The PL-21’s rise on China’s top jets has caught Pakistan’s attention. PAF analysts are eyeing it for the stealth J-35A. A new image has sparked debate among global defense experts. It shows China’s J-20 armed with two PL-21 missiles.
Although the image is blurry and unofficial, it has generated significant interest. Analysts believe it’s strong proof of advanced missile testing. Experts say the jet is likely a J-20 stealth fighter. The missiles under its wings match the PL-21’s known shape.
This missile can target high-value enemy aircraft from long distances. It’s designed for strategic strikes—not just traditional dogfights. The photo suggests China is testing the PL-21 for combat readiness. Pakistan may follow suit by pairing it with the J-35A.
The emergence of the PL-21 on China’s top air superiority aircraft has rekindled interest among Pakistani defense analysts, particularly in light of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) intentions to incorporate the stealth J-35A imminently.
Local media reports say the Pakistan Air Force may get its first J-35A fighters as early as next year. This news has sparked growing excitement in Islamabad about possible PL-21 integration. Pakistani analysts hope to mirror China’s past move. Beijing previously supplied the PL-15 to Pakistan’s J-10C fleet.
PL-21 Missile
That decision gave Pakistan an edge in recent encounters with the Indian Air Force. Defense experts in Pakistan now want more. They hope the J-35A or J-10C will also carry the advanced PL-21 missile. The PL-15, they believe, helped Pakistan shoot down several Indian jets in earlier skirmishes. That success has sparked calls for even deadlier missile systems.
Initially, Pakistan was supposed to receive 40 J-35As starting in late 2026. Now, new reports suggest deliveries might begin much sooner. The timeline shift reflects the urgency in China-Pakistan defense ties. Although Islamabad, the PAF, and SAC haven’t confirmed the updates, expectations continue to grow. Many believe Pakistan’s air combat capabilities are on the brink of a major leap forward.
Please let me know if you’d like this included in a longer SEO-optimised article or formatted for publishing. In late 2024, reports disclosed Pakistan’s intention to acquire 40 J-35A stealth fighters, representing the inaugural export of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft by China, a significant achievement that Beijing is keen to highlight in its emergence as a global defense exporter.
In the latest India-Pakistan conflict, Islamabad asserted that it had shot down six Indian aircraft utilising PL-15-equipped J-10Cs, comprising three Rafales, one Su-30MKI, one MiG-29, and one Mirage 2000; however, India has officially refuted these claims of losses.
The PL-21, currently in active development by Chinese defense companies, is designed as a next-generation missile intended to engage AWACS, refuelling tankers, and electronic warfare aircraft from distances surpassing 400 kilometres.
AWACS killer
Its specialised design renders it a tactical “AWACS killer”, engineered not for direct engagement with enemy fighters but to disrupt an opponent’s air combat network from standoff ranges, well before the platform recognises the threat.
Recent posts on Chinese social media suggest that the PL-21 has a bigger and longer shape, probably using ramjet or scramjet engines, which help it fly fast and maintain power over long distances. The missile is expected to have an AESA radar seeker, advanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), and better protection against jamming and deception in complex electronic warfare situations.
Some sources suggest that the PL-21 might use two-way encrypted data links, allowing it to receive real-time targeting updates from launch platforms or AEW&C aircraft like the KJ-500, even while the missile is flying in its mid-course phase. The PL-21 represents a step forward in China’s strategy to control airspace, making it harder for enemy high-value targets to operate close to conflict zones or risk being destroyed before they can help in combat.
Western airborne command and support aircraft, including the E-3 Sentry, KC-135 Stratotanker, and RC-135 Rivet Joint, would lose their immunity at the rear, thereby affecting operations involving the F-22, F-35, and allied stealth assets. The PL-21 is designed to be launched from long-range interceptors like the J-16, J-20, and the new J-20B, allowing it to attack airborne targets while keeping the launching aircraft safe.
AIM-260 JATM
Numerous analysts perceive the PL-21 as China’s explicit countermeasure to the AIM-260 JATM (Joint Advanced Tactical Missile) initiative currently being developed in the United States to succeed the AIM-120D AMRAAM. In future intense conflicts in the Indo-Pacific, where air battles might happen over 300 kilometres away and rely heavily on early warning and control (AEW&C) and satellite-based intelligence, the PL-21 could help secure air dominance before the first fighter gets within sight.
Deploying the PL-21 in hotspots like the Taiwan Strait would alarm U.S. allies like Japan and South Korea. Australia, too, would reassess its air defense strategy in response to China’s expanding missile capabilities. China has not officially confirmed the PL-21’s status. Yet, sightings and test launches suggest it’s nearly ready for service. Reports indicate the missile may soon join frontline PLAAF units.
The PL-15 changed how pilots fight in BVR air combat. Now, the PL-21 aims to revolutionise strategic aerial warfare. It focuses on support-kill tactics instead of dogfights and agility. If sold to Pakistan, the missile could boost PAF’s J-35A fleet. These jets could strike Indian AWACS and refuelers from afar. That would cripple India’s airborne command systems before dogfights begin.
The PL-21 enhances Pakistan’s electronic warfare capabilities.
The PL-21 lets Pakistan strike early without crossing Indian airspace. This fits perfectly with the “first look, first shoot” doctrine. With ECCM tech and strong data links, PL-21 boosts Pakistan’s EW capabilities. The J-35A and PL-21 would form a deadly combination in modern warfare.
India is likely to accelerate its missile development programmes. It may seek AIM-260 JATM through U.S. collaboration. India may also consider augmenting its Meteor missile inventory to equip its Rafale squadrons. India must also strengthen its layered air defense network. Systems like S-400, Akash-NG, and LR-SAM will protect airborne assets.
Pakistan may become the first foreign user of the PL-21. Pakistan has already assisted in testing the PL-15E missile for China. This move would strengthen China’s defense export credibility. Nations like Iran, Egypt, and Gulf states may show interest. They see the PL-21 as a way to counter Western jets. With the J-35A and PL-21, Pakistan joins elite air powers. It stands alongside China, the U.S., and maybe even Russia.
Conclusion
India now needs to completely reassess its air combat plans. Close-range dogfights are no longer the main focus. Future battles will rely on long-range strikes and electronic warfare. Victory will depend on distance and disruption, not speed.
As tensions grow in the Indo-Pacific, the arms race is intensifying fast. The PL-21’s arrival could shift the region’s air power dynamics. Success may now come from striking early and crippling the enemy’s defences first. Speed alone won’t win future air wars anymore.
References
- Defense News Today – PL-21 Development
- Pakistan Defense Forum – PL-21 and J-35A Discussions
- The Drive—The War Zone: China’s PL-21 Missile
- Military Watch Magazine – PL-21 Overview
- Global Times – J-20 and Missile Developments
- Eurasian Times—Pakistan J-35A Acquisition
- Sina Military—PLAAF Missile Trials (Chinese)
- Indian Defence Research Wing—India’s Missile Response
- Jane’s Defence Weekly—Long-Range AAM Trends
- Air Force Technology – PL-15 and PL-21 Missiles
