Pakistan successfully used Chinese equipment to down India's advanced fighter aircraft.
In a dramatic turn of events on the night of May 7, 2021, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched a significant counter-offensive against Indian aircraft following India's air strikes on Pakistani territory.
According to reports, the PAF's operations room displayed the positions of numerous active enemy planes from India at midnight. A senior Pakistani Air Force official revealed that Air Chief Mshl Zaheer Sidhu had instructed his staff to target India's Rafales, a French-made fighter jet, considered the jewel of India's fleet and never before downed in battle.
The aerial engagement, lasting over an hour, involved approximately 125 fighter jets and resulted in an intense dogfight. The PAF used J-10C multirole fighters equipped with PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles, particularly operating out of PAF Base Minhas with the No. 15 Squadron "Cobras," to successfully shoot down several Indian aircraft, including Rafales, MiG-29s, Mirage-2000, and Su-30MKIs, as claimed by Pakistan.
India, however, claimed some Pakistani losses and imposed constraints on targeting Pakistani military installations. Yet, Pakistan asserted superiority in the aerial engagement, downing more Indian jets. Despite the intense conflict, jets did not cross each other's airspace significantly, with much of the dogfight taking place beyond visual range and at distances over 100 km away from the border.
The aerial engagement reportedly involved missile exchanges and electronic warfare aimed at reducing the situational awareness of Indian fighter pilots, with some disruption to Indian aircraft systems acknowledged by both sides.
India had launched the air strikes in response to accusations that Pakistan had supported militants responsible for an attack in Indian Kashmir that resulted in 26 civilian deaths the previous month. Despite Islamabad denying any involvement, India had vowed a response. Air Chief Mshl Zaheer Sidhu had been sleeping near the operations room for several days, in anticipation of an Indian assault.
The retaliation by the PAF was prompt and robust, involving mortar shelling and air strikes against Indian targets in Jammu and Kashmir, including Poonch. The aerial engagement marked a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
References: 1. Pakistan claims to have shot down Indian jets in air battle 2. Pakistan says it shot down Indian jets in air battle 3. Pakistan says it shot down two Indian warplanes in dogfight
Top stories: Pakistan claims to have shot down Indian jets, including Rafales, in a fierce air battle. Sports: The sports section might discuss the ongoing tensions between the two nations and their impact on the Indian-Pakistani cricket matches.
