In the South China Sea standoff between the Chinese and American navies and air forces in 2016, many people did not understand why the US military collectively retreated and how the Chinese military seized control of the seas in the South China Sea. Now, after seeing the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile, it becomes clear.
From the India-Pakistan air combat, where the PL-15 air-to-air missile shot down a Rafale fighter at 190 kilometers, and considering the PL-15 air-to-air missile debris found by India, these missiles were all produced in 2015.
If, in 2016, the FA-18 fighters of the US aircraft carrier strike group were to engage in a major battle with our J-10B fighters + KJ-500 early warning aircraft + PL-15 air-to-air missiles + HQ-9B anti-missile defense missile system around the South China Sea islands and reefs, the reputation of the US Air Force would likely be severely damaged, resulting in an unimaginable exchange ratio.
At that time, the range of the US AIM-120A/B medium-range air-to-air missiles was only 70 kilometers, even the AIM-120C-5/7 air-to-air missiles had a range of only 100 kilometers. However, the PL-15 air-to-air missile had already set a record of shooting down a Rafale fighter at 190 kilometers, with an actual range even farther. If there had been a confrontation back then, the US aircraft carrier strike group would have retreated very wisely.
In recent years, the longest-range AIM-120D-3 missile currently used by the US has a range of 160 kilometers. The US AIM-260 long-range missile has a range of 260 kilometers, but this missile is still under development and has not yet been deployed. Meanwhile, we also have the PL-17 ultra-long-range air-to-air missile, with a range reaching up to 500 kilometers.
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832441232568585/
Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.