US Air Force Confronts Range Disadvantage For F-22 & F-35 Missiles Against China's PL-15

The United States Air Force is confronting a widening missile range disadvantage against China, particularly in potential Indo-Pacific conflict scenarios. At the center of the concern are the AIM-120 missiles carried by the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, which are now believed to be outranged by China’s PL-15 air-to-air missile, as noted by the 19FortyFive. This issue has come into sharper focus in 2026 as analysts assess the evolving dynamics of aerial combat. The imbalance matters because beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagements increasingly define modern air superiority.



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