Introduction
Modern air combat increasingly hinges on missile reach and agility. China’s PL-15 and Europe’s MBDA Meteor are two cutting-edge beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles that personify different design philosophies. Both are active radar-guided long-range interceptors, but they diverge on propulsion and tactics.
We will compare their tech specs (range, speed, engine, guidance, warhead), users, and platforms. Recent events—from Pakistan’s use of PL-15E in a 2025 skirmish to Meteor’s testing on F-35s—are included.
Technical Comparison
Range
- Meteor’s official range is 100+ km (about 60 miles), though analysts often estimate an effective reach of 200+ km.
- The PL-15 (domestic version) is estimated to reach on the order of 200–300 km; its export PL-15E version is capped at ≈145 km
In practice, both greatly out-range earlier missiles (e.g. AIM-120 AMRAAM), but the PL-15’s raw maximum is generally cited as longer.
Speed
- Meteor uses a throttleable ramjet that sustains a speed above Mach 4 throughout flight.
- The PL-15 uses a dual-pulse solid rocket motor—it accelerates to a peak (reported Mach 5+) early on, then coasts (unlike a ramjet, it cannot throttle).
In other words, PL-15 has a higher initial speed, while Meteor maintains a high speed for the target.
Propulsion
- Meteor’s solid fuel ramjet (throttleable ducted rocket) provides continuous thrust, giving it an unusually large “no-escape zone” (claimed to be the largest of any AAM). This means an enemy inside Meteor’s engagement envelope can seldom outrun it.
- The PL-15’s dual-pulse solid rocket delivers very high acceleration but lacks onboard air-breathing thrust. (Some reports hint at future PL-15 variants with ramjets, but the in-service PL-15 is rocket-powered.)
Guidance
- Meteor’s two-way datalink allows the launch aircraft or third-party sensors to update or re-target the missile in flight.
- The PL-15 similarly uses an AESA radar seeker and datalink for mid-course updates.
In effect, both missiles have active-radar homing with INS mid-course guidance and data links. Each can be fired “cold” and guided toward a target with updated info until the final autonomous radar turn-on.
Warhead
- Meteor’s warhead (~30–40 kg) by the German firm TDW uses impact and proximity fuses.
- PL-15’s warhead is also in that mass class (~40 kg) and is triggered by a combination of active radar and laser proximity fuses.
Both are designed to spray shrapnel and ensure a high kill probability on agile targets.
In short, Meteor trades absolute range for sustained energy and advanced networking, whereas PL-15 pushes for maximum reach and speed. Meteor’s steady ramjet yields a larger “no-escape” kill. On the other hand, PL-15’s rocket gives it a higher peak velocity.)
Deployment and Platforms
MBDA Meteor
Meteor is a truly multinational project and the primary BVR missile of several Western air forces. It entered service on Swedish JAS 39 Gripens in 2016, and today it equips French Rafales and Eurofighter Typhoons across the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Meteor is also cleared for UK and Italian F‑35 Lightning IIs (tests on F-35B were successful) and is planned for South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae.
Operators
- Swedish Air Force (Gripen)
- Royal Air Force (Typhoon)
- French Air Force (Rafale)
- Indian Air Force (Rafale)
- Luftwaffe (Typhoon)
- Italian Air Force (Typhoon)
- Spanish Air Forces (Typhoon)
- Qatar Air Force (Rafale & Typhoon)
- Saudi Air Force (Typhoon) and others.
Even small states like Czechia/Hungary have Meteor-armed Typhoons.)
Integration
Meteor fits standard underwing hardpoints (and semi-recessed launch rails on the Typhoon). For example, Saab notes Meteor integration was “straightforward” on the Gripen due to its slender form. The missile’s design (3.7 m length, 178 mm diameter) and rail/ejector launch options let it fit inside internal bays of some fighters or on external stations of heavier jets.
Recent Developments
In 2023 MBDA and Lockheed Martin test-fired Meteor on a UK F‑35B, a key milestone toward full integration by the late 2020s. Additional funding (~$400M from UK/Italy) is accelerating Meteor’s fit on both F‑35B and F‑35A. Eurofighter nations are also upgrading their Typhoons to carry the latest Meteor software and hardware.
China's PL-15
The PL-15 is now China’s premier long-range AAM, fielded on all its latest fighters. It is built by the China Airborne Missile Academy for the People’s Liberation Army. The domestic PL-15 (sometimes nicknamed “CH-AA-10”) is integrated on Chengdu J-20 stealth fighters, Shenyang J-16 heavy fighters, and up-gunned J-10C multirole jets, and its export version is integrated on J-10CE and JF-17 Block III. Future fighters like the J-20B and J-35 may carry a foldable-fins PL-15 variant to double the internal loadout.
Operators
- People Liberation Army Air Forcece (J-20, J-10C, & J-16)
- Pakistan Air Force (J-10CE & JF-17 Block III)
- Egypt Air Force (J-10CE)
Combat Debut
In May 2025, Pakistan claimed to have shot down Indian Rafale jets using PL-15 missiles, and international media also confirmed this. Indian media showed the wreckage of PL-15E missiles. This marks the first known combat use of PL-15s. Analysts note its deployment in the Kashmir skirmish signals China’s equipment being tested in “real war” conditions.
Integration
The PL-15 is too large for older short-range racks (it’s about 4 m long and ~200 mm diameter), so it hangs on large wing pylons or inside missile bays (four in the J-20’s belly). China has reportedly developed a slimmer “PL-16” version to fit six in the J-20’s bay.
Other Features
The export PL-15E reportedly has reduced range (~145 km) due to different propellant but retains the advanced seeker. Chinese documentation emphasizes that PL-15’s radar AESA tech and dual-channel fuses make it potent even against evasive or ECM-jammed targets.
Key differences
Meteor’s ramjet allows “throttle control,” so it loses less speed turning and maneuvering. This makes its kill probability more consistent across the flight. The ramjet also keeps the missile fast even at the endgame, giving it a claimed 3–6× energy advantage over older missiles.
PL-15’s rocket motor, in contrast, gives a bigger initial punch (very high acceleration to Mach 5+), but after burnout it coasts and slows. Against very distant targets, Meteor might catch up in energy, while PL-15 might arrive earlier but with less final velocity.
Meteor is built for allied, multi-domain warfare (e.g. sharing tracking data). PL-15 is built for unilateral strike in denied areas. As one analysis puts it: Meteor reflects NATO’s focus on coalition interoperability, whereas PL-15 is geared toward “denying air dominance” to an adversary.
Conclusion
China’s PL-15 and Europe’s Meteor each push air-to-air missiles to new performance levels, but in different directions. Meteor offers unmatched endgame energy and integration with sensors, embodying Western network-centric doctrine. The PL-15 offers longer theoretical reach and blistering initial speed, aligning with China’s strategy of first-strike advantage and A2/AD. In a European-style scenario with heavy ECM and multiple shooters, Meteor’s ability to throttle and receive updates may give it the edge. In an Indo-Pacific scenario where China wants to strike first at distant targets, the PL-15’s raw power and range could dominate.
Ultimately, neither missile is definitively “better” in all situations. However, both are among the top 5 BVR missiles in the world. Meteor may outrun or outmaneuver a PL-15 in the final seconds, but PL-15 may catch an opponent unaware from far out. Pilot training, support assets (like AWACS and jammers), and tactics will decide who wins any given encounter. What is clear is that both raise the bar for long-range air combat.
The Meteor and PL-15 extend the chessboard thousands of kilometers out, forcing adversaries to fight beyond the horizon. Future air battles will hinge not only on missile kinematics but on targeting data, electronic warfare, and the ever-evolving doctrine each nation has poured into these advanced weapons.