PAF hails fighting prowess of No. 15 Squadron ‘Cobras’ that downed IAF jets
Just after midnight on May 7, tension gripped the Combat Operations Centre at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Headquarters in Islamabad. On radar screens, dozens of Indian Air Force (IAF) jets were detected converging to the north in a pattern unmistakably signaling hostile intent.
Within minutes, PAF fighter jets scrambled into
action — among them, the newly inducted J-10C multirole fighters of No. 15
Squadron, known as the “Cobras.”
Nearly a month later, the PAF officially
confirmed that it was this elite Kamra-based squadron that led the
interception, downing six IAF aircraft in what is now being described as South
Asia’s largest aerial engagement in over 50 years.
Six
Confirmed Kills
According to an official statement from the
PAF’s media wing, No. 15 Squadron was at the forefront of the engagement, which
involved more than 120 aircraft from both sides. Eighteen of the squadron’s 20
J-10C fighters were deployed in a high-risk intercept operation in response to India’s
launch of Operation Sindoor, following a
deadly attack in Pahalgam.
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The statement credited the Cobras with downing
three Rafale fighters, a MiG-29, a Mirage-2000, and a Su-30MKI—each reportedly
hit by PL-15 beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles fired by PAF pilots during the
mission. The names of the pilots are expected to be made public at a formal
decoration ceremony later this month.
A senior PAF official, speaking on condition
of anonymity, praised the squadron’s performance: “These are some of the finest
aviators in our ranks, and their actions on May 7 speak for themselves.”
Strategic
Execution
PAF officials said the engagement was the
result of a deliberate bait-and-counter strategy. Intelligence had warned of an
impending Indian incursion, prompting Pakistan to position four defensive
counter-air formations and leverage electromagnetic spectrum management to
track over 60 Indian aircraft in real time.
“We fought on our terms,” the official
explained. “Our kill chain was fully operational. When the directive shifted
from ‘Deter’ to ‘Assure Kill, Deny Own Loss,’ the Cobras executed with
precision and discipline.”
Priority targets reportedly included the
Rafales—India’s most advanced fighters since their induction in 2019. “They
expected the Rafales to dominate the skies,” the official added. “We made them
our first objective.”
Indian
Admission and Fallout
Initially, Indian officials denied any losses.
On May 11, IAF Director General of Air Operations, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti,
stated that “losses are a part of combat” but insisted all pilots had returned
safely.
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However, the narrative began to unravel at the
Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, when India’s Chief of Defence
Staff, Gen. Anil Chauhan, publicly acknowledged the losses, attributing them to
“tactical errors.” The admission sparked widespread criticism in Indian media
and political circles, with Gen. Chauhan offering awkward cricket metaphors in
an attempt to deflect blame.
Legacy
of the Cobras
Formed in 1956, No. 15 Squadron has a storied
combat history. It claimed Pakistan’s first aerial kill in 1959, played
decisive roles in the 1965 and 1971 wars, and later undertook interdiction
missions during the Soviet-Afghan conflict.
In 2019, the squadron participated in Operation Swift Retort, Pakistan’s response
to India’s Balakot airstrikes, delivering precision-guided strikes near the
Narian Army Base in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
Following that mission, the Cobras underwent a
major transition. In 2022, they became the first PAF unit to be equipped with
the Chengdu J-10C, retiring their aging Mirage-VPAs. The new aircraft, with
AESA radar, advanced datalinks, and modern BVR capabilities, marked the
squadron’s elevation to a frontline air superiority and precision strike unit.
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Adding symbolic weight to the May 7 operation,
current Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu — a former Cobra squadron
commander — personally oversaw combat operations from PAF headquarters.
Looking
Ahead
At their home base in Kamra, the mood remains
professional and resolute. The PAF’s statement concluded with a tribute to No.
15 Squadron’s legacy:
“Throughout its distinguished history, No. 15
Squadron has demonstrated unwavering operational resilience and tactical
excellence. The mission of May 7 is the latest chapter in a legacy defined by
precision, courage, and dominance in the air.”
Source: Dawn