade India's indigenous weapons programs.
Targeted Indian Program: The technology is reportedly being incorporated into India's own Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile program, the Astra Mark-2.
Technological Focus Areas: Indian scientists are particularly interested in studying and potentially replicating several cutting-edge features of the PL-15E:
Miniature AESA Radar Seeker: The missile uses an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar seeker, which is critical for high-precision targeting and strong resistance to electronic jamming. This is a technology India has been working to perfect for its own missiles.
Advanced Propulsion: Analysis of the missile's motor is expected to provide insights into its dual-pulse solid rocket motor and propellant chemistry, which allows for sustained high speed (Mach 5+) over a long distance, giving the missile significant energy in its terminal phase.
Anti-Jamming & Guidance: Understanding the missile's guidance logic, including its Home-On-Jam (HOJ) feature and its data-link system, is crucial for developing both countermeasures and improved indigenous guidance systems.
3. Strategic Significance
The successful recovery and analysis of the PL-15E is considered a major intelligence coup for India:
Accelerating Astra Program: The insights are expected to significantly accelerate the development of the Astra Mark-2, potentially boosting its range and capability to rival global systems like the European Meteor and the American AIM-260.
Developing Countermeasures: Understanding the inner workings of the missile directly allows the Indian Air Force (IAF) to develop more effective Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) and revised tactics to defend against Chinese-origin missiles used by its adversaries.
Intelligence Sharing: Several international allies, including the Five Eyes nations (US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ), as well as France and Japan, have reportedly shown keen interest in the findings, viewing it as a rare opportunity to study a key piece of China's advanced missile technology.
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