The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and the PL-15 equipped on the F-35 and J-35 are the main medium-range air-to-air missiles of the U.S. and Chinese air forces. AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The development of AIM-120 began in 1979 to replace the obsolete AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range air-to-air missile. It entered service in 1991 and has been continuously improved since then, including AIM-120B, C and the latest AIM-120D models, with significantly improved range and guidance performance.The AIM-120 is a widely exported and used air-to-air missile, the main air-to-air missile model of NATO member states and allies, and is widely used on various Western fighter platforms. It is used by about 20 countries.PL-15 (NATO code name: CH-AA-10 Abaddon) is an air-to-air missile developed and produced by China with active radar guidance, beyond visual range combat and fire-and-forget capabilities. The development of PL-15 began in the early 21st century, testing began in 2011, and it was made public and put into service by official media in 2015. It has become the main air combat weapon of China’s naval and air force fighters. In terms of service time, PL-15 is 24 years later than AIM-120 . In fact, it is time for AIM-120 to be replaced by AIM-260. It is expected that AIM-260 will be fully deployed in 2026.In June 2021, the Pakistani Ministry of Defense officially ordered 240 PL-15E missiles to equip the country’s 20 J-10 fighter jets. Pakistan will be the only country other than China to be equipped with the PL-15.The size of the missile is very important for stealth aircraft. In order to be stealthy, the missile can only be placed in the internal bomb bay. The small size can increase the amount of ammunition carried, which is very important for improving combat effectiveness.In terms of size and weight, the AIM-120 has an advantage. Its length (3.7 meters) is 30 centimeters shorter than the PL-15’s 4 meters, and its diameter is also smaller, and its weight is 40-60 kilograms lighter. The smaller size and weight of the AIM-120 make it suitable for installation on a variety of platforms (such as the F-35, F-22, F-16, etc.).The F-35’s internal bomb bay can currently only carry four AIM-120s, but after the Block 4 update, it can carry six using the new Sidekick pylon.Due to the relatively large size of the PL-15 (4 meters long), the J-20 bomb bay can only carry four PL-15s.A J-20 carrying four PL-15 missilesThe J-20 should be able to carry 6 PL-15E missiles with folding wings.The J-35 has not yet revealed the details of its internal bomb bay, so it is still unknown how many missiles it can carry. However, from the few photos, it can be seen that the J-35 is much smaller than the J-20, and it does not have a side bomb bay, so the bomb bay size will also be much smaller than the J-20. It is estimated that it can only carry 4 PL-15Es with folding wings, or a combination of 2 PL-15Es and 2 short-range PL-10s.RangeOn paper, the range of the PL-15 (over 200 km) exceeds that of the AIM-120 (180 km). However, the range of over 200 km is only a guess and an estimate, not an officially released data.Judging from the dimensions (4m/3.7m long, 0.2m/0.18m in diameter), the PL-15 is much larger than the AIM-120, and is also 30% to 40% heavier (190-210kg/152kg). With the dual-pulse rocket engine, theoretically the range of the PL-15 should be longer, but the export version of the PL-15E with the same size and weight has a range of only 145km, not as good as the 180km of the AIM-120D. The 145km range of the export version of the PL-15E is more credible because it is to be sold to others and cannot be exaggerated. Therefore, whether the range of the PL-15 exceeds 200km or is the same as the 145km range of the export version can only be proven through actual combat. In addition, there are different measurement standards for range. For example, some ranges add the distance that the enemy aircraft flies close after the missile is launched. It is also uncertain whether the range of China and the United States is the same standard.In fact, the range of a missile is a dynamic concept. To achieve a range of more than 200 kilometers, very strict conditions must be met:
Launch at high altitude (above 10,000 meters) (lower air resistance helps the missile fly further)
The fighter jet is launched at high subsonic speed or even close to supersonic speed (the missile can inherit the initial kinetic energy and extend the range)
Long-range targets need to be low-maneuverability or stationary targets (such as large early warning aircraft, transport aircraft).
The missile’s range may also be limited by:
Radar detection limitations
The detection and locking of long-distance targets requires powerful radar support. Even for fifth-generation fighters, their airborne radars can hardly provide efficient locking capabilities for stealth targets at distances of more than 200 kilometers. So flying far is not difficult, but the difficulty lies in flying far and accurately hitting the target.
Impact of actual combat environment
In a complex battlefield environment, electronic warfare interference, evasive maneuvers and terrain cover can significantly reduce the effective range of missiles.
Terminal maneuverability
The increase in range may lead to insufficient fuel in the missile’s terminal stage, affecting its maneuverability and hit rate.
These conditions are difficult to meet simultaneously in actual combat. Therefore, the theoretical maximum range (maximum ballistic range) is usually used for propaganda, but the effective range and no escape zone range in actual combat are the key indicators that determine its combat effectiveness . The no escape range means that within this range, the enemy aircraft cannot maneuver to evade the missile.
Although the theoretical range of the AIM-120 can reach 180 kilometers, the actual combat distance is usually limited to 50 kilometers. In actual combat, the AIM-120 killed more than 20 aircraft at a distance of 20-50 kilometers. The European Meteor missile equipped with a ramjet engine (which works longer than a solid rocket engine) has an unavoidable range of about 60 kilometers.The famous long-range air-to-air missile AIM-54 Phoenix has a maximum range of 190 kilometers. During the Iran-Iraq War, the Iranian Air Force used F-14A fighters to launch Phoenix missiles, which may have set the world record for the longest distance (150 kilometers) in air combat to shoot down an enemy aircraft. However, it is very rare to shoot down an enemy aircraft at such a long distance.The European Missile Group’s Meteor missile, which entered service in 2016, uses a dual-pulse ramjet engine , which allows the missile to maintain a high energy level throughout the flight, ensuring high speed and maneuverability in the terminal phase. The maximum range is far more than 150 kilometers (actual data is confidential), and the no-avoidance zone (NEZ) is extremely large, ensuring that the target is difficult to escape through maneuvers. It has a significant advantage in beyond-visual-range (BVR) air combat, and can reach a speed of Mach 4. It is currently one of the most advanced air-to-air missiles in the world. The Meteor missile is currently being integrated into the F-35 platform and will be equipped on the F-35 of many NATO countries in the future.One of the important reasons why India ordered 36 French Rafale fighters is the Meteor missiles they carry. In 2019, India’s MiG-21 was shot down by Pakistan with an AIM-120, which made the Indian Air Force lose face, so it is urgent to introduce Meteor missiles that can rival the AIM-12.The United States has not stood still either. The latest AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile has begun testing in 2020, will be put into production in 2023, and is expected to be fully operational in 2026. It will be equipped with F-22, F-35, F-15EX and other active and future fighter jets in the United States. The range of AIM-260 will far exceed that of AIM-120, expected to exceed 300 kilometers , and it will use a more advanced multi-pulse solid rocket engine to provide better energy management and mid-course maneuverability for the missile. But the size is similar to that of AIM-120, which makes it easy to carry in the internal bomb bay of a fighter (such as F-22, F-35) while maintaining stealth performance. More importantly, AIM-260 may use a composite dual guidance head (active radar + infrared guidance) , so that the radar guidance head can be used to detect and track the target at a long distance, and the infrared guidance head can be used to guide the missile to hit the target at the same time after approaching the target. This is very critical when dealing with stealth aircraft, because low radar reflection may make the radar waves insufficient to guide the missile. At the same time, using an infrared guidance head to track the infrared characteristics of the stealth aircraft (such as nozzles, fuselage skin, etc.) can greatly increase the chance of killing the stealth aircraft.What’s more, the ultra-long-range AIM-174B air-to-air missile, which is an improved “air-launched configuration” of the “Standard-6” air defense missile, has a maximum range of 500 kilometers , which can be described as a “dimensionality reduction strike” . During the “Rim of the Pacific” joint military exercise in July 2024, the F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet” fighter jet has already participated in the exercise with this missile.Although the AIM-174B is much larger than the AIM-120 and cannot be carried in the internal bomb bay of the F-22 or F-35, it can be carried externally in a non-stealth state. With the air-launched version of the Standard-6, the F-35 will pose a huge threat to high-value targets such as early warning aircraft, tankers and bombers in the rear of the opponent. Due to the limited maneuverability of the above targets, it will be difficult for them to escape once they are locked by the Standard-6. If these key assets are destroyed, the opponent’s combat system will be on the verge of collapse.Rocket EngineThe dual-pulse solid rocket is an advanced solid rocket propulsion technology that achieves multi-stage thrust release by igniting the propellant in stages. Compared with traditional single-pulse rockets, it significantly improves the missile’s flight flexibility, range and terminal maneuverability.The combustion chamber of a dual-pulse rocket is divided into two independent propellant zones, usually separated by a thermal insulation structure. After the first stage is burned, an unignited second stage propellant remains in the combustion chamber. The second stage propellant can be re-ignited at a specific time as needed.The thrust output is divided into two pulses: The first pulse provides initial acceleration and the missile enters the mid-course flight state. The second pulse is usually ignited when the missile approaches the target and is used for terminal acceleration or maneuvering.By optimizing the energy release time, the dual-pulse solid rocket can reduce fuel consumption in the mid-flight stage, thereby using more energy for terminal maneuvers or extending the flight distance.The AIM-120 developed in the 1990s uses a single-pulse rocket engine, while the PL-15, which has the advantage of being a latecomer, uses a dual-pulse rocket engine.The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, which will be put into use in 2026, may use an advanced multi-pulse solid rocket engine that can ignite multiple times during flight, with an estimated range of up to 300 kilometers.Combat RecordActual combat is the only standard for testing weapons , and for missiles, actual combat is particularly critical. For example, the data of various Russian missiles are exaggerated, but once they are put into actual combat in the Russian-Ukrainian war, their true colors are exposed, which is shocking. If the missiles are only used by the producing country itself, various data can be exaggerated without worrying about being exposed, but once they are on the battlefield, they will pay a bloody price. If the missiles are to be exported to multiple countries, the data will not be easy to falsify, so some countries have launched export versions that are said to have reduced performance, but whether the performance of the self-use version is really better than the export version can only be verified through actual combat.The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is one of the main missiles in modern air combat and is widely used by more than 20 countries. Since it was put into use in 1991, it has accumulated many actual combat results. It can be said to be battle-hardened and has performed reliably in complex electronic warfare environments. It is a very deadly air-to-air missile.In 2015, Turkish F-15 shot down Russian SU-24 with AIM-120
The first actual combat was during the Bosnian War on December 27, 1992, when a US Air Force F-16 fighter used AIM-120 to shoot down a Serbian MiG-25 fighter. This was the first actual combat use of AIM-120 and also its first kill record.
In the early 1990s, the United States and its allies used the AIM-120 several times against the Iraqi Air Force during no-fly zone missions. Several Iraqi aircraft, including MiG-25s and MiG-29s, were shot down by the AIM-120.
During Operation Desert Fox in 1998, a U.S. fighter jet used an AIM-120 to shoot down an Iraqi MiG-25 that was trying to break through the no-fly zone.
In the Kosovo War in 1999, several Yugoslav MiG-29 fighters were shot down by AIM-120. These fighters were usually at a disadvantage in radar or electronic warfare, making it difficult to effectively counter AIM-120.
During the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, several Iraqi fighter jets were shot down by AIM-120s during takeoff or when attempting to break through no-fly zones.
On November 24, 2015, a Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber near the Turkish-Syrian border using an AIM-120C .
During the Syrian civil war, the Turkish Air Force used AIM-120C missiles to shoot down Syrian aircraft many times, including a MiG-23, an L-39 and two Su-24s.
In 2017, during the Syrian civil war, the US military intervened several times, and the AIM-120 became the main weapon in air combat. A Syrian Su-22 attack aircraft was shot down by a US Navy F/A-18E using an AIM-120 while performing a ground mission.
In the air battle between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir region in February 2019, the Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets used AIM-120C to successfully shoot down at least one Indian MiG-21 fighter and one Su-30MKI (controversial).
Public data shows that the AIM-120 has achieved more than 20 air combat kills.In contrast, up to now, the PL-15 and PL-15E have not been publicly confirmed to have participated in any actual combat operations. This is mainly because China has rarely actively intervened in international conflicts in recent years, which makes the PL-15 have fewer opportunities for actual combat. The PL-15 is more regarded as a strategic deterrent tool to enhance the combat capability and deterrence of the Chinese Air Force.Although the export version of the PL-15E may be cheaper, other countries can choose the tried and tested European Meteor and American AIM-120D, so the Chinese PL-15E is always the last choice, or even just a price-cutting project, unless the PL-15 can really prove itself in actual combat. So far, only Pakistan has introduced the PL-15E, but it has no actual combat record.In short, the AIM-120 is a mature and adaptable medium-range air-to-air missile in the world. It has been used in many actual combat operations, especially in stealth fighters and multi-mission operations. The PL-15 may have a longer range and a unique advantage in the ability to strike long-range high-value targets, but it has not yet been proven in actual combat.
