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One of the longest-range air-to-air strikes recorded
On May 7, 2025 the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched Operation Sindoor, India’s punitive retaliation strike was aiming to hit nine ‘terror camps’: essentially, nine out of 30+ Madrassas used by proxies of Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) to indoctrinate, organise, and train jihadists for terror attacks into India. Primary targets were facilities used by the UN-designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayba (LeT) and another major ISI-run terror group, the Jaysh-e-Mohammed (JeM).
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) proved capable of setting up an ‘ambush’ for several of incoming IAF formations. As a result, it definitely shot down 1 Rafale EH fighter-bomber by means of
a PL-15 fired from 200km (124.27 mi) by Pakistani J-10, PAF officials said. Even farther according to Indian officials. That would be one of the longest-range air-to-air strikes recorded.
Non-stealth PL-15-armed J-10 Vs stealth F-22
But, given the PL-15 tremendous capabilities, one may ask if it would be possible for a non-stealth PL-15-armed J-10 to shoot down a stealth F-22.
Eric Wicklund, former US Navy Operations Specialist, explains on Quora;
‘In air combat there are many things that are “possible.” This is one. The better question, though, is: Is it repeatable enough to gain a reliable military advantage? The answer to this is a flat…NO.
‘If a flight of F-22s faces a flight of J-10Cs armed with the, arguably very good PL-15E, odds are that the F-22s will detect the J-10Cs, launch missiles, and shoot down all of the J-10Cs before they fire a single missile. This is what would happen “most of the time”
‘I know the arguments already. The J-10C could fire without a lock, the AESA radar on the PL-15 could find an F-22 once close enough, and it could shoot down the F-22. This is all theoretically “possible.” Problem is: the PL-15 must be launched on an exacting course and bearing for the much smaller AESA radar on the missile (read: small and thereby limited range) before there’s any hope the F-22 will be detected by the missile.
Good for propaganda
‘Also, a Chinese AWACS like the KJ-500, could direct the PL-15E to the F-22. The AWACS has a bigger, more powerful radar after all. Trouble is: the KJ-500 will be far behind the battle (where it should be), and it’s range advantage will be negated by distance to the stealthy F-22. It’s going to have a hard time locating the F-22 as well.’
Wicklund concludes;
‘So, I won’t say it’s impossible that a PL-15 could shoot down an F-22, it’s just unlikely. And even if it happens just once in 50 tries, that matters little in military calculus. It’s good for propaganda, lousy for the pilots dying in droves while trying to engage the F-22.’
Photo credit: Pakistan Air Force and U.S. Air Force
