Report reveals how PAF jets downed Indian fighter planes in one of the largest air battles in decades
In the early hours of May 7, just past midnight, the
operations room of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) lit up with the red glow of
radar, revealing the positions of numerous enemy aircraft hovering across the
border in India.
Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Sidhu, who had been on alert for
days, sleeping on a mattress near the operations center, sprang into action.
The Indian government had accused Pakistan of aiding terrorists in an attack on
Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that claimed 26 civilian lives.
Despite Islamabad's denials, India had vowed to retaliate, and its airstrikes
came swiftly in the pre-dawn hours of May 7.
Sidhu, anticipating this move, immediately ordered the
deployment of Pakistan’s advanced Chinese-made J-10C jets. A senior PAF
officer, who was present in the operations room, recalled Sidhu’s specific
directive: target the Rafale fighter jets—India’s prized French-made aircraft
that had yet to be downed in battle.
"He wanted the Rafales," the official stated.
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The ensuing conflict, lasting roughly an hour, became one of the largest air battles in decades. With around 110 aircraft involved, the combat took place under the cover of darkness. In the chaos, Pakistani J-10s managed to shoot down at least one Rafale, while other Pakistani jets downed at least five more enemy aircraft.
This unprecedented achievement stunned military observers,
raising critical questions about the effectiveness of Western-made military
hardware against China's emerging, yet untested, alternatives.
The Intelligence Failure
While the Rafale’s performance wasn’t entirely at fault, the
main reason behind its downfall was an intelligence error regarding the range
of the PL-15 missile fired by the J-10. Pakistan and China are the only two
nations operating the J-10 and the PL-15, a long-range air-to-air missile.
Indian officials admitted that faulty intelligence led their
pilots to believe they were beyond the PL-15’s range, which was commonly
assumed to be around 150 km (93 miles) based on the missile’s export variant.
In reality, the PL-15 has a much greater range.
"We ambushed them," said the PAF official,
referring to Pakistan’s electronic warfare efforts aimed at jamming Indian
systems and confusing their pilots. Indian officials have since disputed the
extent of Pakistan’s jamming efforts.
A Long-Range Surprise
The PL-15 missile that struck the Rafale was fired from
approximately 200 km (124 miles) away, according to Pakistani sources. Some
Indian officials claimed the missile was fired from even greater distances. If
accurate, this would set a new record for the longest-range air-to-air strike
in history.
While the Indian government has not confirmed the loss of a
Rafale, France’s air chief acknowledged in June that there was evidence showing
the downing of one Rafale along with two other Indian aircraft, including a
Russian-made Sukhoi. A senior Dassault executive, the manufacturer of the
Rafale, also confirmed that India had lost a Rafale during operations, although
no further details were provided.
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Shifting the Narrative
Despite the success of the Pakistani military, Pakistan’s
armed forces have maintained that their preparedness and professionalism were
more significant than the weapons they employed. A statement from China’s
Ministry of Defense was not forthcoming when Reuters reached out for comment.
The defense ministries of India and France also did not
respond to inquiries regarding the intelligence mishaps that led to the
Rafale’s loss. While the performance of the J-10 and PL-15 missiles have now
garnered attention, experts are still evaluating the broader implications of
the conflict.
As this air battle unfolds in military circles, it marks a
pivotal moment in the ongoing military competition between India and Pakistan,
as well as the increasing influence of China’s military technology on the global
stage.
Source: Express Tribune