India has big Chinese ‘secret’ that US, UK, France, and others want; it is…, future warfare…
New Delhi: After the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, the international intelligence community has turned its attention towards Delhi. The reason for the world’s interest in India is the PL-15 air-to-air missile developed in China. This missile was used by Pakistan to attack India. The Indian Army intercepted the attack and shot down the missile and its debris is sought after by the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance comprising the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as France and Japan. These countries want to research this debris to gather information about China’s modern military technology.
Hunt for Chinese ‘secret’
During the conflict between India and Pakistan that lasted from May 6 to May 10, pieces of the PL-15 missile were found in Hoshiyarpur, Punjab. Reports suggest that Pakistan launched PL-15E missiles at India using the J-10C and JF-17 fighter jets received from China. This modern weapon was used in warfare for the first time. In such a scenario, rival countries of China which are leaders in weapon manufacturing see this missile as a treasure and are requesting it from India.
Why is Five Eyes interested?
The PL-15 missile is a critical part of China’s aerial combat capability. It has been developed to counter the US’s AIM-120D and Europe’s MBDA Meteor missiles. Its AESA radar seeker, two-way data link, and dual-pulse motor are examples of cutting-edge technology. Analyzing the debris will provide insights into its guidance system, propulsion, electronic warfare, and China’s military capabilities. This will help the Five Eyes, especially the USA, in any future conflicts with China.
Japan and France
The Five Eyes and Japan see China’s growing influence in South Asia as a strategic challenge. China poses a particular challenge for them in the Indo-Pacific region. Meanwhile, France sells weapons to India. France is interested in ensuring that its Rafale jets remain competitive against adversaries equipped with Chinese weapons. Thus, the analysis of the PL-15 could provide insights for future arms deals and military cooperation with India.
Might of Chinese weapons
The PL-15 missile is developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and it is an extremely powerful missile. It is a long-range air-to-air missile. This missile is equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar seeker and a dual-pulse rocket motor. Its domestic version has a range of 200-300 kilometers. However, Pakistan has used the PL-15E, which has a range of up to 145 kilometers. This missile is designed to target critical assets such as fighter jets and airborne early warning systems.
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