India claims to have recovered relatively intact PL-15 missiles

[y_p_w]

I seem to recall that the Soviet Union got their hands on a Sidewinder that was fired by the ROC Air Force but didn't detonate. Apparently lodged itself in a Chinese plane, and China handed it over to the Soviet Union for reverse engineering.

https://www.twz.com/air/parts-of-a-...n-relatively-intact-in-india-after-air-battle​

The largely intact rear section and other parts of a Chinese-made PL-15E active-radar-guided air-to-air missile came down in India during a battle in the skies along the country’s border with Pakistan earlier this week. While many details about the aerial confrontation between the two countries remain murky, it marked the first known combat use of any version of the PL-15. Recovery of any parts of what is one of China’s most modern air-to-air missiles could be of great interest to authorities in India, as well as to its allies and partners.​

 

[Jetronic]

it's the export variant with half the range of the domestic, so not sure how much can be infered from that recovered part. Especially when facing Chinese fighters with domestic versions.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Chinese missile. Dropped once. Sounds familiar.

 

[y_p_w]

Chinese missile. Dropped once. Sounds familiar.

I think the whole point is that the timed self-destruct mechanism didn't work.

And certainly when used in combat, even detonated missiles can be useful for reverse engineering. I know all this consternation over something like an F-35 possibly being shot down or captured, but that's always a risk.