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.¹

The missile in question is the PL-15E Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM).²

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.³ It is known for its long range (reportedly over ⁴$145\text{ km}$ for the export model) and sophisticated technology.⁵
• 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).⁶
• 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.⁷ Reports suggest the self-destruct mechanism, often present in sensitive military ordnance, did not function.⁸

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.⁹

• Targeted Indian Program: The technology is reportedly being incorporated into India’s own Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile program, the Astra Mark-2.¹⁰
• Technological Focus Areas: Indian scientists are particularly interested in studying and potentially replicating several cutting-edge features of the PL-15E:¹¹
  • 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.¹² 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.¹³
  • 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.¹⁴

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-260.¹⁵
• 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.¹⁶
• 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.¹⁷