ISLAMABAD: The Indian Air Force grapples with unprecedented setbacks in2025, marked by seven operational crashes and seven combat losses inflictedby the Pakistan Air Force during the May Operation Sindoor. Theseincidents, including the downing of advanced jets like Rafales and aMiG-29, have compounded the force’s woes. One damaged aircraft wassubsequently decommissioned, elevating the total attrition to eight unitsfrom combat alone. Such losses underscore a deepening crisis in operationalreadiness.
The crashes encompass a tragic spectrum of accidents, from the fatal Tejasplunge at the Dubai Airshow on November 21 to earlier Jaguar incidents inRajasthan and Gujarat. These mishaps, claiming multiple pilots’ lives,highlight persistent technical and training deficiencies. The indigenousTejas, touted as a cornerstone of modernization, suffered a humiliatingblow in Dubai, where the lightweight fighter nosedived before spectators,resulting in the pilot’s death. Investigations into these failures revealsystemic strains on aging infrastructure.
In the broader strategic theater, Operation Sindoor—a retaliatory strikefollowing the April Pahalgam terror attack—exposed IAF vulnerabilities.Pakistan’s PAF, leveraging its No. 15 Squadron Cobras, claimed sixshootdowns, including four Rafales, though India acknowledged unspecifiedlosses without wreckage confirmation. Independent assessments suggest up tofour IAF jets fell in fierce dogfights over the Line of Control. Theseengagements, involving beyond-visual-range missiles, not only depletedassets but also eroded morale.
Compounding the toll, the retirement of two MiG-21 squadrons in Augustslashed the IAF’s fighter strength to 29 squadrons, well below thesanctioned 42. Factoring in the 15 aircraft lost this year—equivalent to anentire squadron—the effective operational count hovers at approximately 28.This shortfall imperils India’s two-front defense posture against Pakistanand China, where adversaries maintain superior numerical edges. Delays inTejas Mk1A inductions exacerbate the gap, forcing reliance on outdatedplatforms.
As the IAF confronts this nadir, urgent procurement and overhaulimperatives loom large. Regional stability hinges on restoring aerialparity, lest escalating tensions precipitate broader conflict. Pakistan’sadept countermeasures in Sindoor signal a shifting balance, prompting callsfor enhanced bilateral dialogues to avert further escalations.
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