US launches new AIM-260 missile to counter Chinese PL-17, India betting on Russian R-37, who will win the race?

New Delhi: Utilizing Chinese PL-15 air to air missile was seen in the new India-Pakistan war. In step with reports, China is presently engaged on PL-17 and PL-21 air to air missiles, whose functionality shall be powerful more than PL-15. On the identical time, The usa has started engaged on AIM-260 to counter this strength of China while India has determined to wager on Russian R-37. The main reason of these missiles is to kill the enemy’s Airborne Early Warning Scheme (AEW&C) aircraft, tanker aircraft and stealth fighter planes from a truly long distance.

What's AIM-260 missile?

The US Navy and Air Force have sought about $670.5 million in private funding and $687 million in study and constructing funding for the AIM-260 air-to-air missile in the 2026 budget proposal. This would be the following variant of the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. In step with reports, the AIM-260 will consist of a ramjet or twin-pulse rocket motor, multi-mode seeker (infrared + active radar), two-technique data link and electronic war resistant arrangement, that can originate it extremely deadly and in sort.

The file said that this is able to first be aged in The usa’s F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft, but in future this is able to be integrated into fighter aircraft cherish F-35 and F-15EX. The main reason of AIM-260 is to do the flexibility to assault from a long distance against China’s PL series missiles cherish PL-15, PL-17 and PL-21. AIM-260 vs PL-17 Missiles.

When was AIM-260 conceptualised?

It is said that with the double-seeker make, both the missile’s accuracy and resistance to electronic war shall be tremendously enhanced. In addition as, this is able to originate it more straightforward to target targets stealthily with a reduced radar footprint. That is, the US is getting willing to integrate it into its stealth fighter aircraft. In February 2025, the US Navy publicly printed the rendering of the following-generation long-differ AIM-260, which gave many small print referring to the external and guidance sections of the missile.

The establish does PL series stand?

On the assorted hand, after the PL-15, China has now inviting about extremely long-differ air-to-air missiles cherish the PL-17 and PL-21. The PL-17 has been seen on the J-17 fighter jet and its differ is believed to be spherical 400 kilometers, which is more than any most modern US missile.

The guidance arrangement of PL-17 contains inertial navigation, satellite tv for computer guidance, data link and active radar seeker in the terminal part. This missile has the functionality to shoot down enemy AEW&C platforms cherish Boeing E-3D or Wedgetail without coming face to face.

Currently, China had given PL-15 missiles to Pakistan, which it aged against India. After this war, the ask for air to air missiles has elevated additional in the enviornment. China’s Folks’s Liberation Military (PLA) is rising very long differ air to air missiles (VLRAAM) which may perhaps assault targets from a long distance.

What about India?

Russia is now not at the relief of in this ongoing speed between China and The usa. Russia’s R-37M missile already has the functionality to strike from 150 to 400 km. Right here could be a BVR i.e. Previous Visible Differ missile. Russia designed this missile basically for the MiG-31 interceptor, but now it is also being establish in in aircraft cherish Su-30SM, Su-35S and Su-57. R-37M has developed applied sciences cherish twin-pulse rocket motor, mid-route focusing on replace and twin-band radar seeker. By the usage of it in the Ukraine war, Russia has been very successful in conserving Ukrainian fighters a long way from the battlefield.

The Eurasian Instances file says that India is talking to Russia to aquire R-37M air to air missile. Russia has proposed to India to originate this missile in India itself below Make in India. At the moment the talks are going on. The file says that India will integrate it in its SU-30MKI fighter aircraft.