(By Khalid Masood)
On the night of May 6–7, 2025, the skies above South Asia erupted in a fierce aerial confrontation between the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF), marking one of the most significant air battles since the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Triggered by India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike against alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, this engagement showcased Pakistan’s advanced air defence capabilities and exposed vulnerabilities in India’s air strategy. With verified losses of six IAF aircraft, detailed below, the battle underscores Pakistan’s tactical prowess and the effectiveness of its Chinese-supplied technology, reshaping perceptions of South Asian air power.
1. Prelude: The Pahalgam Attack and Operation Sindoor
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists (The Hindu, May 7, 2025). India attributed the attack to Pakistan-based groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, a claim Pakistan denied (CNN, May 7, 2025). In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir with missile strikes and air raids (Carnegie Endowment, May 7, 2025). This marked the first Indian airstrikes across the international boundary since 1971, escalating the conflict into a high-stakes aerial confrontation (Wikipedia, May 7, 2025).
2. The Air Battle: A Clash of Modern Air Forces
The battle, spanning over an hour, involved approximately 120 aircraft, with India deploying 72 fighters, including Rafale, Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, and MiG-29 jets, and Pakistan fielding 42 aircraft, primarily J-10C and JF-17 Block III fighters (Al Jazeera, May 14, 2025). Unlike traditional dogfights, the engagement was dominated by beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat, leveraging advanced radar, missiles, and electronic warfare (19FortyFive, May 10, 2025). Pakistan’s air defence strategy, integrating ground radars, Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft, and Chinese-origin PL-15E missiles, proved decisive (Missile Matters, May 8, 2025).
3. Pakistan’s Tactical Superiority
Pakistan’s success stemmed from its networked warfare capabilities. The PAF’s J-10C fighters, equipped with AESA radars and PL-15E missiles with a 90-mile range, outperformed India’s shorter-range missiles, except the Rafale’s Meteor (The Aviationist, May 7, 2025). The J-10C’s larger radar enabled long-range target detection, while midcourse guidance from Erieye AEW&C aircraft ensured precision (Missile Matters, May 8, 2025). Posts on X, such as @PakDefTeam, noted the PAF’s “near-total air dominance” within the first hour, reflecting Pakistan’s preparedness and coordination (X, May 22, 2025). In contrast, India’s operation faced fierce resistance, with its aircraft unable to bypass Pakistan’s air defences (Neue Zürcher Zeitung, May 7, 2025).
4. Verified Indian Losses: Six Aircraft Downed
Pakistan claimed to have downed six IAF aircraft, a claim supported by photographic evidence and international reports (The Washington Post, May 7, 2025). India initially denied these losses, but crash sites and pilot conditions confirm the extent of the IAF’s setback (Reuters, May 9, 2025). Below are the detailed losses, corroborated by credible sources (CNN, May 7, 2025; Al Jazeera, May 14, 2025):
- Mirage 2000
- Location: Pampore, Pulwama, Indian-administered Kashmir
- Pilot: Wing Commander Omanakuttam (Service No. 30384)
- Shot Credit: J-10C via PL-15E missile
- Condition: Critically injured, held at 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar
- Details: Wreckage confirmed by Military Watch Magazine and local footage (Bulgarian Military, May 7, 2025). A MICA missile was found, suggesting engagement before the downing (Bulgarian Military, May 7, 2025).
- MiG-29
- Location: Ramban, Jammu
- Pilot: Squadron Leader Keshav Yadav (Service No. 32394)
- Shot Credit: JF-17 via PL-15E missile
- Condition: Died on May 22, 2025, at Command Hospital, Udhampur
- Details: Crash site identified by local authorities (Reuters, May 9, 2025). The MiG-29’s K-36DM ejection seat was recovered (Missile Matters, May 8, 2025).
- Su-30MKI
- Location: Akhnoor, Jammu
- Pilots: Wing Commander Lalit Garg (Service No. 29690), Flight Lieutenant Mundit Tewari (Service No. 36415)
- Shot Credit: J-10C via PL-15E missile
- Condition: Stable, held at 170 Military Hospital, Akhnoor
- Details: Photographic evidence of the K-36DM ejection seat confirmed the loss (19FortyFive, May 10, 2025). Both pilots ejected safely (Reuters, May 9, 2025).
- Rafale EH
- Location: Bhatinda, Punjab
- Pilot: Wing Commander Arun Panwar (Service No. 30217)
- Shot Credit: J-10C via PL-15E missile
- Condition: Critical, transferred from 174 Military Hospital, Bhatinda, to Chandimandir Command Hospital
- Details: Confirmed by a French intelligence official (CNN, May 7, 2025). The Rafale’s loss, the first in combat, raised concerns about Western technology (Neue Zürcher Zeitung, May 7, 2025).
- Rafale EH
- Location: Punjab (north of Bhatinda)
- Pilot: Wing Commander Manish (Service No. 27976)
- Shot Credit: J-10C via PL-15E missile
- Condition: Stable, held at Chandimandir Command Hospital
- Details: Crash site verified by The Washington Post (Wikipedia, May 7, 2025). Debris included a Snecma M88 engine (The Aviationist, May 7, 2025).
- Rafale EH
- Location: Undisclosed (crash site in Indian-administered Kashmir)
- Pilot: Squadron Leader Sunil (Service No. 32091)
- Shot Credit: J-10C via PL-15E missile
- Condition: Stable, held at 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar
- Details: US officials confirmed J-10C involvement (Reuters, May 8, 2025). The loss was part of three Rafale downings claimed by Pakistan (Al Jazeera, May 14, 2025).
5. Indian Claims and Disinformation
India claimed to have struck 100 terrorists and destroyed Pakistani air bases, with Air Marshal AK Bharti asserting no IAF losses (The Times of India, May 13, 2025). However, India’s refusal to confirm aircraft losses, coupled with vague statements like “losses are part of combat,” lent credence to Pakistan’s claims (Al Jazeera, May 14, 2025). Social media disinformation muddied the narrative, with false claims of Pakistan capturing IAF pilot Shivangi Singh and misidentified wreckage (Deutsche Welle, May 7, 2025). India’s block on Pakistani and Chinese media outlets further obscured the truth (Wikipedia, May 9, 2025).
6. Strategic Implications
The battle exposed India’s operational shortcomings. The IAF’s Rafale, touted as a game-changer, suffered its first combat losses, raising questions about its effectiveness against Chinese technology (Le Monde, May 7, 2025). Pakistan’s J-10C and PL-15E missiles outperformed expectations, prompting global scrutiny of Western air platforms (Neue Zürcher Zeitung, May 7, 2025). The PAF’s success unified Pakistan, boosting military morale and public support (The Diplomat, May 7, 2025). Posts on X, like @MurtazaViews, hailed the PAF’s “100-0” BVR victory, reflecting national pride (X, May 10, 2025).
7. Aftermath and Ceasefire
By May 12, 2025, a ceasefire was brokered after intense diplomatic efforts (The Times of India, May 12, 2025). Pakistan’s restrained response, despite India’s aggression, and its call for a neutral investigation into Pahalgam, strengthened its diplomatic stance (Wikipedia, May 7, 2025). The conflict highlighted Pakistan’s ability to counter a numerically superior foe, with no PAF losses (19FortyFive, May 10, 2025). India’s stock market volatility and operational setbacks contrasted with Pakistan’s resilience (Wikipedia, May 9, 2025).
8. Conclusion: A New Chapter in South Asian Air Power
The air battle of May 6–7, 2025, was a defining moment for Pakistan’s air force, demonstrating its technological and tactical edge. The confirmed downing of six IAF aircraft—three Rafales, one Su-30MKI, one MiG-29, and one Mirage 2000—by PAF’s J-10C and JF-17 jets, armed with PL-15E missiles, is a stark reminder of Pakistan’s defense capabilities. As the dust settles, Pakistan emerges emboldened, its nuclear deterrence and air power ensuring it remains a formidable force. The IAF’s losses, detailed above, can no longer be concealed, marking a humbling moment for India’s air ambitions (The Diplomat, May 7, 2025).
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Sources: CNN, May 7, 2025; Reuters, May 8-9, 2025; The Washington Post, May 7, 2025; The Hindu, May 7, 2025; Al Jazeera, May 14, 2025; 19FortyFive, May 10, 2025; Missile Matters, May 8, 2025; Bulgarian Military, May 7, 2025; The Times of India, May 12-13, 2025; Carnegie Endowment, May 7, 2025; The Aviationist, May 7, 2025; Neue Zürcher Zeitung, May 7, 2025; Le Monde, May 7, 2025; The Diplomat, May 7, 2025; Wikipedia, May 7-27, 2025; X, May 10-22, 2025.
