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| Foto: Missile PL-15E use Airforce Pakistan |
VISTORBELITUNG.COM,Hoshiarpur, Punjab –In a significant escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, Pakistan reportedly used an advanced Chinese-made long-range air-to-air missile, the PL-15E, to shoot down an Indian military aircraft during a recent aerial confrontation. Parts of the missile were later recovered in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India, raising concerns over the increasing use of sophisticated weaponry in the region.
The PL-15E, developed by China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, is one of the most advanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles in the world, with an estimated range exceeding 145 kilometers. Designed to be carried by modern fighter jets such as the JF-17 Thunder and J-10C, the missile is capable of engaging high-speed targets with precision, making it a formidable asset in aerial combat.
Pakistan’s use of the PL-15E marks a significant shift in the balance of power in South Asia, as the missile outperforms many of India’s current air-to-air weapons. Military analysts suggest that the deployment of such advanced weaponry could force India to accelerate its own missile modernization programs.
Local authorities in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, reported discovering fragments of what appeared to be a missile, later identified as remnants of the PL-15E. The debris was found in a rural area, causing alarm among residents. Indian defense officials have confirmed the recovery and are analyzing the components to assess the missile’s capabilities and potential countermeasures.
This incident has reignited debates over Pakistan’s reliance on Chinese military technology and its implications for regional security. India has long expressed concerns over China’s military exports to Pakistan, arguing that such transfers destabilize the already volatile Indo-Pakistani relations.
The downing of the Indian jet comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with both nations engaging in sporadic clashes along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. The use of advanced missiles like the PL-15E raises the stakes, as it demonstrates Pakistan’s ability to challenge India’s air superiority.
Indian defense experts are calling for urgent upgrades to the country’s air defense systems and the induction of next-generation missiles to counter the PL-15E threat. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military has not officially commented on the use of the missile, though sources suggest it was deployed in response to an alleged incursion by Indian aircraft.
The incident has drawn attention from global powers, with the U.S. and other Western nations monitoring the situation closely. China, a key ally of Pakistan, has remained silent on the matter, though its continued supply of advanced weaponry to Islamabad remains a point of contention in Sino-Indian relations.
As tensions simmer, the discovery of the PL-15E debris on Indian soil serves as a stark reminder of the rapidly evolving military dynamics in South Asia, where technological advancements could redefine the future of conflict in the region.