PL-21 Unveiled: China’s Most Lethal Air-to-Air Missile Could Soon Equip Pakistan’s Stealth J-35A

A newly emerged image has sparked significant examination among international defense analysts, as it reportedly depicts China’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Chengdu J-20, equipped with what seems to be two PL-21 ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles. Despite the image lacking official verification and being somewhat unclear, experts contend that it offers one of the most distinct visual signs to date that the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is advancing with sophisticated trials of the highly classified missile.

In-depth evaluations indicate that the aircraft in question is indeed a J-20, and the missiles positioned under its wings closely resemble the profile and configuration linked to the PL-21, a weapon system intended to target high-value airborne assets at strategic ranges. The emergence of the PL-21 on China’s premier air superiority fighter has rekindled interest among Pakistani defense analysts, particularly in light of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) intentions to introduce the stealth J-35A in the near future.

🔺🇵🇰🇨🇳:
Reportedly a Chinese J-20 is seen carrying PL-21 long range BVR missile.

PL-21 is a ramjet powered BVR missile, capable of hitting targets at more than 400km. pic.twitter.com/lE2fBAHLCk

— Tactical Tribune (@TacticalTribun) May 26, 2025

As per local media reports, the PAF is anticipated to receive its initial batch of J-35A fifth-generation multirole fighters as soon as next year, making the potential integration of the PL-21 a topic of increasing enthusiasm in Islamabad.

Pakistani analysts aspire to replicate the precedent established by China’s provision of the PL-15 missile to the PAF for its J-10C fleet, which is thought to have achieved strategic advantages during recent aerial confrontations with India.

“Encouraged by the performance of Pakistan’s J-10C fighters outfitted with PL-15 air-to-air missiles—believed to have successfully downed several Indian Air Force jets—Pakistani defense analysts are now keen to see their forthcoming J-35A or J-10C similarly equipped with the PL-21.”

According to the original agreement, Pakistan was set to start receiving the first of 40 J-35A aircraft by late 2026. However, the updated timeline highlights the pressing need for enhanced bilateral defense cooperation. Although these developments have not yet been officially confirmed by Islamabad, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), or the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND), the significance of the reports contributes to growing anticipation that Pakistan’s future air combat capabilities are on the verge of a significant transformation.

Reports from late 2024 initially disclosed Pakistan’s intention to acquire 40 J-35A stealth fighters—representing the first known export of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft from China, a significant achievement that Beijing is keen to promote as part of its emergence as a global defense exporter.

In the latest conflict between India and Pakistan, Islamabad asserted that it had shot down six Indian aircraft using PL-15-equipped J-10Cs, which included three Rafales, one Su-30MKI, one MiG-29, and one Mirage 2000. However, India has publicly refuted these claims, denying any such losses.

The PL-21, currently under active development by Chinese defense companies, is designed as a next-generation missile intended to target AWACS, refueling tankers, and electronic warfare aircraft from distances exceeding 400 kilometers. Its specialized design positions it as a strategic ‘AWACS killer,’ engineered not to engage enemy fighters directly, but to disrupt an opponent’s air combat network from standoff ranges, well before the targeted platform is aware of the impending threat.

Recent observations on Chinese social media suggest that the PL-21 features a larger and elongated structure, likely utilizing ramjet or scramjet propulsion systems, which facilitate high-speed, sustained thrust throughout extended flight paths.

#China’s PL-21 Ultra long range Air-to-Air Missile on J-20. https://t.co/FKBarxiNMN

— IDU (@defencealerts) May 27, 2025

The missile is anticipated to be equipped with an AESA radar seeker, sophisticated electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), and enhanced resilience against jamming and spoofing in intricate electronic warfare scenarios.

Some reports indicate that the PL-21 might also incorporate two-way encrypted datalinks, enabling real-time targeting updates from launch platforms or AEW&C aircraft like the KJ-500, even during the missile’s mid-course flight phase.

From a strategic perspective, the PL-21 signifies a significant advancement in China’s “airborne area-denial” strategy, empowering it to compel enemy high-value assets to operate at a distance from contested areas or face neutralization before providing combat support.

Western airborne command and support aircraft, including the E-3 Sentry, KC-135 Stratotanker, and RC-135 Rivet Joint, would no longer be safe in the rear, which has direct implications for operations involving the F-22, F-35, and allied stealth platforms.

Designed for deployment from long-range interceptors such as the J-16, J-20, and the upcoming J-20B, the PL-21 facilitates strike missions against airborne support systems without jeopardizing the safety of the launch platform.

Numerous analysts perceive the PL-21 as China’s direct counter 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 high-intensity conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region, where air engagements may take place beyond 300 kilometers and heavily depend on AEW&C and satellite-fed ISR, the PL-21 could determine which side gains aerial superiority before the first fighter comes within visual range.

Its potential deployment in areas such as the South China Sea, East China Sea, or Taiwan Strait would greatly influence the strategic calculations of U.S. allies, including Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

Although there has been no official confirmation from Chinese officials, numerous sightings and likely test launches indicate that the PL-21 has progressed into advanced development and may soon be integrated into frontline PLAAF units.

If the PL-15 changed the landscape of conventional BVR air combat, the PL-21 could transform strategic aerial warfare by emphasizing support-kill strategies rather than dogfighting or maneuver superiority.

Should this missile be sold to Pakistan, the PAF’s future J-35A fleet could execute long-range strikes against Indian Netra AEW&C, Phalcon AWACS, and Il-78 tankers from standoff distances, effectively neutralizing India’s aerial C4ISR infrastructure before conventional combat commences.

This capability would enable the PAF to fully leverage the “first look, first shoot, first kill” doctrine, minimizing the necessity to enter Indian airspace while targeting essential airborne support systems.

With advanced ECCM and high-fidelity datalinks, the PL-21 would also significantly enhance Pakistan’s electronic warfare capabilities, making the J-35A + PL-21 combination a highly survivable option in next-generation conflict scenarios.

In response, India is likely to expedite its long-range missile initiatives, which may include the AIM-260 JATM through collaboration with the U.S., or it could increase its inventory of Meteor missiles for its Rafale squadrons.

At the same time, India will need to strengthen its layered air defense systems, incorporating technologies such as the S-400 Triumf, Akash-NG, and LR-SAM to protect its airborne C4I assets.

If Pakistan becomes the first international user of the PL-21, it will again act as a live demonstration partner for China, similar to the role it played with the PL-15E, thereby validating the system’s effectiveness and broadening China’s defense export market.

Nations like Iran, Egypt, and certain Gulf states might emerge as potential customers, drawn by the PL-21’s capability to counter superior Western air assets without needing to match them platform-for-platform.

With the J-35A and PL-21 in its arsenal, Pakistan would align itself with a select group of air forces capable of ultra-long-range strategic air-to-air strikes, placing it alongside China, the United States, and possibly Russia.

This situation would necessitate a thorough revision of India’s air warfare strategy, moving away from traditional dogfighting tactics to a focus on standoff, electronically contested engagements where dominance is determined by reach and disruption.

As regional tensions escalate and the arms race in the Indo-Pacific intensifies, the introduction of the PL-21 could signify a pivotal moment in a new age of air superiority—one where success is determined not by speed, but by the ability to strike first from a distance and incapacitate the enemy before combat commences.