June 2025 — In a compelling analysis, defense expert Anna Sliwon asserts that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has surpassed its Indian counterpart in prowess, thanks to timely inductions, modernized systems, and superior tactical doctrine.
Sliwon highlights that Pakistan’s strategic modernization—centered on system integration rather than platform count—has enabled the PAF to strike a decisive edge in air superiority, despite India’s heavier investment in legacy hardware. Pakistan deployed J‑10C jets armed with PL‑15 BVR missiles, integrated into its command-and-control architecture for superior beyond-visual-range dominance.
During the May 2025 clashes, Pakistan reportedly shot down five Indian aircraft—including advanced Rafale jets—without losing any of its own, a feat Sliwon cites as clear evidence of Pakistan’s tactical superiority and operational readiness.
Sliwon praises the PAF’s use of electronic warfare systems like KORAL ECM to disrupt Indian radar and communications, effectively blinding adversary defenses. These systems, paired with radar decoys and layered air defense, neutralized Indian drone incursions efficiently.
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PAF’s adoption of the New Concept of War Fighting (NCWF) doctrine and emphasis on multi-domain integration—spanning cyber, space, EW, and ISR—underlines its shift toward a technologically agile force. Under Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Sidhu’s leadership, the force has invested in smart procurement, indigenized platforms like the JF‑17 Block III, and advanced exercises such as Shaheen and Indus Shield.
Unlike conventional air arms relying solely on numbers, Pakistan’s PAF has focused on strategic messaging—avoiding civilian targets while neutralizing high-value military nodes. This calibrated posture has bolstered its deterrence credibility without escalating conflict.