Zhuhai Air Show 2024, China’s latest aerospace and defense technology, provided the backdrop for an unexpected and strategically significant reveal: the introduction of the PL-15E, a Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) with a revolutionary folding tail structure. The unveiling, which featured six of these compact missiles loaded onto stealth fighters J-20 Mighty Dragon and the newly showcased J-35A, underscores China’s commitment to advancing its air-to-air combat capabilities through cutting-edge missile technology.
The PL-15E represents an evolution in Chinese BVRAAMs, integrating a foldable fin design that optimizes internal storage without sacrificing performance. This innovation has far-reaching implications for China’s stealth fighters, especially the J-20 Mighty Dragon and the new J-35A, which could now potentially carry up to six missiles in their internal weapons bays—a substantial upgrade from the four-missile configuration currently employed by the J-20.
Military experts suggest the PL-15E’s compactness, achieved through its foldable fins, is as strategic as it is technological. Traditionally, stealth aircraft are limited by their internal weapons bays, where bulkier weaponry can compromise both firepower and aerodynamics. With the folding tail, the PL-15E maximizes the weapon-carrying capacity of the J-20 and J-35A without affecting their stealth profiles, giving China’s air force a new competitive edge.
According to Zhang Xuefeng, a prominent Chinese military analyst, the PL-15E is designed to allow stealth fighters like the J-20 to “retain their low-observability and agility while carrying a significant payload of advanced weaponry.” He adds that this increased load capacity positions Chinese fighters more advantageously for air dominance, particularly in long-range encounters where additional firepower is crucial.
China’s unveiling of the PL-15E comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, specifically in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, where the possibility of a confrontation between the U.S. and China looms large. The development of the PL-15E, alongside enhancements to the J-20 and J-35A, signals China’s intention to bolster its aerial defense and offense in these regions.
Air Marshal Anil Chopra, a retired Indian Air Force veteran and current military analyst, commented on the strategic importance of this development. “For modern air forces, the capacity to carry more internally-stored weaponry is indispensable,” he said, noting that airspace control remains a pivotal factor in contemporary conflicts. “Whoever controls the aerospace controls the planet,” he added, underscoring the potential of the PL-15E to shift aerial superiority in China’s favor.
Despite the advancements, details remain unclear regarding the range and specifications of the PL-15E. Observers speculate that the PL-15E may have a slightly reduced range compared to its predecessor, the PL-15, which reportedly ranges between 200 and 300 kilometers. Yet even with a reduced reach, the PL-15E’s technological edge and the compact design make it a formidable addition to China’s arsenal.
Following the Zhuhai Air Show reveal, military analysts worldwide have been keenly debating the technical attributes of the PL-15E, especially as photos circulated online. Military analyst Rick Joe, a noted expert on the PLA, voiced curiosity on social media, questioning whether the PL-15E maintains the same propulsion and guidance systems as the PL-15, and whether this might signal parallel developments in the BVRAAM category within the PLA. Reports of a possible PL-16 and the anticipated PL-17—another long-range air-to-air missile—have led to speculation that the PL-15E may be part of a broader suite of advancements in Chinese missile technology.
The PL-15E’s naming convention also raised eyebrows among defense analysts. Initial predictions had placed the PL-16 as the next advancement in China’s missile lineup. However, the appearance of the PL-15E at Zhuhai suggests an alternative approach, perhaps as an export-friendly version of the PL-15, featuring a reduced range to meet international guidelines while still offering robust combat capabilities. With a hypothesized range of around 145 kilometers, the PL-15E’s positioning hints at China’s dual-track strategy of domestic defense upgrades and external market readiness.
In addition to the PL-15E, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Pavilion at Zhuhai provided another surprise: a scale model of the twin-seater J-20, designated the J-20S, displayed alongside the new missile. The J-20S, a groundbreaking variant of the J-20 and the world’s first twin-seater stealth aircraft, represents China’s latest foray into manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) and enhanced aerial command capabilities.
According to AVIC, the J-20S is designed for a wide array of roles, from precision land and sea strikes to high-stakes air superiority operations. With increased situational awareness, advanced electronic disruption systems, and command-and-control capabilities, the J-20S can serve as a tactical linchpin in coordinating both manned and unmanned assets in combat. This manned-unmanned teaming capability aligns with China’s broader military strategy, which envisions sophisticated command platforms capable of directing loyal wingman drones or autonomous strike vehicles.
Chinese military analysts assert that the J-20S could function as a command plane in these MUM-T operations, allowing it to deploy drone assets as force multipliers while the lead pilot focuses on strategy. The second seat provides flexibility for real-time adjustments in complex scenarios, offering senior pilots the ability to train successors directly, as Zhang Xuefeng explains. The addition of a second pilot helps manage data-heavy operations, from radar detection to target acquisition, maximizing the J-20S’s effectiveness in congested combat environments.
The J-20S’s twin-seater configuration introduces an unprecedented level of versatility for the PLA Air Force, especially as it ramps up capabilities to match or surpass the air forces of regional adversaries. While details on the J-20S’s precise specifications remain sparse, its design indicates a focus on flexibility, intelligence sharing, and tactical adaptability. U.S.-based military analysts speculate that the twin-seater J-20S could perform multiple roles, including that of a tactical electronic jammer and an advanced early warning system. If deployed in a conflict, the J-20S could feasibly serve as both a frontline fighter and an aerial command post.
Reports from last year’s Pentagon assessment on Chinese military advancements had predicted a potential increase in the J-20’s missile-carrying capacity, a forecast that aligns with the emergence of the PL-15E at Zhuhai. This development, combined with the appearance of the J-20S, suggests that China is not only expanding its existing military capabilities but also creating new pathways for aerial and electronic warfare.
The J-20 and J-20S, when coupled with the PL-15E, provide China with a sophisticated platform capable of engaging multiple targets over extended ranges, potentially outpacing regional rivals in a scenario where air dominance is critical.
