Caption:Pakistan Air Force Reveals Superior Firepower and PrudentDe-escalation in Tense Skirmish
ISLAMABAD: In a stark revelation that underscores the precariousbrinkmanship between nuclear-armed neighbors, the Pakistan Air Force hasdisclosed that its advanced fighters locked onto over 25 Indian aircraftduring the intense aerial confrontations of May 7, 2025, but refrained fromunleashing full destructive potential to avert an all-out war. Thiscalculated restraint, articulated by Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed BaberSindhu, highlights the PAF’s operational superiority while exposing thefragility of regional stability amid escalating Indo-Pak tensions. Thedisclosure comes amid renewed diplomatic frictions, as both sides revisitthe flashpoint events that nearly spiraled into catastrophe.
The skirmish erupted as India launched Operation Sindoor, a retaliatoryairstrike targeting alleged militant hideouts in Pakistan andPakistan-administered Kashmir following a devastating massacre in Pahalgamthat claimed 26 civilian lives. Indian forces, deploying a formidable arrayof Rafale multirole fighters and Su-30MKI heavy interceptors, breached theLine of Control in a bid to neutralize terror infrastructure. However, thePAF responded with swift and overwhelming force, positioning its JF-17Thunder and J-10C platforms—bolstered by PL-15 beyond-visual-range missilesand PL-12 medium-range armaments—under the vigilant oversight of airborneearly warning and control systems (AWACS) and electronic warfare (EW)suites. These assets enabled precise targeting, with radar locksestablished on more than two dozen Indian jets in what analysts describe asone of the largest dogfights in modern aviation history.
Eyewitness accounts and satellite imagery from the period corroborate thePAF’s claims of dominance. Pakistani pilots, operating within theirairspace, maintained engagements at distances exceeding 160 kilometers,leveraging the PL-15’s extended reach to outmaneuver Indian formations.Reports indicate that while several Indian aircraft sustaineddamage—potentially including confirmed shootdowns of up to six jets—the PAFdeliberately withheld further salvos. “Our forces had the capability todecimate the entire incursion, but escalation to full-scale conflict wouldhave invited unimaginable consequences,” Sindhu stated during a recentaddress at the PAF Academy. This decision, he emphasized, preserved liveson both sides and forestalled the activation of broader strategic assets,including ballistic missiles that could have triggered a nuclear exchange.
The restraint, however, does not diminish the PAF’s demonstrated prowess.The integration of Chinese-origin J-10Cs, equipped with activeelectronically scanned array (AESA) radars, proved pivotal in counteringthe Rafale’s advanced Spectra electronic countermeasures. Backed by SaabErieye AWACS for real-time situational awareness, the PAF orchestrated asymphony of intercepts that neutralized Indian drones and incomingmissiles, safeguarding key installations from north to south. Independentassessments, including those from U.S. defense officials, validate thatPakistan’s non-U.S. platforms executed at least two confirmed kills withoutrelying on F-16s, underscoring a diversification of capabilities thatchallenges India’s aerial edge.
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Critics in New Delhi have dismissed the revelations as propaganda, yetphotographic evidence of wreckage—including Rafale tailfins recovered inPunjab—lends credence to Pakistani assertions. The incident has reignitedcalls for de-escalation mechanisms, with international mediators urgingconfidence-building measures to prevent miscalculations. For Pakistan, theepisode reaffirms the efficacy of its indigenous defense ecosystem, fromthe JF-17’s cost-effective versatility to EW disruptions that blindedIndian sensors. Yet, it also serves as a sobering reminder of the humancost: pilots risked everything in a high-stakes ballet over contestedskies, where a single errant missile could have rewritten history.
As South Asia navigates this powder keg, the PAF’s disclosure is both aboast of restraint and a veiled warning. It signals to adversaries thatPakistan possesses the tools for decisive victory but prioritizes peace.Addressing root causes—through dialogue on Kashmir and counter-terrorismcooperation—remains imperative to ensure such near-misses do not culminatein irreversible tragedy. The skies over the subcontinent, once again, hangin fragile equilibrium.Source:https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/pakistan-locked-on-20-indian-fighter-jets-on-may-7-took-down-only-six-to-avoid-escalation/ogimageimage-name
