CNN reported that in the early morning air battle on May 7, up to 125 fighter jets from the two South Asian countries participated. Pakistan announced that after more than 1 hour of fierce fighting, 5 Indian fighter jets were shot down.
Unprecedented air battle
The “air battle” between Pakistani and Indian fighter jets, in which Pakistani officials said five Indian planes were shot down, was one of the “largest and longest in recent air force history,” a senior Pakistani security source told CNN.
A total of 125 fighter jets fought fiercely for more than an hour, neither side’s aircraft leaving their airspace, air-to-air missile battles took place at distances sometimes greater than 160km.
Neither side was willing to let its pilots cross the border because of a much smaller air battle in 2019, when an Indian Air Force pilot was shot down and parachuted into Pakistani territory, where his image was broadcast on TV before being returned to India.
Skynews quoted the statement of Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif, spokesman of the Pakistani army, saying that the country’s air force shot down 5 very modern 4th generation Indian fighter jets. Pakistan announced that among them were 3 Rafales made by France, 1 Su-30MKI and 1 MiG-29, all made by Russia.
India has not commented on Pakistan’s claims, saying New Delhi is still assessing the situation. However, Indian officials have previously acknowledged that they lost three aircraft, without specifying which types.
According to sources, three fighter jets crashed in villages in Indian-controlled territory and there was a fierce gunfight between the two sides.
Police and residents said debris from a plane was scattered across Wuyan village on the outskirts of Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar, including a school and a mosque complex.
Another plane crashed into an open field in Bhardha Kalan village. Local residents reported hearing loud bangs and seeing a huge fireball.
“We found two injured pilots at a considerable distance. They were Indian pilots and soldiers took them away,” he added.
Which Pakistani “star” scored?
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed that on May 7, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully shot down five Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets, including three modern Rafale jets shot down by Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets using PL-15E beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles.
“Our forces may have shot down 10 or 12 planes. But there was a strict order to attack only those planes that opened fire,” he said.
Mr Dar’s statement marked the highest-level official acknowledgement by the Pakistani government of what was described as a historic air combat success in the early hours of a rapidly escalating
military conflict between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
CNN reported that a senior French intelligence official confirmed the shooting down of at least one Rafale operated by the Indian Air Force. This incident marked the first combat loss of the Rafale fighter jet, somewhat affecting its otherwise unblemished combat record.
New Delhi has so far not commented on the alleged loss of five fighter jets, including the crown jewels of its fighter fleet.
French intelligence sources told CNN that Paris is actively looking into claims that more than one Indian Rafale jet may have been disabled in the skirmish.
Social media is flooded with images purportedly depicting the wreckage of the downed Rafale, with one particular image showing the wreckage marked with the serial number BS-001 found in the Aklian Kalan area of Bathinda, Punjab, on Indian territory. The pilot of the downed aircraft is said to have ejected and survived, and was later taken to a local medical facility.
Notably, Bathinda is home to one of India’s Rafale squadrons, lending credence to the claim that the aircraft were operating from that base during the fighting. More significantly, the Rafale with serial number BS-001 was the first aircraft delivered to India under the 2016 deal with France.
The failure of the most advanced fighter in the Indian Air Force’s inventory has prompted customers to reconsider the Rafale’s battlefield viability, especially after the aircraft saw a surge in demand in recent years across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, where it was heavily promoted.
Whether this incident will impact Dassault Aviation’s international sales and marketing momentum remains to be seen.
Immediately after Pakistan’s victory announcement, shares of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) – the Chinese aerospace company that manufactures the J-10C – jumped 20%, showing investor confidence in the fighter’s air combat performance.
CAC is also the manufacturer of the JF-17 “Thunder” fighter jet in cooperation with the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), an aircraft that plays a central role in Islamabad’s indigenous air power development program.
In contrast, Dassault Aviation’s share price fell about 1.40% after widespread media coverage of the Rafale’s alleged combat losses.
India’s 2016 deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France was estimated to be worth $8.8 billion, or about $91 million per aircraft.
Taking into account modifications required by India, advanced weapons packages, spare parts and a five-year support package, the cost per aircraft is expected to be around $218 million.
By 2025, analysts estimate that the actual cost per aircraft has soared to $289 million, raising questions about the cost-benefit trade-off in the face of a first air-to-air loss.
Meanwhile, Pakistan inducted its first batch of Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets on March 4, 2022, with six aircraft arriving at Minhas Air Force Base in Kamra and officially entering service on March 11 that year.
These aircraft are part of the 15th “Cobras” squadron and represent a key element in Pakistan’s strategic response to India’s Rafale purchase.
The J-10C is a multi-role fighter jet, rated to meet 4.5 generation standards, equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a digital flight control system, an advanced electronic warfare suite, and the ability to deploy state-of-the-art PL-15 and PL-15E missiles.
The PL-15E is an export variant of the highly capable PL-15 air-to-air missile, with a reduced range of about 145km, compared to the 300km range of the domestic version used by the Chinese Air Force.
Despite the slightly reduced specifications, the PL-15E is still considered a game-changing beyond-visual-range air-to-air weapon, especially against opponents operating aircraft that do not have comparable long-range missiles.
The original PL-15, believed to be capable of Mach 4, incorporated a compact AESA radar seeker for terminal guidance, allowing it to automatically track and engage beyond visual range (BVR) targets.
The PL-15 is widely considered one of the most advanced BVR missiles, competing with the US-made AIM-120D AMRAAM and the European Meteor missile.
Military analysts say the PL-15 and PL-15E give Pakistan an advantage in long-range engagements, especially in contested airspace.
This advantage forces opponents like India to recalibrate the tactics of their Su-30MKI, Rafale and Mirage 2000 squadrons to avoid early attrition in air combat.
The combination of AESA radar, two-way data link and solid fuel engine allows the missile to fly at high speed throughout the entire flight, improving the ability to hit high-value and complex maneuvering targets.
Its dual datalink capability allows for mid-flight target changes, giving the aircraft the flexibility to adapt to changing combat conditions in real time.
At around 4m long, weighing 200kg and with a top speed of 100km, the PL-15 represents a significant step forward in missile technology that is reshaping the dynamics of air forces across Asia.
In a development likely to heighten India’s concerns, the PAF recently released official images of its JF-17 “Thunder” fighter jet armed with the PL-15 missile for the first time, signaling its intention to standardize advanced BVR capabilities across its entire fighter fleet.
The Largest South Asian Air Battle Since Kargil
The air battle, being dubbed the “Battle of the Skies”, unfolded following a series of provocative cross-border strikes and retaliatory missile operations. India’s launch of Operation Sindoor, targeting alleged militant infrastructure within Pakistani territory, provoked a swift and large-scale aerial response from Islamabad.
What followed was a coordinated scramble involving elite aircraft such as:
- PAF J-10C, F-16, and JF-17 Thunder
- Indian Rafale, Su-30MKI, MiG-29, and Mirage 2000
An estimated 125 jets participated in total — approximately 70 from India and 55 from Pakistan — making this one of the largest coordinated aerial operations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Pakistan’s Kill Count: 5 Indian Jets Confirmed
The Pakistan Air Force claims it successfully brought down five Indian fighter jets, including:
- 1 Rafale
- 1 Su-30MKI
- 1 MiG-29
- 2 Mirage 2000s
According to Pakistani defense officials, the kills were made using beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles launched from J-10C multirole fighters, leveraging their PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles and AESA radar systems. Pakistani pilots, including Wing Commander Nauman Ali Khan and Squadron Leader Hassan Siddiqui, have been credited with these successes.
This marks the first confirmed combat loss of a Rafale, one of India’s most advanced fighter jets, in a live engagement.
India Denies Losses, Claims Interceptions
India, meanwhile, has rejected Pakistan’s claims of shooting down five jets. In a press briefing, the Indian Air Force (IAF) stated it “successfully intercepted multiple incoming threats”, including drones and standoff missile attacks. It acknowledged “damage and loss,” but did not provide numbers. Indian officials maintain that their Rafale and Su-30 fleet “remains operationally capable.”
Sources within the IAF also claim at least two Pakistani aircraft were shot down, though Pakistan denies these reports.
International Reactions: Calls for De-escalation
With both nations on high alert, the international community has stepped in. The United Nations, the United States, and the European Union have urged restraint, fearing further escalation could lead to full-scale war. Washington has offered to mediate, with President Biden stating, “There must be a return to diplomacy before the region tips into uncontrollable conflict.”
The Bigger Picture
This air battle, involving fifth-generation weapons systems and advanced electronic warfare, is being closely studied by military analysts worldwide. The J-10C’s performance against India’s Rafale, in particular, is attracting attention, possibly reshaping perceptions about Chinese defense exports and their performance in real combat.
Conclusion
As both sides remain locked in a tense standoff, the May 7 dogfight marks a critical turning point. With five Indian aircraft reportedly downed, Pakistan has gained a temporary edge in the skies — but the conflict is far from over.
The next few days may define the future of South Asian security.
