yera! for larger aircrafts China has other missiles like PL17 or 21. PL15 isn't for that.
Just so let you know, PAF scored that Su30 kill in op. swift retort in 2019 by a range of 80 km that was a record back then well beyond NEZ of AIM120C-5. Previous record was of 60km by same missile in 2003 Iraq war by USAF. Again well beyond its NEZ.
NEZ entails the increased chances of a hit. And when you got incompetent air forces fighting against you like Iraqi Airforce and now this IAF then the kills well beyond NEZ becomes a good possibility. Even that R37M kill was also well beyond its NEZ. The adv. with PL15 is that nobody knows its true range beyond China and a select few in PAF AHQ. Even the pilots who launched PL15 in this battle didnt know its real range. And i therefore seriously doubt anyone in west will ever know, and since they dont know its true range, their NEZ calculations of PL15 is also based on guess work and connect the dots theory.
There is reason why PL15 has dual pulse motors and has its own mini AESA in her seeker to guide her independently to the target. This fire n forget autonomy (doesn't need AWACS, Link 17 guidance) point at something.
That's why i said use yr head! don't believe everything you learn through internet blindly.
